"I've said it many times that you're not with our club; you're merely a sparring partner. We recommended you, but mark my words, when the time comes, you'll be defeated. Our training center and Lin Long won't be subjected to the ridicule of troll netizens."
"You know those keyboard warriors all too well. This is a revenge battle. It doesn't matter if you lose; our restaurant will remain open, and Lin Long will make his way to the UFC."
"We're asking for two hundred thousand. Pay a deposit of two hundred thousand, and we will recommend you. If you win, you sign with our club, and the money is refunded to you. If we lose, how about we compensate for the reputation of our restaurant?"
"Seriously, you asked someone to recommend you? Foolish bird, just wait for your inevitable loss. You won't need to come back tomorrow." Ye Chen compiled these voice messages and posted them online.
"Finish him off."
"I'm too tired to argue and add fuel to the fire."
After sending these messages, Ye Chen fell asleep, his reach already considerable. Once the audio was released, comments flooded in.
[Brother Chen is tearing Lin Long's team apart; it's fantastic!]
[Whoa, this man's tone is really off. He demands 200,000 yuan to rejoin the club? If you lack skill in football, don't bother learning it.]
[This is a person with severe issues scolding netizens... Just like a domestic football club—it's all about money and not ability.]
[Thank goodness Brother Chen moved on. If he had followed a scam team, it would have doomed him.]
[His talent level barely qualifies him to coach in a minor league. Ye Chen could train their entire team in a single night.]
[Are they thinking of sidelining the wheels just to ride together?]
[This coach even dared to insult me? I really want to have words with him...]
[Right now, I'm watching Lin Long's videos on formations, and they are hilariously cringe-worthy. Why did he have to write, direct, and act in them himself?]
[If it weren't for this audio, his shouting would send me into fits of laughter. He is overestimating his abilities; it's shameless how he seeks publicity. No matter how much Brother Chen pushes against him, he isn't even on the same level as a player.]
[Challenging the champion... Who gives him the audacity? He isn't even worthy of tying his shoes.]
[Hey guys, who wants to help me edit that specific video overnight? What in the world...]
By morning, Ye Chen's audio edit received over thirty million likes, while Lin Long's video barely hit 100,000 views. The comment section below was a chaotic mess.
The next day, Lin Long and his team grasped the severity of the situation, shocked at Ye Chen's newfound tactics. Nonetheless, Lin Long seized the chance to transition to Wang Chen. After all, he'd already been dragged through the mud—going down fighting was still a pathway to notoriety.
At this point, Lin Long distanced himself from the controversy, claiming ignorance of the entire situation and presenting himself merely as a boxer. He insisted Ye Chen should tackle problems the way a boxer should, rather than mouthing off online.
This statement was yet another jab at the "passionate" netizens.
Ye Chen, however, paid little attention to it. Early in the morning, he focused solely on the simulated battle against Diamond. Winning while standing proved to be a major challenge; his opponent's defense and combination punches were exceptionally robust. A single perfect opportunity could lead to overwhelming damage.
While he was a comparatively versatile competitor—boasting a black belt in Bajou, adept at preventing takedowns, and a top-tier standing striker—he still appeared as inexperienced when facing top ground players like Habib and Oliveira.
Truthfully, he would have little difficulty against ordinary fighters. Yet, he discovered that Diamond's major flaw lay in his stamina. As pressure mounted, Diamond often started to falter by the late second round. When that happened, rest would be the last thing on his mind, as Diamond's recovery abilities were impressive.
Ye Chen carefully reviewed the bout between Diamond and Gage. Gage had moments where he could have seized victory but faltered due to Diamond's robust stamina rebound in the match's middle.
Ye Chen had never believed Diamond to be a true threat. Dana's intentions were clear—he aimed for Ye Chen to defend his title in Daxia, capitalizing on the 1.4 billion-strong market. No matter what strategy he employed, Ye Chen would never allow himself to overlook Diamond. He certainly didn't want to stumble at this critical juncture.
As the game approached, getting ready to sign posters was required. Only the main event players and above would sign them, serving as a promotional tool for the UFC. Fans were the patrons of this show.
Due to the extensive autographing processes, Ye Chen's signature became quite simplistic, merely "YC" crossed over. Amid extreme dehydration and weight loss, Ye Chen initiated a live stream.
After all, competing in China called for more engagement with fans. At that moment, clad in sweat clothes on the treadmill, sweat poured from him as he continued to throw air strikes.
[Hey everyone, with all this sweat, it feels like the gym's having a torrential downpour.]
[Indeed, earning money is no easy task.]
[It looks like I'm working hard; my lips are turning white!]
[My husband has it tough, yet he comes off as such a good mentor.]
