The two emerged almost simultaneously from the backstage area. Dana, positioned on stage, looked at Ye Chen, his face radiating relief. This is the essence of a superstar. Authentic to the UFC, he embodies the spirit of MMA. They took their respective seats on either side. The host initiated the introductions for the upcoming competition, and the atmosphere was electric with anticipation. The crowd erupted with shouts and cheers. Moments later, the press conference officially commenced.
The first reporter posed a question: "Canelo, have you had a chance to read your old rival Golovkin's remarks about Ye Chen? What are your thoughts? Do you think Ye Chen is intentionally stirring things up at this moment? Do you believe that he and Golovkin are collaborating to throw you off your game?" Ye Chen was taken aback. This reporter clearly had a vivid imagination. Yet, it sparked a passing thought in his mind after watching a prior video. However, he quickly dismissed it, confident that Golovkin would never engage in such antics. Given the other party's character, it didn't seem plausible.
Ava interjected with a smile, "Although Golovkin may be aging, his insights remain sharp. Ye Chen should certainly regard Golovkin's evaluation with the respect it deserves, despite having once sparred alongside you. He's an honest individual, stating truths that are already acknowledged. Only those who have truly faced me understand the sheer power of my punches."
In the audience, Ava's supporters erupted in cheers. Many had placed sizable bets on him, fueling excitement with his unwavering confidence. Ye Chen's fans joined in the applause because, truth be told, a lot of them had also invested in Ava's success. When it comes to money, people are often most honest with their bets. This wasn't a matter of blind fandom; while they hoped for a Ye Chen victory, the odds of him winning seemed nearly non-existent. It made more sense to play it safe and secure earnings through Ava. Even if Ye Chen were ultimately to lose, there would still be financial gain, making the situation less painful.
Ye Chen remained silent, choosing to keep his gaze lowered. At this moment, he was intensely focused on the battle unfolding within the simulated space. All five arenas were consumed by the conflict between him and Ava—truly a fierce showdown. Presently, he faced a crisis in the first arena, having been struck on the head by Ava. In a defensive posture, he wrapped his hands around his head, trying to withstand the barrage.
Ava was relentless, pressing him against the ropes with his powerful punches. Ye Chen quickly attempted to counter with a hook, but the seasoned Ava easily evaded the attack without breaking his rhythm. It was daunting. Concurrently, trouble brewed in the second arena as he received another punishing blow to the head, the impact making his brain feel as if it were in turmoil. The health bar for his simulated character plummeted dangerously close to the bottom line.
Before long, Ava advanced with a backhand punch that sent him crashing down. In the fourth arena, he faced similar adversity. Yet, during this critical moment, he noticed something significant. Ava had a penchant for throwing heavy punches. However, the energy consumption from those strikes was substantial. Consequently, in every arena, Ava's stamina bar dwindled noticeably faster than Ye Chen's, indicating a possible opening.
"At…," a sudden voice startled him and snapped him back to reality.
"Um?" Ye Chen instinctively looked up, shocked at the uproar in the room.
"What's happening?" he pondered. There was a marked difference in his demeanor; he hardly seemed to carry the weight of the press event, and he felt the curious gazes of everyone around him. Was he truly losing his focus? The crowd began to murmur, casting doubts about his state of mind.
At that moment, a reporter queried, "Ye Chen, how do you respond to what Ava just said?" Ye Chen, momentarily taken aback, replied, "What? What did he say? I was so deep in thought that I didn't catch that." An even deeper wave of suspicion rippled through the audience. Curiosity about his unusual behavior swelled. The reporter summarizing Ava's statements concluded, "Were you thinking about the match against Ava? Does this challenge bring you pressure? After all, you are heralded as a new-generation superstar with an undefeated record..."
"Pressure? No," Ye Chen replied candidly. "I was simply contemplating how I would celebrate with Annie after securing a victory."
He stated this with sincerity. Earlier, while engrossed in the simulation, he had indeed been oblivious to the ongoing conversation with Ava. The atmosphere turned, and Ava injected, "You really ought to focus on refining your boxing skills and consider how best to prepare for a loss in the ring. You should heed Golovkin's advice, as you are genuinely not my match and it would benefit you to drop the façade of strength."
The audience's excitement surged, animatedly reacting to the exchange. "Haha, Ye Chen still carries that confidence! That's what I appreciate about him!"
"I sense he's putting on a brave face. His earlier distraction was definitely authentic. His eyes tell me he's in over his head this time."
"Ava's momentum is undeniable! Just look at his confidence contrasted with Ye Chen's demeanor; it resembles Golovkin's strategy from earlier—another distraction at the press conference."
"Yet there are those who argue he's confident and unphased."
"Confidence alone won't win a match; it's grounded in skill and strength. Ye Chen's brilliance in the Octagon is unquestionable, but Ava reigns supreme in the boxing ring; he should show him respect."
The reporter pressed further, "How do you assess Golovkin's evaluation of you? Is that the basis for your split with him? Are there conflicts in your approaches to preparing for this fight? I understand this is your first time bringing in additional help for your fight preparation. Does that indicate you view Ava as your strongest contender yet?"
"It's not about strength; it's simply that this is my first boxing match, so I needed extra guidance. Also, I didn't fire Golovkin—he left..."
At that moment, Ye Chen's phone rang, displaying Golovkin's video call, creating an unexpected twist in the unfolding story.