Ye Chen found himself at a loss for words, grappling with a reality that he couldn't easily convey to others. Imagine, for a moment, someone declaring that they possess a simulation space—capable of imitating realities in every conceivable way. Most people would likely dismiss them as delusional. The truth is, anything that stretches beyond our cognitive boundaries is unbelievable until one experiences it firsthand. Naturally, it makes perfect sense; he'd prefer to keep such matters to himself.
Bivol set aside the boxing target and inquired, "Are you certain you don't want me to be your corner? I've heard you turned down Golovkin's offer... Don't forget, this bout could be... Not under MMA regulations. In a mixed martial arts fight, we wouldn't be qualified to assist you. But a boxing ring is a different story." Although he was taken aback by Ye Chen's rapid technological advancements, Bivol still maintained that having a corner was crucial; it could help athletes recognize issues they might not see from within the ring.
Ye Chen nodded appreciatively, replying, "Thank you for your offer, but as you know, standing alone—'647'—is part of my signature style. Besides, I'm used to competing without a corner." Bivol realized he had little ground to stand on; after all, his own commercial appeal was low due to a lack of unique traits. In this regard, Ye Chen undoubtedly overshadowed him. As he reflected back, the first moment he'd heard about Ye Chen was when a sparring partner mentioned, "The UFC has produced an amazing talent who doesn't rely on corners." Out of curiosity, he sought out news and footage of Ye Chen, marking the beginning of his newfound interest in this fighter.
Netizens had bestowed exaggerated titles upon Ye Chen including, "Flying solo," "A fierce genius who needs no assistance," and "Ye Chen is his own strongest team." Such extravagant labels had indeed become a defining characteristic of Ye Chen. As time passed quickly, the pre-fight promotions kicked off in full swing. Undoubtedly, the intensity of publicity for this event was the highest it had ever been in Ye Chen's career, rivaling that of the Mayweather-Pacquiao match.
The most astonishing aspect of all? Ye Chen stumbled upon a prediction from a reputable media outlet stating that the pay-per-view price for this so-called "fight of the century" was set at a staggering $110 per viewer. It's hard to deny that capitalists have a knack for squeezing every last bit from their audience. With the drawing power of two superstar fighters in the ring, the PPV rate had skyrocketed to unprecedented levels. The internet buzzed with a torrent of derisive comments. "This is the priciest PPV I've ever seen, even more than tickets for a live concert!" "What's with the absurd fee from Ye Chen and Ava?" "The fighters merely compete, but the outrageous fees are charged by the organizers." "Indeed, the fighters don't see a dime from it." "The promoters are out of their minds; they might as well just rob us blind." "Is this really the most costly in history? It's beyond comprehension." "The price surpasses that of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao..."
It's true. When a popular Chinese singer holds a concert, even the farthest seats usually sell for around $100, or sometimes even less. Paying this much for a PPV is practically equivalent to joining an elite club. Ye Chen too felt stunned at the exorbitant pricing, especially since past UFC events packed multiple fighters into a single program, where prices generally hovered under $80, which he considered steep enough. To find it escalating further this time was truly unexpected.
What surprised Ye Chen even more was that the on-site tickets were also incredibly overpriced, rivaling any legendary matches before it. Some VIP seats were rumored to reach millions of dollars. Of course, this information was merely circulating online; Ye Chen was uncertain if any actual transactions had occurred at such prices.
Before long, game week had finally arrived. Ye Chen had an extensive agenda to tackle that day, all revolving around promotional activities. He began by signing posters, followed by a slew of various interviews. On this occasion, he found himself signing a staggering 3,000 posters alone. It was on this day that Ye Chen encountered Ava for the tenth time.
"[Simulating Canelo Sur successfully.]
[All Canelo information is being entered, please wait.]
[Input complete. You can simulate at any time.]"
Upon hearing those voices ringing in his ears, Ye Chen felt a wave of relief wash over him. He had eagerly anticipated meeting Ava, especially since this fight held significant weight. Unfortunately, their schedules had never aligned; Ava had been heavily occupied performing in Moses Song. Ye Chen didn't want to appear desperate by chasing after her while she was in America.
The two exchanged friendly greetings, shaking hands in front of the media before diving into a relentless barrage of exclusive interviews. In a surprising twist, even financial shows sought to interview him exclusively, leaving him puzzled and somewhat pressed for time. "Hey there, brother, thanks for stopping by! It's been a whirlwind of a day for me…" DC greeted Ye Chen warmly.
Grinning, Ye Chen replied, "I appreciate it, but I've been swamped. I've done eight programs today, and you're the final one on my list." While it was true that interviews were less exhausting than training, in the crucial days leading up to a match, every moment mattered for an athlete. Over the past few days, he had to manage cutting weight, optimizing rest, training, and fine-tuning his condition—they were all non-negotiable, even with eight interviews clamoring for his attention. If he indulged in laziness, he might risk a missed opportunity.
Having the simulation space at his disposal made everything significantly more manageable. "I know you're gracious enough to come here for me. Please, take a seat so we can have a casual, conversational-style interview." Following their seating arrangement, DC presented his program. "So, have you seen the clip where I commented on Kamanu reaching out to Canelo?"
Ye Chen nodded. "Absolutely, I caught that. Do you believe I'll face the same fate as Kamanu?"
"No, not at all! You two are worlds apart. This time, Canelo called you out himself." DC countered, shaking his head. "I do want to caution you, though. You're fighting Canelo at the weight class where he excels the most. Remember, part of why he struggled against Bivol was that he moved up to a weight class that didn't suit him particularly well.
In essence, he was defeated by Bivol before he could adapt fully to that new weight class. You've leveled up as well, so you're likely aware of the challenges ahead. What are your thoughts on this?"
Ye Chen smiled, replying, "I understand that 170 pounds is Canelo's natural weight class. However, let's not overlook the fact that I am also the reigning champion in this class. Although this is primarily a boxing match, I'm confident in my ability to emerge victorious in the ring."
As Ye Chen navigated through various interviews, Ava was equally busy, having her own series of engagements. Just as Ye Chen finished a session with Logan, Ava stepped into the interview room right after him.
"We've just discussed your perspective on cross-disciplinary battles. In your view, this represents a grand exchange and showdown between two elite fighters. So, what are your thoughts on Ye Chen, the emergent star in the boxing arena? Considering how quickly he has escalated to potential superstardom, do you believe he could break records?"
When Logan spoke of boxing, it was evident where his focus lay. In truth, Ye Chen had only been in the MMA scene for a tad over three years; he was still somewhat of a newcomer himself.