Bella
Shortly after I’m cleaned up and checked out thoroughly by Hayley, my dad and I make our way to the seats Caleb has reserved for us. Hayley is the medic for Marco’s fight so she stays back, and Kaden, since he’s Marco’s trainer, stays back as well. We watch each fight, cheering for the guys we know and want to win, until the main fight of the night comes on. The music goes silent as the ring announcer announces up next is the main fight.
When Marco’s name is called, the crowd goes nuts. He walks out with his mini entourage but my eyes are only on him. He looks sexy as hell and he’s all mine. Once he gets to the ring, Antoine is announced and the crowd cheers almost as loud.
The two men are given the rules by the referee and the fight begins. Both guys are throwing punches and kicks, getting hits in. It seems like an even match up. Neither giving in or making any huge moves. Round one ends.
The guys are broken apart and cleaned up.
Round two begins and they both come at each other swinging. They are getting more hits in. Marco’s left hook connects with Antoine’s face. Antoine’s kick connects with Marco’s leg causing Marco to almost stumble back. The atmosphere suddenly changes. They both start giving it all they got. Marco’s punches get stronger, he connects harder. Antoine’s knee connects with Marco’s ribs. Marco jumps back then comes at Antoine with sheer determination and force. He attacks his body over and over again, pinning him up against the cage. Antoine has nowhere to go. He’s blocking but isn’t fighting back. The horn blows. Round two ends.
Round three begins and Marco doesn’t hold back. He charges at Antoine, punching, kicking, kneeing. Antoine swings but misses. You can see he’s winded. Marco gets Antoine against the fence again, and with an upper cut has Antoine close to giving up. Marco follows through with blow after blow until Antoine goes still and the referee has to pull Marco off Antoine announcing him the winner.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, with a TKO in the third round, the winner and still reigning champ is Marco ‘The Maniac’ Michaels.” The commentator raises Marco’s hand as Daniel West comes out with the belt to put it back on Marco for the second time. I’m jumping up and down, screaming. He did it, again! And this time, I am here to witness it firsthand.
Marco takes the mic from Daniel West. “Thank you,” he says and everyone screams. He waits for the crowd to calm down before he continues. “I would like dedicate this win to my best friend, Logan. Some of you might know him. He was my best friend and he passed away this morning. So, Logan, this one is for you.” He looks toward the ceiling, trying to collect himself.
“I would like to thank my girlfriend, Bella, for standing by my side these last several months. Baby, we have been through so damn much. I love you.” At this, there several ‘aww’s’ mixed with plenty of ‘boo’s’ coming from the audience. I shake my head and laugh.
“I have an announcement to make. I am officially retiring from the UFC. I have made the decision to focus on my family. Thank you to everyone who has supported my career, Kaden, Cooper, and my dad who taught me everything I know, and my mom, who always made sure I was cared for after each fight. To my fans, you guys fucking rock! Thank you!”
Marco hands the mic back to Daniel West, shakes his hand, and then is led back to the locker room to get cleaned up for the post fight press conferences. A couple hours later and we are heading out of the arena. Marco is quiet and I’m sure it has a lot do with that fact that a year and a half ago, when he won his title fight and became a champion, tragedy followed. Holding Marco’s hand, we make our way out of the arena and to the hotel part of the MGM Grand.
He walks up to the front desk. “I need to check in. Last name is Michaels.”
“We’re staying here?” He glances my way and nods then takes the keys from the woman and signs the necessary paperwork.
“Can you please have our luggage brought up?”
“Yes sir. I’ll have valet go out to get it.” I wasn’t even aware we had luggage.
“Does my mom know we are staying the night? She has Micaela.”
“Yeah, she knows. We are going to meet them for breakfast in the morning. It’s already after midnight. We wouldn’t want to wake her to bring her home anyway.”
Marco presses the button for the elevator and once we are inside, inserts a card and hits the button for the penthouse. We take it straight up to the top and get off.
Once he unlocks the door, we don’t even make it all the way into the room before he stops short causing me to bump into him from behind. He turns around and says, “I thought about all the places I could take you tonight but every place meant getting into a car. I know it sounds ridiculous but…”
“No, it doesn’t sound ridiculous.”
“I booked this room the day I knew we would be fighting, once I made the decision to fight. My first thought was history repeating itself. If something happened to you…”
“Marco, let’s sit down. It’s been a long ass day. My body is sore as hell.”
Taking Marco’s hand in mine, I steer us to the couch so we can sit down. “I think my body is in shock.”
Marco chuckles. “Wait until tomorrow. You won’t want to get out of bed.”
“It was worth it. I want to fight again.” I grin wide and then groan in pain. My busted lip doesn’t appreciate me smiling.
“You will fight again. You did great, Belles. I’m proud of you.” Pride bursts inside me. Marco is one of the best fighters I know, and while this might only be my first fight, him complimenting me feels good.
“And you won the belt, again. I know you mentioned retiring but I just thought it was because you were scared. I thought once you got in the octagon and fought, you might change your mind.”
Marco takes my hands in his, bringing them up to his lips to kiss each of my battered knuckles. “I’m done fighting, Belles. If you would have asked me two years ago, I would have told you I would fight until they scraped my old ass off the mat but things have changed. Your dad is giving me an opportunity I can’t pass up. To run the gym and train is exactly what I want.”
“Are you ok with me fighting?” I don’t know what I will even say if he says no. Fighting is my dream and I’ve only just begun.
“You don’t need my permission to fight, Belles. Whatever you do in life, my job is to support you but I don’t want to support you as your boyfriend. I want to support you as your husband. I want to run the gym with you, raise our daughter with you, grow old with you.”
Marco pulls a small blue box from his pocket and opens it up. Then he gets down on one knee in front of me. “Baby, I told you this morning, the only person I would submit to is you and this is me, down on one knee, tapping out, and asking you, will you marry me?”