In previous times, Ye Chen would have flinched at Connor's comments, perhaps even found them amusing or slightly humiliating. However, after immersing himself in the competitive landscape, he has come to appreciate the strategy behind Connor's antics. Connor's brashness, his outrageous claims, and provocations—whether they involve questioning his opponents' skills or saying he aims to "smash their faces"—fall within an expected range for promotional hype. Ye Chen has learned that as long as the line of provocation doesn't shatter the boundaries of decency, he's not inclined to take offense.
A reporter broke the tension, "Your team flooded social media with videos leading up to this event. Your coach has boldly claimed that he's pinpointed Ye Chen's technical flaws and forged a comprehensive game plan against him. Is there any truth to that?"
Connor grinned, brimming with cockiness. "Absolutely! I boast the most elite team! Just take a look at my bank account; millions were spent solely to gear up for this fight! Who could possibly compete with that?"
Gasps filled the room, each person aware that an investment of over a million dollars indicates Connor's serious commitment to reclaiming his glory.
Turning to Ye Chen, the reporter asked, "Ye Chen, as a full-time combat sports journalist, your explosive rise in popularity is undeniable. Just over a year to share the stage with Connor—how do you respond to his boasts?"
With a steady confidence, Ye Chen replied, "What you see from me is merely the inception. I'm on track to eclipse Connor's status in the world of MMA. The UFC requires forceful figures to represent it—people who command presence, not mere shadows of strength."
The atmosphere churned with excitement. Fans erupted, their cheers echoing throughout the venue. Dana White watched Ye Chen with a look of approval, recognizing that his clean approach—lacking in antagonistic outbursts—was just as impactful as the fierce words often wielded by fighters.
In that moment, Dana envisioned a tantalizing future for Ye Chen, one where he could emerge as a superstar—surpassing not just Connor but even legends like Khabib Nurmagomedov. Around him, others nodded, sharing in the sentiment that Ye Chen was on the brink of significantly outshining the competition.
Connor's composure wavered yet remained outwardly casual. When Ye Chen labeled him weak, he instinctively rubbed his earlobe, a reflex brought on by painful memories. It was a reminder of Khabib's words—a stigma he would never shake off, especially following a historic defeat against him at the height of his career.
"Ha! Weak?" Connor chuckled, eyes glinting with fury. "I could wipe the floor with you as easily as a stroll in the park."
As the press conference unfolded, Connor's reputation as a master showman was evident. It was no surprise when the next question surfaced.
"Ye Chen, many fighters aspire to clash with Connor, even in defeat, as the financial rewards are substantial. Can you reveal your appearance fee? Is there a PPV share involved?"
This question stirred the audience, a collective anticipation hanging in the air. Everyone knew Connor was a walking ATM and that many fighters had fortified their bank accounts after facing him. Particularly, those like The Diamond who had faced him multiple times, each encounter escalating in ruthlessness.
Ye Chen hesitated, bound by a confidentiality agreement. Just as he was about to pivot the conversation, Connor interjected, "Listen, everyone wants to fight me! I'm practically a savior for these fighters! All UFC fighters have my posters plastered on their walls, praying daily for the chance to step inside the cage with me—to lift themselves out of their impoverished existence!"
Amid his grandstanding, one might wonder about the measure of propriety; however, for Connor, every instance serves as fodder to amplify his persona, turning every jab into a networking opportunity.
"The so-called 'poor fighters'—King, Ava, Diamond, Oliveira—ought to be thankful to me. I offer them a chance!" He waved dramatically, basking in his bravado.
Before the reporters could pose another inquiry, Connor pointed at Ye Chen, "Remember, I grant this boy a shot at wealth beyond his wildest dreams... He should kneel before me—thank God and me for allowing him to step into the octagon, where I will break him and make him rich."
Ye Chen's expression darkened. "This man..." He motioned to Connor, "The only fight he's won recently was against an elderly man in a bar. In the ring? He hasn't triumphed in a long time, regardless of any claims."
This hit a nerve in Connor, who erupted, desperate to steal focus. The crowd ignited in reaction; Ye Chen's supporters rallied, their energy palpable.
Connor exploded from his seat, ire blending with disbelief. "Tonight, I'll crush his face in the cage—I'll parade his dismembered head down the streets as a testament to his failure! I'll prove he is nothing, unworthy of being a star!"
Yelling erupted all around, both in support of Connor and in favor of Ye Chen, their roars invigorating the electric atmosphere.
"Kill him! Connor, we stand with you!" chants rose, echoing throughout the room.
In turn, Ye Chen's followers clamored, "Break Connor's legs! Send him crawling out of the octagon for good!"
"Strength in the ring speaks volumes," one observer remarked. "Unless Connor rediscovers his prime, Ye Chen will prevail."
