It turns out that he had overthought the entire situation; the weight loss journey was proceeding far more smoothly than he had initially anticipated. As he prepared to weigh himself tomorrow, he was confident that he would meet the weight limit by the end of tonight.
When Ga Zi saw Ye Chen step onto the scale, he was absolutely shocked. "Is this... Is this really it?" he stuttered, completely unable to believe what he was seeing. He stood up in disbelief, checking the scale to see if there was anything wrong with it. But everything appeared to be functioning normally. Ye Chen himself was taken aback; after all, the bulk of his weight loss efforts had revolved around real-world discipline and restraint.
To achieve success so effortlessly surpassed his expectations. To his surprise, it seemed that enduring the extreme weight loss experiences within the simulated environment had heightened his real-world resilience. Perhaps he simply possessed an innate ability for dehydration and weight loss. With Ga Zi by his side the entire time, they both had to follow the demanding weight loss regimen. There was no way to haphazardly shed weight and hit the target without clashing with the brutality of reality; it was enough to send anyone into a panic.
"It's fine; it just shows I have a natural talent for losing weight," Ye Chen smiled, a sense of pride swelling within him. The most reassuring aspect was that he had not reached the absolute limit of his capabilities. Unlike certain competitors who struggle painfully under dehydration after severe weight cuts, he was merely fatigued at this point, yet he still managed to walk and engage in conversation.
He suspected that an increase in muscle mass had led to a rise in both weight and water retention as well. This meant that next time, he might be able to dehydrate effectively even at ninety kilograms or higher.
"Wow," Ga Zi exclaimed, astonished, before changing the subject. "But the real heavyweights are the Westerners. Their weight loss skills are exceptional. Look at Burns—he's a compact guy, but he weighed in at 190 pounds! That's heavier than me!"
He continued, "In the match against Chima, Chima also weighed 190 pounds! Weight-wise, they were dead even. But it gets crazier: Costa and Pereira were both much heavier, with one clocking in at 214 pounds and the other at 220. That's nearly the same weight class as some serious pros!"
Ye Chen nodded, realizing the magnitude of their physicality. "It's puzzling how they manage their weight loss and recovery. Is it innate talent, or do they possess secret techniques?"
Doss, scrolling through his phone, suddenly interjected, "Brother Chen, you must win this time. The trend is not looking good right now."
"Oh?" Ye Chen raised an eyebrow, curious. He had been focused so intensely on his weight loss over the past few days that he hadn't paid any attention to the online buzz.
"Is it because Wu Siman is in trouble? He's never been good at handling himself," Ye Chen suggested.
Doss shook his head. "No, it's that YouTube personality Jake Paul who's setting the narrative. He claims he can take you down in three rounds under boxing rules. He's calling Wu Siman the champion of the beautiful country and rallying U.S. supporters against you, saying you don't deserve your double crown. They're framing this as a clash of national pride between the beautiful country and Daxia in the fighting ring."
Ye Chen chuckled, brushing it off. "Jake Paul is just seeking attention; it's not something I'm worried about."
Doss, however, was more serious. "People who understand the game know he's just a clout chaser, but many don't. The narrative has been shaped; many viewers from the beautiful country see this as a national rivalry, and now you're facing criticism from all angles."
The news had even spread back to China, where netizens were following the twisted narrative. The situation had created an increasingly hostile online atmosphere, with both Weiss and Jake Paul firing up their fan bases. Sure, winning the match would soothe some of the criticism, but if Ye Chen were to fall short, countless critics would certainly seize the opportunity to blame him for any loss, leaving him exposed to tremendous backlash.
With an internal calm, Ye Chen acknowledged the art of hype that was swirling dangerously around him. Yet he remained aware that UFC prohibits such rampant speculation and conflict-driven promotion. Dana White consistently steered clear of inflaming confrontational topics, knowing full well how easily they could spiral out of control and potentially backlash against the entire UFC.
Suddenly, Doss's face lit up, and he straightened his posture in excitement. "Oh, and by the way, this internet celebrity is challenging you to a boxing match!"
"I can't believe this!" Ga Zi gasped, nearly in tears with envy. This internet star had gained immense fame, boxing with several retired UFC fighters who claimed to have made more money in those matches than they had throughout their entire MMA careers combined. And now, this famous figure was directly calling out Ye Chen.
