NOVPUBDespite the pushback from fans, the UFA pushed ahead with the matchup between Damon Cross and Ivan.
The marketing was subtle but steady, highlight reels, quotes from the press conference, old clips of both men in The Supreme Fighter days.
But the energy wasn't like Damon's previous fights. It wasn't loud. It wasn't buzzing with rivalry.
Not many were putting serious eyes on this one.
Most saw it as Damon ticking a box. Cleaning out the last name on a list before moving up. They called it a formality. A champion's obligation.
But they still tuned in.
Because Damon was fighting.
And when Damon Cross fought, something always happened. 𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘱𝘶𝑏.𝘤𝘰𝑚
Maybe it was the execution. Maybe it was the presence. But fans, even the doubtful ones, couldn't look away.
Some came to witness greatness. Others came to see if someone could finally stop him.
And somewhere in the silence of the predictions, Ivan trained like a man who had no interest in being a formality.
He trained like someone who wanted to shock the world.
Shane Brickland had never been known for subtlety. His posts didn't follow any PR script.
They were raw, loud, and filled with the same chaotic, unfiltered energy he brought into the cage, or at least onto social media.
And with Damon's upcoming title defense announced, Shane had something to say, as always.
[Chirper Post – @ShaneBrickland]
So lemme get this straight… Damon's fighting Ivan who-the-fuck?
Bro… I swear to God. The guy hits mitts for a month and suddenly he's title shot ready? Nah. Nah, this is some bullshit. That fight looks like Damon saw the rankings and picked the quietest dude with the softest hands.
And everyone's acting like this makes sense? Fuck outta here. You all know I've been calling Damon out for a year straight. Where's my shot?
Oh right, I talk too much, and I don't kiss enough ass. That's the real reason.
Ivan's probably a good dude, probably pets dogs and shit. But this is fighting. And in fighting, you don't EARN a title shot by whispering your way up the rankings.
This is coward shit. UFA protecting their poster boy. And y'all eatin' it up.
Whatever. I'll keep doing me. Keep fighting real dudes. And when the circus is over and Damon's done shadowboxing accountants, I'll be here. With bad intentions.
#LetMeFightHim
#IvanAintIt
#CrossDodgingAgain
#ChampOfSuits
Surprisingly, the backlash wasn't what Shane expected. Instead of fueling support, his rant sparked a wave of defense, most of it for Ivan.
Fans weren't having it.
They flooded Chirper with counters, reminders, and receipts. The moment Shane called Ivan a "nobody," the floodgates opened.
@FightNerd89
Ivan not being it? Bro he dominated PDD. Didn't just beat him. Made him look like he didn't belong in the cage.
@IrishScrapTalk
Funny how Shane forgets PDD beat him. Ivan did it on short notice and didn't lose a round.
@OnlyKnockouts
Let's be real. Ivan's performance against PDD was cleaner than any of Shane's wins in the past 2 years.
@MMA_Junkyard
Shane's always the loudest guy in the room. Problem is, Ivan doesn't need to yell. He fights. And fights well.
@ChokeCity
Ivan ain't flashy, but he's effective. Dude's been mauling guys and not even asking for praise. That's scarier than a guy chirping every week.
Some even defended Damon, though the focus was clearly on Ivan's legitimacy.
@CrossEraChamp
If Damon wanted an easy fight, he'd pick someone with worse cardio and zero takedown defense. Ivan is a grinder. That's the test.
@RNC_Reaper
Say what you want, but Damon vs. Ivan is gonna be clean violence. If you don't see it, you're watching the sport for drama, not skill.
The tone shifted quickly.
Shane became the butt of the joke, again.
Memes returned. Fans reposted clips of Ivan walking through PDD, side-by-side with Shane struggling in their first meeting.
The difference in control, pace, and execution spoke louder than his words.
And for once, Ivan trended, not for hype, but for merit.
And that was how the tide shifted online.
Social media had started with skepticism. The announcement of Damon versus Ivan wasn't met with much excitement.
Many fans saw it as a filler matchup.
But then Shane Brickland opened his mouth.
His rant, meant to mock Ivan, ended up sparking a wave of respect.
Fans who once doubted Ivan suddenly found themselves listing his accomplishments, defending his legitimacy, and drawing attention to how cleanly he dismantled PDD.
It wasn't just that Ivan won. It was how he did it.
PDD had once held gold. He had name value, a highlight reel, and a win over Shane himself.
Ivan took him apart without fanfare, on short notice, and without ever looking out of control.
That mattered now. That meant something in a sport where dominance was remembered more than chaos.
And sure, Damon had already beaten PDD before, and in a more decisive fashion.
No one was pretending Ivan was favored to win.
But what began as apathy had turned into intrigue. Fans stopped brushing it off.
They started looking at Ivan again, this time through a different lens.
He wasn't loud. He didn't ask for attention. But he earned his way here, and that carried weight.
People still expected Damon to dominate. But now, they respected the matchup.
They respected the fighter across from him.
And as the date crept closer, the noise around the fight grew louder.
Damon had already begun training camp. He sat with Victor, watching Ivan's fights on screen.
The grappling was the biggest threat, heavy pressure, smart setups, tight control.
Ivan wore people down, forced mistakes, and punished them with positioning.
Damon didn't underestimate it. He took notes, rewound sequences, and trained with heavier wrestlers.
If Ivan wanted the ground, he'd be met with resistance. The plan was simple, stay sharp, stay balanced, and make every clinch a regret.
But everyone was soon shocked when the UFA made an announcement.
It spread across social media in seconds, an unexpected situation to the card.
Fans reposted it, confused, surprised, debating what it meant.
And only one person sat back, smiling at the screen, happy with what he saw.