[Brother Chen, I think Diamond is quite cordial this time. However, I see many people online calling him a hypocrite. I'm not sure what to think; I haven't been following for long.]
[Diamond definitely comes off as hypocritical. He praises Brother Chen's strength while claiming he can defeat him. That type needs a lesson in the ring.]
[Exactly! He acts like a good guy all the time. The worst kind is what I see! I bought tickets for the Shanghai show... We'll be sure to boo him together!]
[I'm going too! I just want the outfit Brother Chen wore during the fight and the gloves he discarded. It would be incredible if I could get his autograph.]
[What are you after? These items can be auctioned online post-fight. You're unaware of this? With Brother Chen's current limelight, just his gloves and shorts alone could fetch a hefty sum.]
[Are you serious, Brother Chen? Seems like I've found an avenue to make some cash.]
While Ye Chen continued to engage in air strikes, he periodically scanned the barrage of comments. Gasping for breath, he remarked, "How would I even know what kind of person Diamond is? People are complex. Even after sharing a bed for over a decade, it's hard to fully understand one another. I've only met Diamond a few times—how could I possibly discern who he is? As long as he respects me before the fight, I'll reciprocate that respect; it honestly boils down to that. By the way, why all the concern about character? Planning a blind date or something?"
It was all calm leading to the fight, conversely. Diamonds appeared affable, and Ye Chen's demeanor was very much in favor. Yet, signs of unrest arose due to the dust-up with Lin Long.
In recent days, the opposing party had taken to discrediting him online, posting multiple short videos featuring Ye Chen being knocked down or humiliated during sparring sessions. Their intention was clearly to provoke Ye Chen into a verbal tussle or physical confrontation. Either scenario would likely benefit them.
Yet, to their dismay, Ye Chen ignored them largely, opting only to answer casually in interviews, "Let's just focus on winning a few matches."
At the pre-game press conference, an iconic moment loomed—one filled with anticipation from countless boxing fans. Yet no one anticipated this particular gathering would transform into one of the most amicable confrontations in history. It resembled a grand party of camaraderie.
Dana attended in person this time, recognizing the explosive potential sales for the PPV event. Though slightly lower than the numbers from Ye Chen's clash against Makhachev, it had still exceeded a million copies sold.
This marked the third time Ye Chen headlined an event, surpassing the million sales mark. Internally, many remarked that Ye Chen's box office draw was comparable to Connor's faltering days. Thus, any event Ye Chen led was treated with utmost importance within the organization.
Dana, with a commanding presence, proclaimed, "We'll take questions now."
A female reporter named Li Qian, who previously conducted an exclusive interview with Ye Chen, stood up. "Dustin, you once mentioned that this might be your last chance at the championship belt, that you won't let it slip away. Also, you asserted that Ye Chen has never faced a genuine stand-up opponent. Are you confident that you can present him with a significant challenge?"
Diamond nodded, "Listen, I respect Ye Chen immensely; he's a genuine nice guy. However, once we step into the ring, we're warriors fighting for ourselves. Therefore, I intend to defeat him and claim the lightweight championship belt."
Ye Chen smiled, spreading his hands. "Come on, let's not stir the pot between us, alright? We were just greeting each other backstage. Diamond made it clear that no one has posed a real stand-up threat to me—he'll bring me a certain level of challenge."
Ye Chen's light-hearted tease sparked laughter among viewers. It made it clear to everyone that the atmosphere of this press conference was decidedly different. While everyone recognized it was a joke, it established that neither fighter was eager to engage in a confrontational exchange this time.
Li Qian continued, a smile adorning her face as she posed another question, "I've heard that Diamond often shares his hot sauce with opponents. Did he do so this time?"
Before Ye Chen could respond, Diamond grinned and interjected, "No way! My hot sauce is not just handed out without effort. For instance, Chandler had to pay for his share last time."
Ye Chen chimed in, "I gave it away; I offered quite a lot! If you want some, I can provide you with two bottles."
With a nod of affirmation, Li Qian replied, "Alright, great!"
Another reporter jumped in, shifting the focus, "Ye Chen, numerous well-known athletes have side ventures. Have you contemplated starting your own business? I understand several domestic groups have approached you for collaboration to host a domestic MMA event. What are your thoughts?"
Upon hearing this, Dawei, who had been wearing an unamused expression, quickly frowned. Ye Chen considered the matter thoughtfully. "People have indeed reached out to me. The domestic market is massive with promising potential. I'm not dismissive of branching into business. However, at this moment, my priority is to defend my title against Dustin first, then focus on Zhongzhong. Wu Siman can have his shot at the secondary gold belt afterward."
Who doesn't appreciate the value of having substantial earnings? It's nice to have money on hand, but it would be imprudent to let it consume your thoughts. Besides, he was already comfortable financially.
