Erik and Iván had been surviving in the big city for years, alternating their aspirations in the world of fighting with all kinds of low-paid junk jobs. Erik had gotten his license as a professional, but the scene in this country was too small and it was difficult to find events to compete in. Iván assumed the functions of trainer and manager, and little by little he managed to get contacts for Erik to get fights. They barely had enough to survive, and the illusion was the main fuel that kept them going, however, that life without expectations was disappointing Iván, all his life he had followed Erik and that was beginning to not be pleasant for him, everything worsened when Marcelo Carvalho entered the scene, a Brazilian instructor who saw potential in Erik and decided to become his coach. He and Ivan didn't get along very well, and he always advised Erik to get rid of his friend, but he couldn't leave him behind, they had spent too much time together to put him aside now.

Erik was a born leader, a charismatic dreamer with a lot to offer and whom everyone admired; however, Ivan was the opposite, insecure, without people skills and with a lack of personality. They were the perfect complement to each other, their friendship had survived all kinds of difficulties, it even survived me, when Ivan fell madly in love with me and lost me when he introduced me to his best friend, but all that happened a long time ago.

Ivan hid many inner demons that few saw, not even Erik, who blinded by achieving his dream was unable to see it. Iván began to have problems with gambling, he even bet on his friend's fights, and that addiction was bringing him problems lately. Marcelo was one of the few who managed to see Iván's problem, at first he tried to help him, but Iván, already a victim of his gambling addiction, turned a deaf ear to Marcelo's good intentions, which only made their relationship sour and they never understood each other.

 

 After many ups and downs, Ivan contacted a promoter for a martial arts tournament that could finally open doors for Erik to the big leagues, to good purses, it was a tournament where eight competitors would fight in one night, the winner would have to win three eliminatory fights and the prize would be to enter a prestigious team in England at expenses paid, the step that Erik needed to prove that he could be someone, however the promoter who organized that event was not clean wheat, Frankie Gatti, was an old boxing promoter of bad reputation, who with the rise of MMA as a sport decided to put his paws in the new sport. He had behind him a history of corruption in boxing that led him to be expelled from the boxing circuits finding in MMA a anew world of possibilities that opened up before him, and deluded people like Iván and Erik as his new victims. In Erik's last two fights, Ivan had already worked with him, although without dealing with him directly, however, in this tournament everything would be different and Ivan saw here an opportunity not only to help his friend and advance his career, but also to settle some of his scores in the game.

Erik's career up to that point had developed in small events without repercussion in which he always faced one-dimensional fighters, specialists in Karate, judo or kickboxing without any experience in mixed martial arts, they were easy victories, which only helped him to magnify his record, but they were very small steps to make a name for himself on the scene. In that tournament, he would have the opportunity to measure himself against true martial artists, complete fighters, specialists in all the aspects necessary to succeed in that difficult world.

The event was held in a sports venue equipped to play basketball, in the middle of the court, an octagon was placed that simulated that of major leagues such as the UFC.

On the day of the event, Erik, Marcelo and Iván showed up at the venue a few hours before, the organization came out to receive them and at that moment Erik met Gatti, Iván had already met him and had been seduced by all that verbiage that the gangster used to use with the unwary, he promised him heaven and Iván believed it. Marcelo had been in that world for many years and advised Erik to stay away from Gatti, that only managed to heat up tempers and caused confrontations between Iván and him. The arguments were so notorious, that Iván separated from them for much of the tournament, which made him try to get closer to that gangster who would teach him the dark issues that were hidden behind the competition, illegal betting.

Erik soon found out what his first confrontation would be, Nico Canneti, an Argentine with a 10-3 record in mixed martial arts, a kickboxer specialized in KOS, with a record behind him as a kickboxer of 78-23, and former Argentine kickboxing champion. He was the oldest fighter in the competition, 37 years old, but also the most experienced. Erik was relieved that his first match was not against a wrestler, his experience against wrestlers was practically nil and he feared that he would not be able to stop his takedowns, even so, he was an excellent grappler and fully trusted his submission skills.

When the time came for the fight, Marcelo, as a faithful squire, accompanied him in his corner, but Iván had been invited to watch the fights from the stands, in the box set up for Gatti and his men.

Fortunately for Erik, the first fight of the night was his, that gave him time to rest if he managed to get past the first round. Once inside the cage, the die was already cast, when he heard the door close behind him, he became another person, a cold and ruthless being, unscrupulous with only one thought in his head, winning.

