92 The Whole League Called Ye Chen, Announcing That He Will Enter The Secondary

Dana is no fool. Catwoman is now a global phenomenon, and with such a top-tier actress pairing up with a UFC superstar, the excitement is palpable. If the other party presents a title to Ye Chen, it would undoubtedly serve as significant publicity, eclipsing all their previous UFC promotional efforts. The idea of uniting fighting stars with popular actresses is thrilling to contemplate. Moreover, wearing a belt is merely symbolic.

Inside the arena, Maha had already been helped to his feet, yet his mood remained subdued. Ye Chen offered him a friendly embrace. "You fought well," said Maha, patting Ye Chen on the back. Ye Chen responded, "You were the toughest opponent I've faced." Xiaoying and the others soon joined in, extending their greetings, and the atmosphere lightened considerably, perhaps due to the Eagles team's subdued spirits.

At that moment, a prompt appeared in front of Ye Chen:

**[Islam technical system copy, please select.]**

1. **Boxing skills**

2. **Wrestling**

3. **Ground fighting control**

4. **Detailed plan for physical training**

5. **Jiu Jitsu**

Ye Chen found himself hesitating. What he truly desired was Makhachev's ground fight control. Just imagining the possibility of merging it with Sarugian's abilities and his own techniques, coupled with Oliveira's jiu-jitsu, filled him with potential for domination in the lightweight division. However, he was envious of the Eagles' superior physical conditioning, which was currently one of his greatest shortcomings.

He envisioned upgrading his physique for greater stability in the middleweight category, but he knew that sacrificing his lightweight advantages might put him at risk. Within the middleweights, competitors like Wusman and Covington were physical giants, making a lack of strong physical reserves a significant danger. Transitioning to middleweight would necessitate an increase in muscle mass and weight, which could further diminish his physical reserves. Thus, the physical training plan was essential.

While other skills didn't vie for his attention—as Mahar was adept in defensive tactics, and his softer offensive boxing skills paled in comparison to Gage's—superb wrestling skills were undoubtedly desirable. Ultimately, he decided to postpone his choice, opting to reflect on it once he exited the ring.

Across the country, the live streaming room erupted in excitement. Viewers enthusiastically proclaimed, "World Champion, Ye Chen!" Clips of Ye Chen's Kimura submission of Makhachev circulated widely, appearing on major short-video platforms. Hot topics featuring Ye Chen surged in popularity.

One trending entry by the official media proclaimed, "A warrior named [Era] has forged a glorious legacy with Asia's first UFC lightweight world champion!" Comments flooded in at a breathtaking pace:

- "The champion has another name—Tianshai."

- "Absolutely outstanding! A spiral bunker—this is undeniably Asia's number one fighter, right?"

- "Number one? The Divine Monk was defeated (dog emoji)."

- "What happened in this clip? Did I miss Makhachev's arm breaking? Is this how brutal it became?"

- "If you can't handle this, take yourself to Dora the Explorer's world!"

- "Incredible! Finally, a Daxia fighter has seized the championship. I need to see pictures of him with the gold belt—it'll be iconic!"

- "Man, my blood was pumping while watching this; I couldn't help but throw a few punches at home."

- "I've followed Ye Chen from the beginning when he began as a substitute. Every dream he spoke has come true... Here's hoping everyone who criticized him will apologize. They weren't bragging; they were just ahead of their time!"

- "I'm right there with you. It's been a rough journey—he's fierce! Hoping to see more warriors like him from our nation."

Another engaging article stated, "The strongest man among 1.4 billion, Ye Chen, claimed the UFC lightweight world championship, becoming Asia's first champion!" This post also climbed to the top of the trending list amidst an overwhelming flood of information about Ye Chen.

Watching fights might require a learned audience—after all, those unfamiliar may find it tedious—but congratulating the first athlete from his country to achieve world champion status transcends barriers. Ye Chen's popularity has breached the realms of combat sports.

As the host began to announce the results, excitement surged through the venue. "Ye Chen faced Islam, achieving a Kimura submission at 2 minutes and 16 seconds into the third round. Let's give a warm round of applause for our new generation of undisputed lightweight world champion, the Daxia Terminator... Ye Chen!!"

Before the words finished echoing through the arena, the referee raised Ye Chen's arm, causing the audience to erupt in cheers and gasps. Ye Chen stood momentarily puzzled. "Is it really so shocking that I won?" he thought. There was no controversy surrounding the submission—it was clear cut.

What he remained unaware of was that Dana had instructed an on-site photographer to capture Catwoman delivering the championship belt to Ye Chen in a grand manner—the larger the better. Catwoman had now removed her hat and mask, approaching Ye Chen with the belt in her hands. Her intention had been to surprise him with this significant gesture when he won, signaling a transition in their relationship from clandestine to official.

In that moment, Catwoman made a silent gesture towards the camera, amplifying the frenzy around them. Moments earlier, onlookers had been baffled, murmuring, "What just happened?" While celebrity presentations of belts were not uncommon, Catwoman's reveal added a new layer. Having recognized her clothing from the earlier context of the match, fans suddenly connected the dots, realizing this was not merely an assistant but a celebrated figure.

As the belt adorned him, Ye Chen instinctively turned to shake Dana's hand. In doing so, he was met with Catwoman's radiant smile and the realization struck him—this explained the earlier commotion. He felt a deep sense of gratitude; Catwoman had promised to support him at the event and fulfill her surprise gift. The belt held symbolic value, transcending mere material significance.

