9 The Schedule Is Confirmed, Jiu-Jitsu Master Burns

Ye Chen couldn't shake the feeling of being shortchanged.

He thought there would be a professional agent or a supportive team guiding him through this journey.

Sadly, he had neither.

But asking for help wasn't on his agenda just yet.

The three upcoming matches were those he had personally selected, which meant they were aligned perfectly with his plans.

Once he secured his earnings, Ye Chen wasted no time asking Dana to line up a game for him swiftly.

He had nothing holding him back; after all, he was fit as a fiddle.

Dana was more than willing. He recognized the value in players with high attendance rates, and with Ye Chen's recent surge in popularity, it was the perfect moment to nurture a potential new Asian star, paving the way to expand into the Asian market.

…

As he stepped out of the hotel, Ye Chen headed straight to the bank, exchanged 50,000 Daxia coins, and transferred it all to his parents' account.

"Mom, what are you up to?"

"I just finished eating and am watching TV. What about you? Skipped work today?"

Unbeknownst to them, he had ventured into the fighting world.

His family had modest means, and his parents were getting on in years.

His father, always anxious about his son's future, had settled into a job as a factory security guard.

Ye Chen had tried to reassure them time and again, insisting that his earnings would support them well enough.

Yet, in the eyes of any parent in Daxia, no matter your accomplishments, you remain their child. This deep-rooted sentiment was universal.

"Mom, I just sent some money for you and Dad. Spend it however you need—eat well, don't save it all for me, okay?

And if you keep Dad at that factory, I could take care of our whole family now."

"Just earn some for yourself and find a nice girl. Don't worry about us! Last I heard, Wang Bo from the third team got married, and his bride price was over 100,000 yuan. Do you think we have space for your dad's new car?"

…

Ye Chen spent over half an hour patiently explaining his boxing career, detailing his earnings per game.

But to no avail.

He could only chuckle helplessly; it seemed that only when he bought a house and settled down would his parents finally breathe easy about him.

So he resolved to push himself even harder.

Interestingly, the online buzz had shifted dramatically overnight.

The comments flooding Ye Chen's fight videos were nothing short of a spectacle.

["Can't Survive One Round" Code.]

"Come on, if you can just last a round, you will win!"

"Ha! I love seeing these face-slapping moments. Just last night, everyone who doubted him got slapped hard. So satisfying."

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but Ye Chen isn't just all talk. He's got the skills and looks to back it up; he claimed he wouldn't let anyone stay standing for more than thirty seconds!"

"Steppin' out to prove your prowess? I see you're knowledgeable. What kind of stick makes you unbeatable? What now?"

…

In addition, many analysts dissecting fighting techniques faced ridicule.

A certain interview video featuring Lin Long had gone viral.

"Don't underestimate sparring! Does anyone actually let you win when practicing?"

"A classic case of 19 open—how dare you."

"Lin Long: I'm just a 50-50 split with Li Zhengyong. Ye Chen: No matter, let's get this started."

…

In the end, Lin Long deleted the video.

Meanwhile, footage of Ye Chen defeating Li Zhengyong soared to the top of trending hashtags, even hitting the top ten charts.

Scores of negative comments faded away, making room for overwhelming support.

…

Before realizing it, a week flew by.

Ye Chen dedicated himself to intense training, shifting his focus to wrestling, falls, and ground combat.

These days, only versatile fighters thrive, making it tough to rise to the top without a diversified skill set.

Fortunately, both Li Zhengyong and Lin Long were adept in wrestling. While not the absolute best, they were still competent sparring partners for him.

Today marked a significant moment—UFC confirmed his next match!

Two months away, at Florian Fight Night.

"Hey, what's Fight Night mean?"

Ye Chen was live-streaming, and after his last fight, his follower count rocketed to 330,000 on Douyin.

Prices for minor TV appearances were also hitting over 50,000.

To keep the momentum, he frequently shared short training clips.

Reading the live chat, he couldn't hide his amusement. "Brother, haven't been watching UFC for long, huh? Fight Night is a free event where fans can watch the action live.

The last time I fought, it was Fight Night—a free event by UFC to pull in more viewers.

Most fighters here are fresh faces, but if you land a spot in the main event, you've either got potential or a strong fanbase.

The major competitions cost that membership, but Fight Night is accessible for everyone in China."

"This time, I'll go up against a wrestler from Georgia. With two whole months to prep, there's no need to stress!

If I score another win, I might just break into the rankings."

"Right, Brother Liang's gym is in Florida. I'll compete there. Maybe I can get a clip of him in action for you!"

…

Time sped by.

Two months flashed past in an instant.

Ye Chen had been in the United States for five days now.

Upon arrival, he underwent the usual drug test.

Even as a temporary substitute last time, he knew the UFC and the National Sports Association took these checks seriously, and athletes could be tested at any moment.

With just seven days until the fight, Ye Chen hadn't encountered his opponent, Jima, yet and was itching for some simulated sparring to exploit any weaknesses.

In pursuit of his goal, he rented a car to visit Gazi's training gym. If he could successfully mimic the techniques of the great jujitsu master Burns or the nearly unbeatable Wusman, it would give him the edge he desperately needed.