The familiar stench of sweat and blood hit me like a brick wall, it was comforting in a weird way. Like how a kill might be for a serial killer, a euphoric high, a buzz from too many drinks. The other fighters sneered at me. I sighed and continued walking, honestly the fighters here sucked major ass and they were all bark and no bite. I come here for the real stuff not some WWE shit.

They all stared as I wrapped my hands and ankles, making sure to look away when I tried to catch their gawking eyes. I wasn't ever sure why they stared. Maybe it was for intimidation, maybe out of lust, admiration, I was never too sure. You can't trust any of these fighters with anything, half of them belong to local gangs, the others involved in some other illegal business, me? This was the only illegal business I was involved in besides being a drug runner in high school. But that was highschool.

After I warmed up the announcer began calling names, each person would then be told to walk up the arena and place their entry fee and their cup fee into a communal pile that would go to 1st place.

It was really a gamble, entry was $30 and well cup fee had to be at least over $80 so no one cheats everyone else out of their money. With a total of 16 fighters including myself, most of which really like to throw their money around I estimated if I won I'd get at least 40,000. Some people would think that's not a lot but try 40,000 a week and see how you feel after.

I felt the butterflies in my stomach suddenly lurch when the stated calling out matches. I was going first against a girl named, Maria, Marie, Marisol? I'm not sure what it was but it didn't matter I'm here to win not to make friends.

As the referee called out the rules, "No weapons, no blunt weapons, all fair play." He said loudly.

"READY, SET,"

We didn't wait for the "fight", I jumped to the left and took a swing at her side. My first made contact with her ribs sending a shudder up my arm, she sucked in a breath and side hooked the right side of my face. I tried to shake its initial pain by swinging around to her back and kicking her in the back.

She honestly wasn't fighting her best, she was slow to react, leaving things open that shouldn't be and was overall sloppy. I landed a final punch to her left eye and she fell to the floor. The ref counted three seconds and put my hand over my head. I got off of the arena and went back to my spot in the corner.

I got on my phone and sent a picture to Jim.

V: my eye fucking hurts >:(

I laughed to myself and started playing a game while I waited.