The referee began hostilities, Erik and Nico positioned themselves in the center of the ring, Nico did not want to waste time and began his attack with a brutal low kick to Erik's shin that made even his ancestors feel it, Erik was surprised by the strength of the Argentine, his shins were like steel. After the first attack, Nico continued with a series of punches that Erik managed to block and then and without further delay, attack with a takedown that Nico tried to stop unsuccessfully, fortunately for Erik, his wrestling was not as good as his kickboxing.

Once on the ground, Erik controlled his opponent by launching fist and elbow offensives that reached their goal, opening gaps in eyebrows and cheekbones, staining the floor of the octagon red. Nico could not get out of the harassment inflicted on him by Erik on the ground. Erik was hoping for an oversight that would open up the opportunity to bring out his wide arsenal of submissions, and finally, that opportunity came. Trying to break free, Nico turned his back on Erik and he took the opportunity to beat him back and apply a choke known as the rear naked choke, which forced the Argentine to surrender. It was an easy victory and the public, surprised by the ease of his victory, would soon make Erik the favorite to win that tournament. Unfortunately for him, though, that would work against him in the dirty gambling world.

Erik, happy with his victory, raised his arms and gave himself to his audience that enveloped him with their approval in the form of encouragement and applause, as soon as he could, Marcelo entered the cage hugging his pupil. Both looked towards the box where Iván applauded his friend showing him a thumbs up, but neither Erik nor Marcelo were happy with his attitude.

"He's going to sell us." Marcelo said.

“What are you talking about? He wouldn't do that.”

“Be careful, don't trust anyone, here, your only fights won't be only inside the cage.” Marcelo warned his pupil very seriously.

Marcelo left the cage, but Erik, worried about his words, took one last look at the box before leaving, worried about his friend, who seemed to enjoy the company of that gangster too much.

"Your friend is good.”  Gatti said to Ivan with a mischievous smile.

"I told you. You were hiring the best.”

“The public already considers him a favorite, Cannetti is a tough guy.”

"But he doesn't have Erik's determination.”

“I see... We will do great things together.”

That put a smile on Ivan's face, he saw success at his fingertips, all those years of hardship seemed to have come to an end, he would no longer be the eternal second that he seemed to be forced to be, but when you play with fire, you run the risk of getting burned.

The match had been quick and that would give Erik a chance to rest until the next round. He sat next to Marcelo in the dressing room and through the television he examined his possible opponents. He was relieved to see that there were no elite wrestlers and breathed easy knowing that he would not have to deal with that problem, however, he could not rest on his laurels, the level of competition was high and a small oversight would cost him dearly. Marcelo couldn't help but be worried, Ivan's dalliances with Gatti couldn't bring anything good, he tried to hide his concern from Erik, but he could perceive it, and although he was also worried, he tried to keep his head away from it.

When there was only one fight left for Erik's next fight, Ivan went down to the locker room to cheer him on with Gatti. Marcelo didn't like that at all and left the room before his mouth got them into trouble.

Gatti approached Erik, who was sitting on a bench waiting for his turn. Gatti offered him his hand, and he shook it without further ado, without giving it any more importance.

"You're very good, boy.”  Gatti said.

"Thank you..." Erik replied dryly without the slightest intention of giving him more conversation.

"I've been talking to your friend...”

"He's my manager." He interrupted abruptly, casting an angry look at Ivan that made him bow his head.

"Well, your manager," Gatti continued, "I have big plans for you, boy.”

Erik stood up and stared into Gatti's eyes, said some words that no one in that room would have expected.

"I decide what my plans are, not you, not him and my immediate plans are to win this tournament and go to England to fulfill my dream. That's all I care about. And I will do it alone.”

Gatti smiled, felt the boy's hostility towards him and decided not to continue stoking that fire.

"Get out there, and back up your words with actions.” Gatti told him, patting him on the shoulder before leaving.

Iván decided to stay and when Gatti left the room, Marcelo decided to enter. Ivan was not very happy with his friend's attitude, and he made him see it.

“You are crazy? Why do you talk to him like that? It's our ticket to get out of the pit.”

“Wrong!!”  Marcelo intervened- “That guy will only make the well even deeper.”

