Never Back Down - Mai Arrendersi -

He had moved to this city to escape the shadow of a mistake that followed him like a ghost. In his old life, Leo was a fighter who knew when to quit. In this new world of underground MMA and neon-lit arenas, quitting wasn't an option. The local champion, a mountain of muscle named Silas, had made sure of that. Silas didn't just want to win; he wanted to break Leo’s spirit.

The stadium went silent before erupting. Leo didn’t celebrate. He just stood there, bruised and battered, finally realizing that the victory wasn't in the trophy, but in the refusal to stay down. Never Back Down - Mai arrendersi

"Eyes up, kid," his trainer, Marek, growled from the corner. Marek was a man of few words and even fewer smiles. "The moment you look at the floor, you’ve already lost. Gravity is the only thing that wants you down there." He had moved to this city to escape