175 In An Ideal Life, Avoid Fighting with Ava?

Everyone was taken aback. Whether it was the former champion Wu Siman or the legendary GSP, no one could believe the numbers being thrown around. They each earned well over a million per match, and to claim that two to three million was a monumental achievement for them was an understatement. Wu Siman had once pocketed an astronomical sum in a single bout, and that was because he faced the superstar Motor. The pay-per-view sales from that event eclipsed many champions' earnings and ranked among the top seven PPVs ever, right alongside the blockbuster appeal of Dabu, a figure who single-handedly revitalized the UFC.

This context is precisely why fighters like Gazi, Burns, Covington, and countless others are eager to challenge Motor. "AF..." Even though feeling a sense of embarrassment, Ye Chen relayed the figure. This act wasn't just beneficial for promoting the UFC; it also served his own interests. He was confident that once this information hit the public, it would send shockwaves through the sports community worldwide. His earnings for the year had already catapulted him to the very top of the income charts among sports stars, without question. The "Three Five Seven" sum he mentioned was absolutely worthy of publicity.

If one could orchestrate a monumental battle before the year drew to a close, Ye Chen's earnings would reach an even more staggering height. "What? This... this is unreal; there's actually 60 million involved?" "Isn't that on par with the earnings of top football superstars?" "Not just comparable but actually surpassing! This amount is tied to a single game. He's already played three times this year, so if we consider that..." "I can't believe it! How can his income be higher than that of a rugby player?" "It's not unbelievable. This is a solo sport, whereas football, basketball, and rugby are all team-based."

The crowd was left in shock. It wasn't just the students who were astonished; Clark, Wusman, and GSP gaped at Ye Chen in disbelief. Sixty million—what kind of concept was that? Just from this single match, Ye Chen's earnings would secure him a spot among the top three in the annual income rankings for global sports stars. That's the reality of the situation.

As we all know, football reigns as the premier sport worldwide. For years, the income earners have predominantly come from the football realm. There is hardly any room for doubt about that. Yet, there have been instances where the fighting stars outshone them, particularly in boxing, where Mayweather wowed the world by raking in nearly 300 million dollars in a single year. Pacquiao followed closely behind, while Messi and Ronaldo landed in third and fourth place, respectively. Conor McGregor also made headlines by hitting 180 million.

What's undeniable is that fighting is a solo sport, and that fact is exactly why Dana envisioned a cross-border match for Ye Chen, even before he moved up to middleweight. This was the money match. It's no stretch to say that Mayweather has an unmatched talent for generating revenue, and Ava, his opponent, certainly holds her own in that arena as well. Thus, both fighters are Dana's top picks for this explosive matchup.

Another student was brought to the forefront, his excitement palpable as he exclaimed, "So, does this mean you've hit billionaire status? Have you considered retiring to enjoy life?" This question resonated loudly among the audience. It's common for people to fantasize about the wealth they possess and the sumptuous lifestyle that goes hand in hand with it—basking in the company of beautiful women, cruising in luxury cars, and sailing on private yachts. Dreaming of donning designer clothes, flashing extravagant watches, and embracing a life without cares.

However, Ye Chen shook his head, "I haven't given that much thought yet. Perhaps when I can no longer find suitable opponents, I might think about retirement..." "Then, what does your ideal life look like?" Once again, Ye Chen shook his head but added with a smile, "I genuinely don't know. If you have any insights, I'd love to hear them. Honestly, I'm not much different from all of you. After I leave the ring, I too will face worries, experience joy and sadness, and deal with the basic necessities of life like eating and sleeping...

Perhaps when I get older, I may find myself missing the thrill of going toe-to-toe with top-tier boxers in the ring. If that's the case, why not fight a few more matches while I still have the chance, to leave behind some sense of longing?" "DIA..." The crowd erupted in applause. Ye Chen wasn't merely speaking; he truly believed in what he was saying. He continued, "Who can definitively explain what the 'ideal life' is supposed to be? Human desires are endless.

The life you envision as ideal is simply one that feels out of reach at this moment. Yet, once you attain it, you may come to realize it doesn't embody an ideal existence at all. For instance, consider Kamanu's lavish villa or his luxury cars. How many people crave a lifestyle like his? Ask Kamanu if he feels like he's living his dream life." Wu Siman chimed in with a grin, "Of course, I aspire to a life similar to his."

"DIDI..." Another wave of applause ensued. Wu Siman's response underscored everything Ye Chen had articulated before: contentment appears to elude humanity. At that moment, a blonde girl stood up, her curiosity piqued, "I want to know what Annie is really like in person. Or how do you two interact?" Clearly, the female sports students were captivated by this topic, with a chorus of intrigued murmurs filling the air.

Ye Chen hesitated, unsure of how to navigate this personal line of questioning. Finally, he shrugged and replied, "Honestly, we're just like any other couple you might meet. I can say that Anne meets every one of my expectations in a partner." He then glanced at Catwoman sitting in the front row, who rolled her eyes at him in response. He could almost hear her thoughts as she muttered, "What do you mean 'meets all my expectations'?"

The audience, catching a glimpse of the tension, leaned in with heightened interest, eager for the drama unfolding. "What do you mean by currently? Have you thought about marriage?" Ye Chen played along, jokingly responding, "That really depends on her performance down the line…" In truth, he felt that the relationship between them was solid and comfortable. Some connections don't necessitate the validation of a marriage license.

With a series of light-hearted questions, Ye Chen successfully lifted the mood among the crowd. Students began eagerly directing questions towards Clark and Wusman. They even quizzed Wusman about his daily interactions with Clark, speculating whether he had any romantic intentions. Questions bubbled up about GSP's potential return to the ring.

To address the latter, a curly-haired boy stepped forward, stating, "Hello, Ye Chen, I'm from Moses Song. Do you think you have a chance against Ava from our country in the boxing ring? He has expressed his desire for a cross-border battle more than once. There have even been rumors of a confirmed match. Yet, I've never heard your take on it. Are you feeling the pressure from your undefeated record, afraid of losing to our Moses Warriors, so you're avoiding what could be an eagerly anticipated clash?"

Before Ye Chen could respond, Wusman interjected, "Ava can battle me anytime. I've called him out countless times, but he hasn't accepted. You should encourage your Moses warriors to respond to my challenge. The fact that he ignores me could suggest he's afraid of me." Wusman still had a chip on his shoulder about this situation. Once the undisputed P4P king, he yearned for a lucrative cross-genre bout with Ava. Regrettably, the latter just seemed indifferent to his calls. Now with this platform, he felt the need to take a jab at Ava.

The student couldn't help but chuckle, "Kamanu, with all due respect, you're undeniably a talented MMA fighter, but you've lost your championship title. You've fallen from the top P4P spot, and your boxing technique pales in comparison to Ava's." The atmosphere crackled with tension as the student continued, "Everyone knows that if you faced Ava, you'd probably get knocked out in the first round. If boxing is genuinely your aspiration, I'd recommend you reach out to Jake Paul. He might be a better fit for you."

"Who?" Wusman bristled, the irritation clear on his face. "I've never heard of this person you're referring to." The mere suggestion of seeking guidance from an internet celebrity was an unbearable affront to him, even though he wasn't entirely against a match with Jake Paul. However, given his current contract, it was simply improbable for him to challenge Jake Paul now. Faced with the possibility of retirement, he might have leapt at the chance to go against Jake Paul, but for now, that remained a distant dream.