[As the scene opens up Isaac Cohen is dressed as sharply as ever, but his guest for the conversation has gone to the effort of matching Isaac’s energy from a fashion perspective. D’Amico straightens his tie as he finds himself seated in a chair nearby, adjusting the placement of his cuffs as he does so. .]
ISAAC COHEN: Ladies and gentlemen, we sit down this afternoon with a man who is no stranger to you at this point. He’s one of the blossoming young talents on the Union Grand Prix roster, he’s had a few spats on social media with the infamous Supastar, and now stands on the precipice of becoming a champion for the first time. How are you feeling, Tris?
[D’amico smiles politely during the introduction and then considers Isaac’s question before answering.]
TRISTANO D’AMICO: “I feel good. As good as I did about a year ago when we sat down and talked for the very first time. You know, bright lights. Big stage. It’s what I have been working toward and what I have been asking for. I couldn’t have asked for a better camp in the build up to this fight. I feel healthy. I feel prepared. I feel ready to shock the world.”
ISAAC COHEN: “And shock the world you would. The fan polls released recently and they favor the champion retaining in your own home town.”
[D’Amico interrupts then.]
TRISTANO D’AMICO: “I have heard they were not the only ones who predicted this fight would go in Victoria Marshall’s favor as well.”
[Cohen laughs, a touch of nervousness in it but he’s a professional. He’s had to face down these kinds of confrontations before.]
ISAAC COHEN: “Sometimes you’ve got to stick with the devil you know until the devil you don’t proves you wrong. And Victoria Marshall has proved herself nearly every time she has stepped to the plate in the big leagues. How do you expect to approach a fight with someone who is a surefire hall of famer once she retires. Someone who has never lost on the UGP stage and her only draw came all the way back at UGP 48 against Dallas Meechan?”
[Tris considers the questions with the seriousness that he approaches everything. For the moment, he allows Isaach Cohen’s answer to suffice.]
TRISTANO D’AMICO: “I could sit here and tell you all of the same things that everyone who has faced her in her time in Union Grand Prix has told you. Yes, I know her history. I wouldn’t be sitting here now if I didn’t know her history. I know her last defeat came at the hands of Eugenie Bombelles while she was in Everest. I could tell you that having five inches in height and fifteen pounds of natural weight on her puts her at a disadvantage. There are plenty of things that I could tell you about why I will win this fight, and how I approach it. But ultimately fighting is fighting. She is a brilliant wrestler and I have had to work hard since stepping into the pro game to improve my takedown defense. I could likely spend the rest of my life improving my wrestling and that part of my game would pale in comparison to hers.”
[D’amico pauses for a moment, thinks a bit further, and then continues on.]
TRISTANO D’AMICO: “I think, however, I will pose problems that she is not used to”
[He holds up his left hand, clenched in a fist, to emphasize that point.]
TRISTANO D’AMICO: “You see, I am a patient fighter while she is hyper aggressive. Sometimes that works to her benefit. She swarms well and she uses that aggressiveness to open up her takedowns. Which is fine until she walks into a straight left, or a knee, from someone who does not panic and is content to let her tire herself out. I don’t think she will react well to being put in the clinch, and I don’t think she will find herself shooting for her takedowns as often as she might like once I have battered her legs into oblivion. But these are also all the ways everyone else has attacked her. The difference between Victoria Marshall and I lies in one thing. She may not have ever lost a fight in UGP. But she has lost. Many times. In Everest. Where I have yet to lose. One of us knows what it feels like to have her lights turned out. It happened on several occasions in Everest for Victoria and I will take great pride in making it happen for the first time at UGP 78 when I take that championship from her.”
ISAAC COHEN: “It sounds like you respect her a lot, in spite of your confidence..”
[Another pause follows as D’amico gives consideration to the statement.”
TRISTANO D’AMICO: “It would be foolish not to have an immense amount of respect for someone who has accomplished as much as she has accomplished. But respect does not mean I will lay down for her and simply let her continue her run of greatness. It is my desire to reinforce my own greatness by ending hers.”
ISAAC COHEN: “Let’s say everything goes exactly as you want it to and in the main event of UGP 78 you are walking out with your hand held high. What comes next?”
[By this point it doesn’t surprise anyone watching when Tris takes his time and gives thought to the question before answering.]
TRISTANO D’AMICO: “That, ultimately, is not for me to decide. But I noticed that CC holds the Bantamweight Championship. And if I hold the Featherweight title I see no reason for us not to test one another. I would even be willing to offer her the chance to come and take that championship from me. But we know that she won’t. She’s a talented fighter, yes. But only when she’s the one controlling the narrative and making the demands. There will be no need to huff and puff her chest asking for a championship shot from me if, and when, I become the featherweight champion of the world. I’ll be standing her weighting for her to find her proverbial balls and say yes.”
ISAAC COHEN: “A year ago you fought Carter Vaughn in front of this very crowd in Chicago and you said that being cheered or booed has no impact on you. But, now that championship gold awaits you, do you feel any kind of greater motivation to go out and win for your own city?”
TRISTANO D’AMICO: “I know it isn’t the answer that everyone wants to hear. But no. I love the city. I love the people. It’s in my blood. But inside that cage it’s just Victoria and I testing ourselves against one another with a big, golden prize waiting at the conclusion of the test. I don’t even really hear the crowd when I’m in the cage. But after? After I win? You’re damn right we’ll be celebrating with the city.”
[This answer rolls right off of the tongue without any thought and with that the interview is brought to its close.]
ISAAC COHEN: “Always good talking to you, Tris. Well, folks, you know how it is. You know where you can watch. Tune in and see if Tristano D’Amico can bring an end to the reign of Victoria Marshall on top of the Featherweight division live at UGP 78 this weekend!”