Sitting in Ricardo Barbosa’s office, Ben took a second to appreciate the space. This was one of the rare spaces in the MMA gym that didn’t smell of sweat and old cotton. The walls here were even thick enough to insulate the sound from the men yelling not too far away on the other side.

  Ben looked around at the glass shelves filled with shining golden trophies. It was a sight to behold. Then, he looked down at his chest, at the crappy medal connected by a sh*t plastic blue ribbon……

  He grimaced. "What’s with this medal? Why didn’t I win a trophy?"

  At this, Ricardo sneered. "A trophy? For this little free internal gym tournament? You’re getting ahead of yourself."

  Ben blinked. "But I just beat a bunch of purple belts including that heavyweight Nick……"

  Ricardo leaned in as he stared hard at Ben. "Did you not hear me say free?"……

  Ben nodded in understanding now. ’So that’s what it was……’


  He would’ve done the same thing……

  *Cough* Realizing he’d divulged a bit too much about his spending habits, Ricardo moved on to change the subject, as he spoke with his Brazilian Portuguese accent. "I’ll admit, you did well out there. I admit you have talent. But talent is one thing, and it can only bring you so far. Besides, you’ve still got a lot more to learn. I think you saw that when you took that last hit, no?"

  Ben knitted his eyebrows as he thought back to that. He knew what Ricardo was referring to—striking. Although he’d beaten Nick in grappling, it only took one punch to send Ben out for the count, and there was nothing he could do about it.

  It was true Nick sucker-punched him, but in fact, Ben caught a glance at the strike coming at the last second, but he froze up. This was the issue. He wasn’t used to fighting. And he knew since he started MMA that it wasn’t as simple as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This was a three-dimensional sport. Today, he learned that the hard way.

  Ricardo saw Ben understood his meaning and nodded, as his eyes gleamed because he realized he needed to throw some more honey on this beartrap he was setting. "I can tell you get my meaning. However, don’t forget the other thing I said." Ricardo pointed his thick finger at Ben. "You’ve got talent…… You even remind me of myself when I was younger."

  Ben’s eyes widened. "You got knocked down by a punch at the end of a BJJ tournament too?"

  "NO! I’ve never gone out like a punk!"……

  Ben’s eyes twitched, unsure how to deal with this weird gym boss. However, what was this middle-aged man getting at?

  Soon, Ricardo revealed it. "Have you, ever thought about competing?" In fact, Ricardo’s hand tensed as it squeezed the table below him. Although he didn’t reveal it, Ben was the most talented student he’d ever seen. Yet, knowing this kid had a strange personality, he didn’t want to go overboard and scare him away. So, he decided to take things slow.

  "Compete? You mean MMA?" Ben’s eyebrows raised. He really never thought about it. In reality, he didn’t see why anyone would be interested in that. Getting hit and hurt for a living? The income wouldn’t pay for your medical bills and long-term health issues. It didn’t seem like a great idea by any stretch of the imagination.

  However, Ricardo’s eyes shined with a hidden fire as he confirmed it. "That’s right. MMA. The only place you can confirm yourself as a real man."

  Unexpected to Ricardo though, Ben cringed. "Sorry, Yuujiro Hanma……I’m not interested."

  Ricardo blinked, not having expected Ben to reject so fast. Wasn’t becoming the strongest warrior a natural desire of any man? He realized that perhaps Ben didn’t understand the perks so he explained. "Can’t you see? The skill, the challenge, the glory?"

  Ben only shook his head with strong disapproval.

  Ricardo couldn’t believe it. "Listen, don’t say no so quickly! It’s the greatest thing in the world! How can it not appeal to you? The money, the adrenalin, the fame!"

  For a long time, Ricardo went on and on, raving on the benefits of being an MMA fighter.

  After hearing enough, Ben was standing up from the chair, getting ready to walk out of this office, away from this desperate gym shark.

  Seeing this, Ricardo sighed. "Are you sure you won’t compete? It’s really an incredible feeling being in a fight. Those moments when you’re between rounds, digging deep into your soul for everything you have to gain that glory, overcoming your physical and emotional limits, then the ring girls leave and they ring the bell to……

  At that moment, Ben froze, leaning forward with his hands on the armrest. In slow motion, he looked up at Ricardo. "What did you say?"……

  Ricardo blinked for a while, uncertain what Ben was referring to. "Overcoming your limits?"

  "No! Money talks but bullsh*t walks! The other thing!"……

  "The glory?"

  Ben still shook his head. "Maybe in some situations but you have to get the desperate ones! The other thing! After that!"……

  "When the ring girls leave and……"

  Ben gasped……before leaning forward and slamming his hands against the table. "SENSEI! Take me in as your disciple!"……

  ’All of that, and the final thing to convince him was……ring girls?’ Ricardo was started to regret his decision……

  However, Ben wouldn’t give him a chance to take back the offer. "I’ll do the Kumate……

  I’ll stretch my jacking arms like Dhalsim……"

  For the last thing he wanted to say, Ben decided it would be better to keep it in his head though. ’I’ll even wax-on, wax-off……if it’s on your daughter……’
……

  Ricardo didn’t know why, but he was starting to feel like this bastard with the narrowed eyes across from him was thinking strange things……

  Regardless though, he’d gotten what he wanted. As such, he hurried to accept Ben’s enthusiasm. "Good! From now on, you’ll start learning proper MMA! We’ll turn you into an all-around fighter!"

  A few minutes later after discussing the details of Ricardo’s planned training regimen for him, Ben left the office, full of energy, as he visualized starting his new career as the KOF—King of F*ckers……