15 Minutes Later – BackstageThe hallway outside the locker room was swarmingwith reporters, their voices blending into a chaotic storm of English and Japanese.
Camera flashes flickered through the narrow space, microphones extended like spears, all aimed at the closed door.
Coach Kamogawa pushed it open just enough to peek outside.
"Excuse me, can we have a word with Alex?"one of the English-speaking reporters asked.
A translator beside them repeated the request in Japanese.
Kamogawa grunted, then shut the door.
Inside, Alex was standing near his locker, talking with Takamura while pulling his shirt over his bruised torso.
Yagi, a few feet away, was having a quiet discussion with the team doctor.
Kamogawa turned toward Alex. "The media is outside. They want to ask you some questions. Do you want me to refuse them?"
Alex glanced toward the door, then exhaled.
"No, it's fine. I'll answer their questions."
With that, he turned, rolling his shoulders before stepping toward the door.
He opened it—
A flood of flashing lights, cameras, and microphones greeted him.
The chaotic noise of reporters shouting questions all at once filled the air.
Then—
A familiar face stood at the front of the crowd.
Chris Mortensen. The ESPN reporter who had first interviewed him months ago.
Alex smirked and waved. "Long time no see, Chris."
Chris grinned, stepping forward with his mic. "Good to see you again, champ. May I ask you a few questions?"
Alex noticed the other reporters looking annoyedthat Chris had cut ahead, but he shrugged.
"Sure, sure."
Chris nodded. "First off—how are you feeling?"
Alex smiled. "Feeling blessed—especially now that I'm the WBO Lightweight Champion."
A few of the reporters chuckled at his confidence.
Chris then glanced at Alex's face, his expression shifting slightly. "Can I ask about that cut on your right eye?"
The camera zoomed in, focusing on the deep, still-bleeding gash just above Alex's right eyebrow.
Alex exhaled. "Yeah… after this interview, this thing's gonna need some stitches."
Chris chuckled. "I figured as much. That's all for me. Thanks for your time, Alex."
Chris stepped back, and immediately, another reporter stepped forward.
"Hi, Alex. I'm Daniel from Fox News."
He extended his hand.
Alex shook it firmly.
"Your performance tonight was a masterpiece. What does it feel like to be in the 'flow state'?"
Alex tilted his head slightly before answering.
"Being in the flow state, huh? It's like… the world around you slows down. If that makes sense."
Daniel's eyes widened slightly, as if stunned by the simplicity and depth of the answer.
Then, he hesitated before asking his final question.
"Five minutes ago, I spoke with Tracy's coach, Khalil, outside. Tracy was being put into an ambulance. Khalil mentioned that the doctors are shocked he even survived the fight."
Alex's expression changed. His eyes narrowed.
"Explain."
Daniel swallowed, then continued. "After the doctors examined him, here's what they found—"
The entire media crew leaned in closer, waiting.
"Four broken ribs. Each side.
His nasal bone? Completely shattered.
His jaw? Cracked.
His left eyebrow? Cut so deep it required immediate stitches.
His lips? Busted open.
Daniel hesitated before delivering the final blow.
"The sad news is… Tracy has been forced to retire after this fight."
Silence.
The surrounding reporters stood stunned at the brutal reality of the damage Alex had inflicted.
Alex, for the first time in the interview, looked down for a moment.
Then, he lifted his head and faced the camera.
His voice was steady.
"I know… this might sound hypocritical coming from me.
But Tracy, I hope you recover well."
The entire room felt heavy with the weight of those words.
Then—Alex turned and walked back inside the locker room, closing the door behind him.
Outside, the reporters kept shouting questions,but he didn't turn back.
Yagi approached him immediately.
"Alex, I spoke to the doctor. We need to stitch the cut on your right eye now."
Alex sighed, running a hand through his damp hair.
"Yeah, sure."
He sat down on the medical bed as the doctor and a nurse prepared the equipment.
A nurse gently pressed a cloth against his wound while the doctor readied the anesthesia.
As the needle pricked his skin, Alex's mind drifted.
The next day
June 6th – Early Morning, PenthouseThe golden rays of the early morning sun filtered through the massive glass windows of the penthouse, casting a soft glow over the sleek interior.