"The traffic surrounding him is insane," Ga Zi continued. "Even if others want to compete with him, getting a chance is rare. But for you, stepping up could yield a significant payday. However, keep in mind he's quite skilled in boxing, and adhering to strict boxing rules could prove tricky. He's previously taken down champions like Wu Deli, along with other legends."
Ye Chen simply smiled, waving off the concern. "For now, let him keep drawing attention to himself. The more one focuses on him, the more he thrives in that spotlight."
Just then, they were interrupted by a series of knocks on the door. Despite owning a villa in Las Vegas, Ye Chen had opted to stay at a hotel before the match; the villa was considerably distant, and quite a few others—Catwoman, Ga Zi, and Doss—were accompanying him on this journey.
Moreover, the hotel room was packed, filled with UFC staff filming promotional videos for the match. A range of footage and photos showcasing the difficult side of an athlete's weight loss was valuable promotional material.
Catwoman had been by Ye Chen's side throughout this journey, having returned to her hometown with him. She could understand some Daxia dialect, and her big eyes blinked curiously as she tried to comprehend the discussions Ye Chen and the others were having. After hearing names like Jake Paul mentioned a few times, curiosity had captured her interest.
As she went to answer the door, she flung it open only to announce defiantly, "Ye Chen is not here." With that, she promptly slammed the door closed.
A brief silence followed before chaos ensued. "Who was that? Perhaps it was some random woman..." Ga Zi remarked, curiosity dancing in his eyes, his rough demeanor hinting at a penchant for gossip. The staff members all leaned in, listening intently.
Ye Chen looked over at Ga Zi, rolling his eyes. "The only person who could possibly rile Annie up like that is likely the drug tester. If it were someone else, she wouldn't have reacted so fiercely."
"Drug test?" Ga Zi echoed incredulously. "They're doing a drug test when you're dehydrated? Don't they realize that's just cruel?"
Frustration bubbled in Ga Zi; after all, he had been present through it all—more than ten days—and this marked the third time drug testing authorities had come knocking for Ye Chen.
For outsiders, it could easily be misconstrued as a dubious experiment. Catwoman had been around Ye Chen long enough to understand basic terms. "Just ignore them; they'll leave once they tire of knocking," she assured, even as determination colored her response.
"Annie, if you don't let us in soon, we might suspect that Mr. Ye Chen is hiding some kind of substance abuse. You should know we have regulations to uphold," a woman's voice called from the other side of the door.
Catwoman re-entered the room, clearly unphased, and then ducked down stealthily behind the sofa, attempting to shield Ye Chen's ears from their accusations, which drew laughter from the staff. Their daily interactions had revealed that she was not so different from everyday women, albeit still striking.
Ye Chen interjected, "It's pointless to keep them out; let them come inside." In this case, he had no option. The Drug Testing Organization was an independent entity associated with sporting events in the United States. It wasn't beholden to UFC regulations or Dana's oversight. If the organization decided to investigate, Ye Chen had little choice but to comply.
"You're not healthy enough right now; why would you still need to provide a blood sample or pee test?" Catwoman protested, but she still moved to open the door, conceding that objecting was unproductive.
As the door opened, three individuals entered, all equipped with drug testing materials. Leading the charge was a woman, possibly in her thirties, dressed sharply in a professional suit and sporting a neatly tied ponytail. She offered a polite smile. "Pleasure to meet you," she extended her hand.
Catwoman shook the hand but offered, "I'm not particularly happy to meet you. There's a weigh-in tomorrow, and athletes tend to be focused and drained at this time..."
The woman countered with a smile, "I'm afraid I can't help that; these are the established protocols."
Without hesitation, Ye Chen stretched out his arm over the sofa, resigned. "Let's get this over with."
"Thank you for your cooperation," the woman said as she crouched down, opening the drug testing box to retrieve syringes and various supplies.
"This is the twenty-ninth time, right? Why are you conducting drug tests so frequently? What exactly do you hope to find?" Catwoman questioned anxiously, searching for answers.
In five months, since he arrived in the beautiful country, Ye Chen had faced twenty-nine drug tests, each involving a small blood sample. If they had drawn a full vial every time, he likely would have felt utterly drained by now. The persistence of this testing was baffling; he couldn't for the life of him understand why they were so relentless.
The drug testing personnel continued their procedures without incident. After collecting samples, the woman handed Ye Chen a small vial. "So far, there is nothing abnormal, but we are merely following protocol," she proclaimed, standing back up.