Dada approached him with a bright smile, saying, "Congratulations! I always believed in you." Dana embraced Ye Chen, elated as well. For him, Ye Chen was a golden asset—a "cash cow." With his rising popularity, exceptional style, evident skill, and now the association with an actress, Dana envisioned surpassing the allure that Connor once had.

Yet, Ye Chen's origins as a Daxia fighter added a different layer of complications; some might perceive his stature differently due to cultural biases. However, Dana brushed off these thoughts as mere interference, focusing instead on potential marketability.

In the congratulatory chaos that ensued, many fighters came forth to share their accolades, including Maha, Xiaoying, Mendes, and various referees and hosts. As he soaked in the moment, a more abrasive figure entered the crowd with a microphone.

Comforting Maha first, he posed pressing questions, "Islam, how do you feel after your defeat? Does Ye Chen deserve this victory, and what are your future plans?"

In a tight time frame, DC fired off the questions directly. Makhachev paused to collect his thoughts before addressing them: "Ye Chen is undeniably deserving of this championship. He has proven himself with nine consecutive victories and demonstrated tremendous willpower. I hold great respect for him. My aim now is to return to the octagon soon to reclaim my right to challenge for that belt; I believe in my ability to win it back in the rematch."

After a few moments, doctors rushed Makhachev away to address his injuries, result of a particularly powerful encounter with Ye Chen.

DC turned to Ye Chen, shaking his head in admiration, "How are you feeling now that you're our champion?"

"Very happy," Ye Chen beamed, words failing to encapsulate his elation as he held the title high.

DC continued, "People doubted you could defeat Islam, yet you achieved what no other lightweight could. You ended an opponent's twelve-fight winning streak. Care to share your thoughts?"

Even now, DC was astounded by the outcome—they had all expected a different result. Ye Chen acknowledged the formidable skill set Islam possessed: "He has triumphed over many formidable challengers and dominated previous matches. But within that octagon, anything can unfold. I applied all my skills to counter him. I won't stop here; I aim to grow stronger with each challenge."

DC pressed on, "What lies ahead for you?"

Ye Chen thought carefully then responded, "After the impending fight between Edwards and Wusman concludes, I'll transition to junior middleweight for a super fight. One belt is commendable, but two weight classes with two belts clearly would be even more prestigious."

The timing was perfect; coverage of the upcoming Edwards and Wusman clash would dominate headlines, and many anticipated Wusman avenging his earlier knockout loss. Ye Chen felt this was the strategic route for him—the victor between those two would serve as his next benchmark.

Audiences took note of Ye Chen's words and the possibilities his future held.

"When I step into a higher weight class, I'll be unmatched in a super fight." A ripple of intrigue swept through the crowd. Ye Chen's admission revealed that he was aiming high.

As the announcements concluded, social media buzzed with activity. Chima had already issued challenges, "I'll demolish him; this will be an easy fight. I'll crush him and take my payday," he taunted while noting his excitement to face a Daxia competitor.

Connor added, "Hahaha! With Ye Chen conquering Makhachev, Khabib must be seething. If Ye Chen can take on Islam, he can certainly face Xiaoying. I'd advise him to come back to avenge his brother's loss, but cowardice may keep him away from that challenge."

The response to Connor's commentary was swift, flooded with reactions:

- "Get real! You've also been destroyed by Ye Chen!"

- "I wish for you to face him again; I love watching him decimate you round after round."

- "Each time I see their last fight, I can't help but laugh—Connor barely stood a chance."

- "Is he truly your supernova? Don't forget how Ye Chen dominated during their encounter."

- "You're grasping at straws. No one can compare to Khabib's previous reign over you."

- "Ye Chen represents the mountain you never climbed."

Even Wusman jumped into the conversation, voicing support after Ye Chen's victory. "Islam is my friend; I never anticipated he would fall. Ye Chen, dare to meet me in Zizhong? I'll avenge my brother."

Covington resurrected his presence online, providing a screenshot of when Ye Chen had taken a hit. "Is this the shining star? This Daxia fighter relies on size to overpower those in lightweight. He's at 155 pounds but should be fighting at 170. Anyone thinking he'd best me is in for a shock. Let him face me; trust me, I'll end him in the octagon."

Covington's comments were met with a tangible response; he incited the audience, provoking the competitive spirit within them.

And so, challenges from fighters across all weight classes began flooding social media. Featherweights and junior middleweights were suddenly interested in a showdown with Ye Chen. Even Jarhead Paddy, who'd been online antagonizing him alongside Connor, declared, "If I faced Ye Chen in this main event, you'd witness him lying on the canvas for the first time. My performance would overshadow Islam's."

Middleweight contenders also jumped in, with Costa posting an exaggerated image of Ye Chen alongside defeated opponents, downplaying their resilience. Costa's aim was clear—suggesting that Ye Chen relied on physicality alone, without acknowledging his skills and techniques.

His caption read, "He bullies those who are much smaller. If you're tiny and frail, he can take you on. Otherwise, forget it; I wouldn't even accept a challenge from a so-called giant like him."

This combative atmosphere smoldered as more than twenty fighters took aim at Ye Chen through various outlets. Their motivations were transparent—it's incredibly advantageous to go up against a fighter of Ye Chen's caliber. The monetary rewards and attention garnered from facing him would undoubtedly boost their careers.

In the heady aftermath of Ye Chen's momentous win, the MMA landscape had shifted, waiting to see how these challenges would unfold.