Standing in front of the kitchen mirror, Alex examined his reflection.
Eight stitches.
The fresh, dark lines cut across his right eyebrow like a battle scar, a painful reminder of last night's war.
He exhaled. It wasn't the stitches that bothered him. It was the aftermath.
As he stared at himself, he barely registered the sound of footsteps behind him.
Takamura had just woken up, his messy hair and shirtless frame stumbling into the kitchen. He scratched his stomach, still half-asleep, before spotting Alex through the reflection of the kitchen mirror.
With a smug grin, he stretched his arms.
"Does it hurt?"
Alex was about to answer—
But Takamura, smirking, cut him off.
"Because a figure like me has never been beaten that badly before! Forced to the ropes? A cut on my face? Ha! Never happened!"
He placed his hands on his hips, laughing.
Alex narrowed his eyes.
"I probably know why."
Takamura, still grinning, raised an eyebrow.
Alex turned slightly, meeting Takamura's gaze through the mirror.
His voice was cool, steady.
"Because you've never fought a world champion-caliber opponent."
He put extra emphasis on the word world.
The room fell silent.
Takamura, mid-laugh, suddenly choked on air.
His eyes widened slightly, the corners of his mouth twitching in irritation.
He turned his head slowly toward Alex, his expression now a mix of annoyance and disbelief.
Alex, unfazed, examined his arms absently before speaking again.
"Have you ever nearly killed a person?"
Takamura blinked.
For once, he didn't have a comeback.
Instead, he stared at Alex, his expression slightly dumbfounded.
Then, lowering his voice, he whispered, "You didn't kill a guy… did you?"
His eyes darted around the room, making sure no one else was listening.
Alex shot him a sharp, judgmental look.
"No, you moron."
Takamura let out a small sigh of relief, but before he could say anything, Alex continued.
"Have you heard about Tracy's condition?"
Takamura scratched his chin, thinking.
"Yesterday in the ring, yeah, his face looked busted up, but that's nothing. He should recover in a few months."
Alex shook his head.
"It looked like that, but the damage I caused was much deeper."
His fingers curled slightly as he looked down at his hands.
Takamura's expression shifted.
Alex inhaled deeply.
"A reporter named Daniel told me he spoke to Tracy's coach after the fight. He asked about the extent of his injuries."
Takamura watched Alex carefully now.
Then, Alex finally looked at him, his voice calm but heavy.
"Khalil said… it's a miracle Tracy survived."
Takamura's brows furrowed.
"What did his coach say?"
Alex exhaled, then listed the injuries.
**"Four broken ribs. Each side.
His nasal bone? Completely shattered.
His jaw? Cracked.
His left eyebrow? Cut so deep it required immediate stitches.
His lips? Busted open."**
Takamura's face darkened as he listened.
Then—
"Shit."
His usual cocky demeanor faded.
He ran a hand through his hair, looking at Alex's fists.
"A few more hits, and he'd be dead in that ring."
He exhaled through his nose. "That would've been a legal kill."
Alex's gaze snapped toward him, sharp and unwavering.
"This isn't something to joke about."
Takamura shut up.
Alex sat down at the kitchen counter, his hands still clenched.
"I almost murdered a guy…"
His voice was quiet.
His fingernails dug into his palm.
"This feeling sucks."
He exhaled sharply, shaking his head.
"I wish I could just move on from this."
Takamura watched him for a moment.
Then, with an exaggerated sigh, he patted Alex's shoulder.
"If it makes you feel better, how about accepting that party invitation?"
Alex gave him a confused look.
Takamura grinned.
"That guy—what was his name? P… Dido? No… P. Diddy?
He snapped his fingers. "Yeah, him. He invited you to some party a couple days ago."
Alex stared at him blankly.
Then, he shook his head.
"I'm in no mood to party."
Takamura shrugged.
Alex leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples.
"I just want to rest. Maybe tomorrow, I'll forget about this."
He exhaled deeply.
Note: ufc 313 main event was a let down u thought either ank will submit him or alex will ko him, but I didn't expect this to be like mario bautista style, if i know this would be the outcome i should of just created more chapter for this fanfic what a waste of time.