A day hadn't passed before it was time to finalize the picks. In the lightweight division, the bracket was unusually lopsided, every fighter advancing was from Damon's team.
To keep the process fair, the matchups were decided through a blind draw handled by the production crew.
Each fighter's name was written on a card, placed into a covered bowl, and then drawn by one of the show's athletic commission officials.
The fighters had no say, and Damon didn't touch the process, ensuring there was no hint of bias.
The middleweight side was still mixed between teams, and the structure for their bracket remained unchanged.
The fighters and coaches gathered in the gym before heading upstairs, where the match announcements would take place.
The sound of boots on the stairs grew louder until Maine Ronan walked in, holding a small clipboard.
He carried himself with the kind of energy that filled the room instantly.
