After what seemed like forever, the “live video starts soon” message above an animated GCC logo disappears, and the press conference begins via video call with Ross Hanson, sitting in the parking lot of a Rally’s.
ROSS: Good evening, everybody. Sorry it took so long for us to get started tonight. We had to make a stop.
A voice off-camera yells “IT WAS ESSENTIAL SERVICES!”
ROSS: We’re live. Serious time.
Ross takes a sip from a large drink, glaring into the backseat.
ROSS: Anyways...I’d like to just get right down to business. First off, my wager of donating $1000 for every strike landed. The official strike count is two. So it looks like I’ll be throwing $2000 in cash directly at the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s kind of like throwing a bag of water balloons at an inbound ICBM, but I said I would do it and I’m doing it. So there’s that. ROSS: Also, I didn’t call this press conference for nothing, so here’s the deal. I’ve been on a pretty solid win streak, I’ve only lost one fight in the last twelve months, I have both HILITE and TW Combat both willing to bring me into their training facilities...and I’m possibly going to be looking at being the Global Heavyweight Champion soon.
ROSS: But one thing I haven’t done is figure out how to make the next step. You see, I might be winning fights...but I’m not finishing them. I’m missing something in my game. I know someone out there knows exactly how I’m feeling. And he’s gonna talk to you for a second, and tell you what we’re going to do about it. Dobryy vecher, blyad'!
The video feed cuts over to another feed to a very surprising yet familiar face, Aleksandr Baranov. His surroundings imply that he’s still in Abu Dhabi.
ALEKSANDR: Recently, I was released from House of Khan, and there is much speculation as to what gym I would join to continue my career within octagon. As I have stated prior, I am not finished in GCC from a single defeat. Ironically, both of us are out of gyms. We are both currently billed as training out of the Global Training Facility as of this morning for me. And, as you all know, Ross Hanson defeated me via TKO recently while fighting out of Global Training Facility. I can speak for both of us when I say… we are not joining gym… We are starting one.
For many, many years even before I became MMA fighter, I served my home country of Russia. During my service, I became a decorated expert in Sambo. The techniques I learned in during my military service are not only practical, but very much octagon-ready techniques. These techniques could save lives not just end fight nights.
I have a vision and two others have a vision. That vision is TundraMMA. TundraMMA will not only strive to perfect the competitive side of fighting, but I believe to be more important: the practical side. We will start by instructing this out of Vladivostok, Russia. We will cross-train.
You have met my first comrade and fellow owner. Please, meet my second. Her name is Ariel Shadows. She will be representing TundraMMA in the Bantamweight Division. She has proven her athleticism in the LFL playing American football. She is black belt in Taekwondo and Muay Thai specialist. She is former multi-time Wrestling Champion with six years experience as head pro-wrestling trainer.
The call switches again, but not back to Ross. Instead, we are treated to a tall redhaired woman inside a home gym with any kind of equipment for striking training known to man.
ARIEL: Thank you very much. TundraMMA believes that a true fighter does not rely on one particular style, and that in order to be the best a mix of styles and techniques must be applied. With this in mind, TundraMMA will focus on training any fighter or wrestler who wishes to hone their craft, as well as general training for newcomers to combat sports or those who simply wish to learn some self-defense skills.
ALEKSANDR: Vladivostok was chosen as the home city due to its subarctic climate, as well as affordable gym space. Russia is one of the coldest countries on Earth, and the benefits of training in this environment are well-documented. Russia is also sorely lacking in economic opportunities.
ARIEL: And God knows I have too much money as it is. But I’m not just a fighter. I’m a trainer. I’ve trained many world champions in wrestling...including this one chick named Gaia Galanos. You may have heard of her? Look...this isn’t just about investing money. It’s about time and hard work. All three of us are willing to put in everything we have to be the best we can...and to make anyone around us the best they can be, too. ROSS: Even if we are a little rough.
ALEKSANDR: Like Tundra.