Knuckle Up

Worth the pain?

My mind was running high on adrenaline from the roaring crowd moving closer to watch me throw a sucker punch to my opponent’s jaw. He stumbled back taking a few seconds to recover from the blow only to forget to cover up and my fist met his jaw for a second time. It wasn’t going so well for him and the crowd seemed riled up about it. Due to having their favourite king getting taught a lesson.

Sweat was dripping down our foreheads as we slithered past each other. Eyes focused. Minds trained to see the next move. A kick. A swift punch. Followed by another. Until an opening occurs and I can take him down.

I dodged his powerful blow and saw his cross-jab. He made the mistake of not covering up and moving too slow. The crunch sound of my fist connecting with his nose was the final blow to crown me the winner.

Not everyone was pleased when their fighter got knocked down so hard that he was passed out before he even met the mats.

I met Coach Mason’s smug smile when the crowd behind him were filled with unpleasantry cheers. I don’t know if they were upset because they put money on him or that his ass just got kicked by a woman but I didn’t care. I made a few bucks which I can put towards paying off my father’s dept and maybe get me some new gloves while at it.

I collected my winnings and headed towards the locker room with coach Mason on my heels.

“So, are we going to talk about you working for Jared Dobre?” Coach Mason was referring to when he learned that I was working for the famous Jared Dobre.

The exchange with Jared was amusing when he learned that coach Mason has been training me for years and now, he was going to help Jared out with Clay after his arrest. Not so wise when coach Mason is training a fighter to win in the underground.

We couldn’t talk much because Jared’s attention was focused on Clay and how he almost lost his contract for almost getting caught. Clay’s name wasn’t broad just yet and it might have saved him for now but once he reaches the top ranks, he will have to consider the consequences of his actions.

“What is there to talk about? I have been his personal assistant for years and yeah, we get along pretty well but it’s nothing to get excited about,”

Coach Mason rolled his eyes at my sarcastic remark. “He is the biggest talk in MMA besides the current President of UFC,” Coach Mason informed me on something that I already knew.

“You do realize that it’s got nothing to do with him once being a fighter himself and it mostly has to do with how he raised from the ashes after his agent robbed him,” Jared burned bridges only to start from scratch. He decided to do something that was out of his league and learn about the law to protect fighters from fake agents.

“That’s exactly my point. Jared has signed hundreds of fighters if not thousands and of each fighter, he made something of them,” Coach Mason was still stuck in awe by the knowledge of me working for Jared.

“I know. I was there when he started his company,” Jared’s company existed mostly of nothing when I went for my interview. It was still a small, start-up business but it had a lot of promises and Jared will never make a promise he can’t keep.

I took a chance on his company and today he is one of the most successful agents in MMA. Not only has he signed legends but he helped unknown fighters have a shot at victory. He can spot talent from miles away and he uses his knowledge to his advantage.

“Yet, you haven’t asked him to sign you,” Coach Mason noted.

It was my time to roll my eyes. “My answer is easy. I don’t want to,” I freed my hands from my gloves and grabbed a shirt from my bag—pulling it over my head.

“You can dig a way out for yourself, Sabrina. UFC or INVICTA can be the key to your freedom,” Sometimes I forget that coach Mason was friends with my father before he became a drunk. He knows about the hardship at home and he also knows how important these nights are for me. Every extra buck I make ignites hope of my freedom closing in.

“They aren’t going to end my struggles in one night, coach,” Every career has its stepping stones and a world of international fighters facing each other was something you couldn’t risk undermining.

“They might help to shorten the struggles,” Coach Mason remarked. “Sabrina, you are not getting any younger and you can’t always take care of your father. He has dug his own grave and you have to stop trying to close it by wanting to see the positive side. Face it. There isn’t one good memory of him,”

“It’s strange how you’ve trained me for five years but yet, you have known me longer,” My father built his dreams at Coach Mason’s gym when it was just a basic gym. Over the years coach, Mason’s gym became the highlight of young and curious young adults applying at his gym. He truly cared about each of his fighters and didn’t focus on how much he can get out of them but on what he can give them that will help change their life.

“You are killing yourself for someone who will never feel the same for you,” I know he was right but I had to believe.

I grabbed my bag and threw it over my shoulder. “He is my father. I only have one and yeah, maybe it’s ridiculous to stay around and try helping him out but you are the one who taught me that help goes a long way,”

He shook his head at me expressing his disappointment. “He will never change. He is a drunk who is living off the daughter he wished he never had. He doesn’t see you as his family. He sees you as his bank,”

It was hard not to agree with him when I knew it was the truth. “What are you saying? Should I just leave and not worry if he is going to be alright?” I asked feeling the pinch of the truth gliding over my tongue.

Coach Mason raised his shoulders. “You should ask yourself if it’s worth throwing your life away just so you can maybe get him to care when you know he will never,”