Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: China’s Power, Top of the World

"Speaking of eating meat and drinking wine," Luke Rockhold said, wiping the sheen of roast-duck grease from the corner of his mouth. He leaned back on the leather sofa, belly full and eyes shining with the glow of victory. With a sly grin, he reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and tapped open a betting app. "We didn't just eat Mama Yogan's feast tonight."He swung the screen toward the others. The bright digits glowed like neon treasure in the dim hotel suite. On it, a $150,000 bet flashed across the page—Yogan by TKO over Conor in the fourth round—with odds as high as 1:8. Now the settlement line showed an eye-watering $1,200,000."I invested a lot of money!" Luke's grin widened into a full-on movie-star smile. "I believed in my brother! And now it turns out my judgment is as sharp as my looks!""What's that compared to mine!" DC shot back instantly, unwilling to be outdone. He was still holding a chicken wing in one hand while unlocking his phone with the other. "I didn't go quite as crazy as you, but I also bet a cool hundred grand. I took Yogan to win, straight up. The odds were lower, sure, but I still cleared a net profit of $250,000—enough to buy that new truck I've been eyeing for months!"A collective whistle cut through the laughter.But the biggest surprise came from Khabib. True to his quiet nature, he hadn't boasted or even spoken much during the meal. Now, without a word, he simply raised his phone and angled it toward the group. On the screen glowed a modest $50,000 bet. Yet the bet slip was unlike anything they had ever seen: "Yogan to win by TKO due to liver blow."The odds? A staggering 1:20—the sort of line bookmakers offered only when they were certain it would never happen.This meant his $50,000 stake had blossomed into a cool $1,000,000."I saw Yogan use this move in training," Khabib said in his trademark calm tone. But the slight upward curl at the corner of his mouth betrayed the quiet joy in his heart.The whole team erupted.Not only had Yogan captured the golden belt in spectacular fashion; every single one of them had also made a fortune on the betting market thanks to their unwavering trust in their teammate. Champagne corks popped. Someone cranked up a speaker, and the bass rattled the suite's windows. It was a double victory—money and glory—and the atmosphere swelled to a euphoric peak.---Meanwhile, outside the insulated walls of the Las Vegas suite, the global internet and media were experiencing something like an earthquake. The name "Yogan" dominated every trending list, headline, and social feed. It was not merely news; it was a full-scale cultural moment.The Wall Street Journal Sports section blared the headline:> "$6 Million Night: Yogan Not Only Wins Golden Belt, But Launches a New Era in Combat Sports—Proving Eastern Power Can Also Be the World's Top Sports Market!"The report outlined in detail Yogan's immense potential in the Chinese market, calling him "the Marco Polo of the sports world—bringing an entirely new audience across oceans."A Forbes commentator wrote:> "Forget basketball and football. A new global sports idol has been born. His calm, his wisdom, and his destructive power—combined with his mysterious Eastern origins—give him a commercial appeal no one else in the fight game possesses."The magazine's analysts conservatively estimated Yogan's personal brand value could reach $50,000,000 the following year.> "He's not the next Yao Ming or the next Li Na," the columnist concluded. "He's the first Yogan."On ESPN's front page, a bold banner headline screamed:> "Dragon of the East, King of the West—Yogan Defeats McGregor by TKO, Seizes the Interim Throne, Ushers in a New Era!"Inside, the article featured interviews with several UFC Hall of Famers. One after another, they praised Yogan's tactical execution, mental toughness, and composure.Legendary champion Georges St-Pierre summed it up with characteristic brevity:> "His fighting IQ is the best I've ever seen. He reminds me of me at my peak—only more… calm."---Back home in China, the reaction verged on the historic. CCTV's Sports Channel interrupted its regular programming to show live footage of the bout's final moments. Even Xinwen Lianbo—the nation's evening news institution—unusually devoted thirty full seconds to Yogan's victory, calling it:> "A triumph for the country and a display of the spirit of Chinese youth in the new era."The overseas edition of People's Daily ran an entire page with a single photograph: Yogan draped in the Five-Starred Red Banner, the golden belt glinting in his grasp, his eyes raised to the arena lights. Above the image, just eight bold characters:> "China Power, World's Peak."On Weibo, hashtags like #YoganWinsTheChampionship, #YoganKOsConor, and #MomAndDadIDidNotDisgraceYou ignited a phenomenon. Each tag earned the unprecedented "EXPLOSIVE" badge. Celebrities, athletes, and influencers flooded the platform with congratulations, creating a digital celebration that looked more like an awards gala than a fight-night aftermath.Action superstar Wu Jing posted:> "Awesome! This is a real Chinese man! My blood boiled watching this fight—especially when he said, 'Mom and Dad, I didn't embarrass you.' That's a real man. @Yogan, we must drink when you return!"Renowned director Zhang Yimou reshared the knockout clip, writing:> "He has the temperament of a classic knight—calm yet deadly. His focus under pressure is extraordinary. His story is already a great film. I look forward to future collaborations."Basketball legend Yao Ming chimed in on his personal social account:> "Congratulations Yogan! You have shown the world another possibility for Chinese sports, full of strength and fight. Your victory inspires us all."Even business titan Ma Yun referenced Yogan at an internal Alibaba meeting:> "This young man is extraordinary. He shows that if you take something to the extreme, you can challenge the rule makers in any domain. This spirit is worth learning for all of us."In the comments sections of ordinary fans, joy spilled over like a tidal wave. Boxing gyms across the country reported spikes in new sign-ups. Yogan's training uniform sold out overnight. The sports drink he sipped between rounds vanished from online stores in hours.This was the "Yogan Effect"—a surge of national pride and personal aspiration sweeping the country at unprecedented speed.> "I cried! I really cried! The words 'Mom and Dad, I didn't embarrass you' destroyed my defenses. He brought such honor to us Chinese!"> "So satisfying! Let that chatterbox talk again if he dares! My Brother Yogan pressed him to the ground and rubbed him—dominated him tactically and psychologically!"> "I officially declare Yogan the new National Husband! His temperament, his strength, his looks, his filial piety—absolutely magnificent!"---Across the sea, in Dublin, Ireland, the mood could not have been more different.The bar was nearly silent in the gray light of early morning. A giant television screen flickered and froze on the image of Yogan hoisting the golden belt. That calm, resolute Eastern face had already become a nightmare for many Irish fans.Beer glasses crashed onto the floor, shattering like lost hopes. The sound of breaking glass mixed with suppressed sobs and angry curses. Their hero, their king, had lost. And not just lost—he had been dismantled.Conor's unsportsmanlike remarks at the press conference spread worldwide, and this time even his most loyal followers could not stomach them.> "A loss is a loss. Conor's behavior this time was humiliating."> "I like Conor, but there's no denying the Chinese man performed better tonight—more like a champion. His composure is frightening."> "Stop making excuses, work hard, and win the belt back! That's what we want to see!"---One match had catapulted Yogan's prestige and commercial value to an unprecedented peak.And for Conor McGregor, it was the first bitter taste of falling from the pedestal he had occupied for so long.The champagne of the victors and the bitter wine of the vanquished formed the most striking, brutal contrast under the neon lights of Las Vegas that night.---