After that fight, the tone shifted.
Ivan had taken two losses already.
While he had never loudly claimed to be the better coach, only the better fighter, the world wasn't interested in that nuance.
In the eyes of fans, fighters represented their teams, and team losses stacked against the man in charge.
The show didn't forgive failure. Every week brought highlights, headlines, and heat. Every loss reflected on Ivan's ability to guide and lead.
People started whispering. Was he too detached? Too hands-off? Was he trying to prove something as a fighter rather than building up his team?
Ivan felt the pressure more with each passing day. Maybe he was still adjusting to being a coach.
Maybe he wasn't used to guiding others instead of fighting himself. But what about his assistant coaches? What about their game plans, their influence?