Time seemed to blur as they transitioned into the weigh-in session backstage. Yet again, Ga Zi found himself stunned, as Ye Chen stepped onto the scale—and the numbers read 190 pounds. He'd gained twenty pounds in just one day!
With more than ten hours before the match, Ye Chen might ultimately tip the scales at around 192 to 195 pounds.
"I heard Wu Siman weighed in around 192-193 pounds. Looks like your in-ring weight will match up well with his," Ga Zi remarked, a hint of envy in his voice.
At around 185 pounds, he knew he would never reach the same heights. The distinction of a few pounds betrayed a world of difference, highlighting Ye Chen's extraordinary ability to rebound from dehydration effectively. Next time, he might even get the chance to vie for an even heftier on-site weight.
In that moment, Doss, who had been glued to his phone, suddenly blurted out, "Wait a minute. The odds for the fight just shifted! This doesn't seem right!"
Changes in betting odds were nothing new, but for an insider like Doss to be rattled suggested a significant deviation from the norm.
"Give me a look," Ye Chen said with a sinking feeling.
Before the matchup was formally announced, there had been initial odds: Wu Siman at -250 and Ye Chen at +150.
Come morning, things shifted to Wu Siman at -300 and Ye Chen at +200.
But now? The odds had risen alarmingly.
"Wu Siman is now sitting at -500, while Ye Chen stands at +350."
The rapid change felt indicative of something amiss. Ye Chen's expression tightened, sensing that the tide was turning inappropriately. Was Jake Paul's manipulation already influencing the betting landscape? It seemed unlikely, given his limited influence.
Ye Chen scrutinized a social media clip from the latest promotional video. The footage highlighted his drug test just a day prior, and the comments swarmed with skepticism.
In earlier times, viewers may have approached the situation with nuance. Yet, amid the current environment cultivated by Jake Paul's commentary and the implications of the drug test, the responses had veered into negativity. Public sentiment was becoming fraught, threatening to undermine his preparations.
As netizens began echoing conspiracy theories—suggesting the drug testing agency might have detected something irregular during their screening—concern mounted. In the frenzy, questions about how Ye Chen's health could be compromised were starting to take root.
Looking at the flurry of commentary, Ye Chen felt more confused than ever. His reactions ranged from irritated to bemused, particularly following the relentless scrutiny. After all, the testing organization hadn't flagged any issues yet, but it felt like a double-edged sword with incoming accusations.
The press conference commenced shortly after, with Wu Siman taking the stage first.
As the card bore Ye Chen's name, transformed into a massive draw, it was naturally left for him to make the final appearance.
He noticed Dana on stage, looking less than pleased as he quietly conferred with Logan nearby.
"Get in touch with the drug testing agency immediately. We need accurate details about Ye Chen's tests announced without delay. If there's nothing wrong, they should clarify why there continues to be such a high volume of testing," Dana muttered, frustration mounting in him.
Was it not already chaotic enough? Here Ye Chen was, rapidly gaining popularity, and now burdened with unwarranted doubt amid drug testing controversies. If left unchecked, this could hamper Ye Chen's future career severely.
"What if something goes wrong?" Dana felt a rising panic. He understood that in the fight game, stakes could compel desperate action, and someone might just bend the rules to secure victory. The ramifications would be disastrous if any allegations were found to have substance.
With the knowledge that their adversary bore ties to the beautiful country only heightened the stakes. Yet, Ye Chen was an outsider, and Jake Paul's antics were stirring the pot ever more.
"Damn these circumstances," Dana thought bitterly, casting an angry glance at Jake Paul, his longstanding rival in online banter.
The announcer shifted the atmosphere: "Now we welcome our superstar, Ye Chen, widely known as the Terminator and undefeated in ten bouts, the current lightweight world champion!"
Ye Chen stepped onto the stage, greeted by an eruption of cheers. He was surprised by the roaring support, a reassuring wave of energy enveloping him.
Despite Jake Paul's efforts, it was evident that the majority of the crowd were loyal supporters, not willing to be swept away by someone else's agenda.
Dressed sharply in a suit, Ye Chen raised his arms in greeting, appreciating the raucous enthusiasm from those in attendance.
Dana, while pleased with the crowd's reception, still harbored reservations. "Without wasting everyone's time, let's officially begin the press conference," he proclaimed quickly.
He encouraged the audience, "Feel free to raise your hands for questions, but remember this is a fighting press conference—not a debate stoked by internet antics. Let's keep the questions relevant and appropriate for the occasion, alright?"