The reporter seized the moment, asking Ye Chen how he planned to respond. With unwavering composure, he replied, "While I'd love to slap his provocations back, as a professional and a decent human being, I'll reserve that for the ring tonight. In the octagon, he'll be awakened by the consequences of his words. How many rounds will I take him down? That's for my fans to decide."
He implied a poll would be initiated on his Instagram, inviting his followers to vote on how quickly Connor would be brought down.
Gasps rang out—no one expected Ye Chen to pivot the narrative in such an audacious way.
"Really?" murmurs of astonishment began to ripple through the gathered crowd.
"Can he be bold enough to play the public's game?" voices echoed back.
Ye Chen's calculated methodology caused fervor among the spectators, who were keen to see how this would unfold. Gambling entities began recalibrating their odds, aware of the precariousness of Ye Chen's unprecedented approach.
As expected, his words stirred excitement within the crowd, escalating the tension in the room. And with alacrity, he dispatched updates to his social media directly from the live stream, announcing the fan vote for his anticipated match against Connor—a spectacular promotional move that was already generating endless buzz.
Within mere minutes, his Instagram followers surged exponentially in response to his savvy engagement with fans. Dana chuckled, exhilarated by the rising star's ability to captivate the audience with both hype and excitement, showing remarkable potential for eclipsing even Connor's notoriety.
"That's it! Keep going! If you can eclipse Connor, then you'll be unstoppable!" he internally cheered, heralding the bright future ahead for Ye Chen.
Suddenly, driven to emotions, Connor leapt from his chair, toppling the table in front of him. "You challenge me to violence? Come, take your swing! I'll snap your head off right here!"
Connor charged toward Ye Chen but was halted by Dana's firm intervention. "Connor, settle down." As one of the prominent figures in MMA, Dana stepped in rapidly to diffuse the situation.
With the press conference concluding, Ye Chen stood, affirming, "I'll see you in the ring."
Dana grasped the microphone, calling for order, "The media time is up. The two contenders are set to face off tonight." With intensity, they maintained eye contact, the stakes fueling both fighters.
As Connor seethed, step-down instructions were issued to the fighters, and security measures were heightened to ensure Ye Chen's protection. There was no room for mischief tonight—not with the PPV sales soaring past two million, inline with the iconic Khabib-Conor bout. Ye Chen couldn't become another pawn in Connor's reckless strategies.
Dana monitored Ye Chen's exit and reassured Connor, who appeared restless. Just as he moved to prepare for the match, his phone buzzed with unexpected developments.
"Dana, we're seeing a spike! The PPV purchases stalled, but since Ye Chen's voting initiative, the momentum is picking back up!"
"Is that true? Are you certain?" Dana asked, wide-eyed.
"Absolutely! Tracking the data closely!"
Dana's heartbeat raced with excitement—Ye Chen's appeal grander than expected, and the potential to rival notable fights before.
Though in the depths of his mind he retained reservations, aware of the unique chemistry that made Khabib-Conor a historic clash beyond replication.
Later, we find Ye Chen in a brief solitude, where he accepted an exclusive interview with DC before the fight. As DC welcomed him warmly, the delight was palpable; their meeting was like old friends reacquainting.
"Ye Chen, it's our first official encounter outside the ring, right?" DC noted, his jovial demeanor radiating through the space.
With a nod, Ye Chen replied, "Absolutely! Our last exchange was simply on the phone."
DC slapped his forehead, recalling their previous connection when he attempted to recruit Ye Chen for AKA. "Right! But tell me, what turned you off from joining us?"
As they engaged in a light-hearted conversation, the atmosphere felt natural—a stark contrast to the intensity of the upcoming fight.
After some playful banter, DC turned serious. "But about this poll you started... in a competition against Connor? Are you concerned this might backfire?"
"Not at all," Ye Chen confidently maintained. "Fighting is as much about entertainment as the competition itself. It's imperative to engage the audience—let them participate."
DC's gaze shifted uneasily. "This is borderline risky. If you play with fire, you might get burned. You've been a consistently winning athlete without stepping out of line. If this blows up..."
His concern was evident; the weight of expectations loomed over Ye Chen.
Yet as Ye Chen contemplated the numbers flashing on DC's phone screen, the sheer volume of votes began to astonish him.
"Over ten million votes! That's unreal!"
As he marveled at the support for his fight strategy—especially the disproportionate favoring of a first-round victory—Ye Chen could feel the palpable energy of anticipation building within the audience.
Game day arrived with both resonance and fervor. With all preliminary matches concluded, the spotlight shone on Ye Chen and Connor—only they remained at the helm of the event.
Ye Chen adorned in his gear, he waited for the announcer to begin the draw, his fate poised oh-so-closely...