“Who has given you a candle at this funeral?”  Iván shouted facing the Brazilian who did not hesitate to push Iván off his back.

 

Erik stood between them and tried to calm them down, but it was obvious that he was on Marcelo's side, and that did not please Ivan at all, who furious and willing not to listen to anyone left the room slamming the door. He felt frustrated, undervalued, and felt that he had sacrificed too much for his friend who never valued him. He saw in Gatti his salvation, his way of paying off his debts to gambling, but Erik had other plans, plans that consisted of leaving him behind and he could not allow it.

Erik's next opponent was a Romanian fighter, who had managed to win his previous fight in the second round, with a knee KO after escaping a standing guillotine. He was a tough guy, sparing in words, with a torso full of tattoos and a biography probably written in some seedy prison. His name was Alin Muresan, he was a mixed martial artist with a 10-1 record, his strengths were his boxing, he was hard as a rock, and he withstood a lot of punishment, in addition, he had good defense against takedowns and despite not having an elite jiu jitsu, his record included five victories by submission.

Both fighters entered the cage to the clamor of the public that had already chosen Erik as their favorite, and Gatti, from the box, next to Iván, was very attentive.

The cage closed behind him, the referee gave the last instructions and hostilities soon began. Erik without wasting any more time threw himself to knock down his opponent, but he guessed his intentions and managed to stop the attack, both fighters ended up in the clinch, where Erik received two consecutive knees in the ribs that made him feel like he was dying inside. For a few seconds the pain was unbearable and on the third knee he fell to the ground, Alin followed him to the ground with bad intentions, he threw a series of punches and elbows that Erik barely managed to dodge. A small gap opened in his cheekbone, he was bleeding for the first time that night, but he could not lose, he had to look for a way out, and the answer was found in his jiu jitsu. Erik managed to fit an armlock on his opponent, it was deep and perfect to break his arm, but Alin was not going to give up, he fought as if he didn't care about living or dying and his arm reached the limit. Alin endured the pain, while he got up from the ground trying to escape, Erik could hear the tendons break, but he was not willing to let go, he knew that Alin would leave there with a serious injury, but that madman would never give up, sacrificing his arm. He got rid of the submission, and without further delay he unloaded a series of blows to Erik's face that were about to finish him off, one of those blows, hit him squarely in his jaw sending him to the dream room, but luckily for him, the next blow that hit the same place woke him up, He was still alive, and only his Jiu Jitsu could save him, that man was crushing him with a broken arm, he needed to hold the dress and fit a triangle, strangle that madman with his legs, and when he saw the opportunity, he did it. He caught the Romanian and swore to himself that he would never let go, the crowd roared chanting his name and he felt his encouragement as extra strength. Marcelo shouted at him from the corner, and in the box, Iván did the same. Erik squeezed and squeezed, he squeezed as if his life depended on it, in part he did, and soon, the Romanian fell unconscious because of his technique, the referee soon realized and ended the fight ten seconds from the end of the first round, Erik had won, he would fight in the final, but this time, He had received a lot of punishment and the recovery time was not enough.

Gatti applauded from the stands, Iván sighed with relief and touched his chest trying to calm his nerves.

"God, how close he has been.”

- That boy has talent, it's a shame about his arrogance.”

"He was nervous, don't take it into account.”

“He has put the public in his pocket.”

“I told you that you were facing the next idol of MMA.”

"He must fall." Gatti said very seriously.

“What?” Ivan asked, surprised.

“He must fall in the final.”

“What are you talking about?” Ivan got a knot in his stomach.

“It is a long-term investment, if he wins this tournament, only he wins, if he loses, we all win.”

“He is not going to accept that, the only thing he has in mind is to go to England.”

"And when he is gone, you will stay here, with your debts, and without a future."

“What are you suggesting?”

“I want him to lose the final, we will bet all our money on his opponent. He'll make a lot of money, and I'll keep getting him contracts on evenings like this, he'll make it big, but sometimes you have to wait.

“We had not talked about this, we cannot do that.”

"Then be prepared to face the consequences.”

Gatti left the box accompanied by his men, leaving Ivan alone, for a moment it crossed his mind to throw himself out of the box and put an end to so much suffering, but he was too cowardly for it, he also thought about escaping from the enclosure, but he could not abandon his friends, and even less with that trouble he had gotten him into, He hated himself, and he hated being such an, but there was nothing he could do anymore, the cards were on the table.