Another reporter posed, "Ye Chen, Lin Long recently made another prediction. He stated that if you manage to confront Diamond without taking it to the ground, there's a high chance of being knocked out. He even released a short video of you being repeatedly struck by him to support his claim."
Ye Chen smirked, the disdain evident on his face. "If he really wants to fight me that badly, I can offer a discount. If he's willing to pay me five million dollars, I'll step into the octagon against him."
"If he transfers the money right now, I'll even allow him to step into the ring following my bout against Dustin tonight."
Ye Chen's remarks drew raucous cheers from the audience, thick with excitement. Many realized from his statement that Ye Chen's earnings from the match likely exceeded five million dollars, translating to approximately thirty to forty million Daxia coins. His income-generating abilities were strikingly impressive.
Feeling bemused at Ye Chen's comment, Diamond chuckled lightly, silently contemplating, "Is that how I'm perceived?" Yet, he was internally pleased; the rumors suggesting Ye Chen might follow Connor's decline into complacency after amassing wealth had reached him. Having observed Ye Chen's playful antics, he too surmised that there seemed to be a shift in drive.
Before the next question could be asked, the press conference wound down, leaving a remarkably positive atmosphere.
Immediately following the press conference, Ye Chen actually gifted Li Qian two bottles of hot sauce, having received ten bottles from Diamond. Clearly, this hot sauce suited their taste better, as Ye Chen found it unpalatable.
After concluding the press conference, he had initially planned to attend several shows to pick up Maofa, who was due back. However, Maofa declined, expressing concerns about delaying his hydration and training.
Later that night, the 80,000-seat arena in Modu surged with energy, reverberating with deafening cheers. The Catwoman administering Ye Chen's massage paused, taken aback. "You certainly wield significant influence in the country."
Ye Chen shrugged, "Isn't that obvious? Do you believe everyone feels like you do? That they're booing me?"
Resting her chin on Ye Chen's shoulder, Catwoman suddenly reclined on his quilt. "People adore you, especially that stunning female reporter at the press conference. Plus, who says people don't support you? Didn't that blonde girl with a sign at the press conference attempt to engage you in conversation?"
Ye Chen raised an eyebrow, slightly stunned. Was she implying...?
Ye Chen bantered, "Doesn't that just imply you're far more charming? Otherwise, I would've been with them by now."
Just then, Jackson entered, making a deliberate ruckus. It appeared he was now firmly positioned as Ye Chen's designated bracelet technician.
"Come on, keep it together, alright? I nabbed you fifty thousand yuan—don't let this affect your game," Jackson chimed in.
Having perceived the interaction moments earlier, Jackson sensed that had he not intervened, the situation could've escalated quickly.
Ye Chen extended his arms, beckoning Jackson to put on the bracelet. "This time I'm at -500—are you still willing to buy it for me?"
In championship fights, odds rarely skews so widely. Ye Chen was at -500, with Diamond at +450. This indicated that professional analysts remained optimistic about Ye Chen's chances despite the chatter online.
Originally, the odds had been even more exaggerated until Ye Chen's playful moments with Catwoman lightened things.
Jackson smiled innocently, "Why would I not? You keep winning! Just remember to sidestep Diamond's powerful combo—interrupt his Diamond Star Strike..."
Both Ye Chen and Catwoman chuckled at Jackson's perspective; the technician seemed to treat him as a side character.
Soon, the screen displayed Diamond's entrance, met with a symphony of boos that echoed throughout the venue.
For a seasoned fighter like Diamond, it hardly weighed on him. Moments later, it was Ye Chen's time to shine.
When Ye Chen's name echoed through the venue, the crowd dimmed the lights in unison.
His entrance theme thumped through the speakers. Catwoman walked out beside him, accustomed to her appearance with a hat and mask for anonymity.
This occasion marked Ye Chen's first grand finale. Moreover, it was his first entrance amid extinguished lights; the atmosphere felt palpably different.
The crowd erupted in frenzied cheers, eighty thousand voices shouting his name—this was a scene he had envisioned countless times. Now, that dream had unfolded into reality.
Seeing this, Dana beamed with satisfaction. This was the spectacle he sought, and it eclipsed even the excitement surrounding Zhang Weili's championship win—male fighters' popularity shaped up differently than their female counterparts.
As Ye Chen ascended the stage, Buffer announced the scoring referee. After listing their names, the Octagon securely closed.
"At this moment, the entire audience and fans watching worldwide are about to witness a five-round headline main event. Now is the moment you've all been eagerly awaiting! The event is broadcast live from the 80,000-seat stadium in Modu, Xia—"
Buffer appeared to be pouring everything into his announcement, his excitement evident as his face reddened and his voice grew powerful.