Damon didn't linger over Ivan. He gave the referee and medics space as they knelt beside the interim champion.
Then, with a burst of adrenaline, he sprinted toward the cage wall, gripping the top and hauling himself up in one smooth motion.
The crowd erupted as he stood tall above them, pounding his chest with one glove, a wide grin splitting his face.
Cameras flashed from every direction, fans screaming his name, phones raised to capture the moment.
He had eaten some clean shots tonight, Ivan's counters had tested him, but nothing had left lasting damage.
No swelling worth mentioning, no cut to remember. Just proof of a fight that never broke him.
Damon raised both arms, nodding at the chanting crowd. "Da-mon! Da-mon!" roared through the arena, a thunder that rattled the rafters.
One of the officials rushed over beneath him, waving his hands upward. "Damon, down off the cage. Come on, champ, down now."
