The movie Fight Club has spawned a craze for ultimate fighting, though the sport is banned in some countries because of deaths in the ring
Thebe Mabanga
South Africans are catching on to the growth and popularity of the American contact sport, ultimate fighting. Last weekend 2 500 people crammed into the Wembley Arena in Johannesburg to watch an 11-bout bill in a series that started in April.
Mark Hey, managing director of Ultimate Fighting South Africa, says the organising body has tried to secure membership from various bodies including the Boxing Board of Control, the Karate Association and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, and none could accommodate the sport.
The sport is now self-regulating. A panel of coaches assess fighters and grade them according to weight in the light, middle or heavyweight division and skill level in the premier, first or second division.
Before every fight a weighing session and a thorough medical take place. The fight itself is conducted in a fenced “cage” under mixed martial arts rules that have been applied in the United States for more than two decades.
This means fighters cannot hit an opponent at the back of the head with an elbow. They are not allowed to head butt or attack the groin or throat area.
Finally there is to be no hair pulling, no eye gouging and you cannot kick a man when he is down.