The Contender

Episode 2

It was night at the crowded city of Madrid, Spain as a train full of cars lining for traffic, clubs blasting some loud music and people living their days as if it was the last. Amidst all the activity, it was quiet in one of the apartments in the neighborhood. A family of four, struggling to make ends meet, were simply dealing with messy rooms and broken television. One of the children, Carlos Garcia, was cleaning the living room right after his brother, Brian, fell asleep.

Carlos POV

I was cleaning my apartment room where everything was a complete mess, cans lying everywhere, floor was so muddy, the room was a shipwreck. My dad called me to help him fix the television remote, and as i turn the tv on and trying to find something to watch, i saw something that really caught my attention. A news about some 19 year old fighter who recently just won his debut match at mma's top promotion, the SFC. I think to myself, with my boxing background and experience, this is it. This is how i get out of my current predicament. This is how i feed my family. This is how i will took care of my brother. If a person as young as him can make it into the big stage, then i can too.

"Dad, I think i want to join mma", I declared. My dad, thinking i was joking, replied "Ahh, thats silly honey. Do you want your face to get beaten black and blue by these scary looking people? We dont even have enough money to pay for our food, let alone your hospital bill." Yeah, but i have a boxing background, for goodness sake. Besides, rather than having to beat up some jerks at school, i can channel my current frustration in a more positive way, i thought to myself. After several minutes of discussion, he finally agreed, as long as i avoid getting hurt as much as possible. He may say its more about the money, but i can see he was concerned. Though he made me promise one thing, that is to never forget to take care of my brother, and also to bring him into my fights on a consistent basis. Well, that one is covered, since a lot of people knows how much i loved my brother, Brian, and I also taught him self defense. He had autism and people are being such dicks to him, always bullies him, put the smile on my face once he finally fought back and break one of the big bullies' nose. Yes, the school suspended him, but the family was proud. Ever since the incident, i have been teaching him how to box, and people haven't mess with him since.

The next day, i start searching for a gym. It might be a draining process, but it was worth it. Everytime i grew tired, lazy or unmotivated, i always think about my brother. And my parents of course. All of them were counting on me. I have to make them proud. I have to become champion. This is not just for me. I repeat that everytime inside my head. Finally, i found a big boxing/mma gym that was looking for a fighter. I entered inside, and the place looks majestic. Advanced machines and sporting equipments made the place looks like its from the future. Or maybe because i was never really exposed to these kind of stuff due to my economic status. One of the trainer, a tall, brown, highly jacked guy, came to me excitedly, asking me if i want to tryout. I smiled, admiring his request, feeling that this is an opportunity too big to miss. During the tryouts, i threw several power shots and demonstrate several boxing techniques i learned few years ago, to the impressed look of the trainers. They could tell that i may not look like a generational talent or a superfighter, but might possess something that would turn me into a really great fighter one day. I don't know what that will be at the moment, but i can only hope that it was something good. They then offered me if i want to train with them. I asked how much is the training. They said it can be quite expensive, but they were willing to give newcomer a cheaper pay. When i saw the price, it was quite a lot, so then i told them that due to my economic condition, maybe i should find a cheaper gym, while appreciating their offer. Surprisingly, one of the trainer, the jacked brown guy, offered me a free training. I was shocked when he did that, and after convincing other trainers of how good i can be, they somehow agreed. I felt really thankful, and immediately signed in to train for them.

I went home to inform my family about this, and i notice how ecstatic they were. My mom immediately hugged me, and threw in her full support in me becoming a future mma champion. I told her that it wasn't really for me, but for the whole family. A few days after i signed in, the unthinkable happened. One of the gym's fighter gets injured during a training for the upcoming bout in a minor promotion, and one of the trainers asked me to stepped in for him. I was shocked, delighted but also confused and pitied the fighter. I only had three weeks to train. Needing advice, i came to my parents for advice.

"Dad, one of the fighter in the gym gets injured and the gym asked me to be his replacement for the upcoming fi--"

"What, really?" My dad cuts me off and asked excitedly.

"Yeah"

"Then what are you waiting for? This is your chance. This is your chance to be great. Take it."

I believe my dad was right. This was my chance. But deep down i feel like its too early.

"Do you not think its too early?"

"Well honey, sometimes we just have to take the leap of faith. I know you can do this." my mom jumped in.

"Yeah bro, you won fights before. Remember when you beat that trash talker till his mouth was split in half?"

"Brian!!" mom was uncomfortable hearing it. Yes i won fights before, but that was boxing. This is different.

"Son, there is no such thing as too early. Its either now or not now. You said you are the one that wants this opportunity. To try mma. Now that its in your fingers, are you just gonna walk away?"

Everytime my dad talks, i get annoyed sometimes, but he had a point. I wanted this opportunity. It would be a bad move to back out.

"All right guys, i'm taking the fight." with that, i emailed the trainer to accept the fight and ready to step into the unknown.