This Saturday evening at the Mulberry Street Recreation Center in Lenoir, Hines Promotions, Inc. presents the Mayhem Cage Fights “Fight in the Foothills” mixed martial arts event. A total of 14 matches will be contested, featuring fighters in a wide gamut of weight classes.The sport of mixed martial arts (MMA, for short) has skyrocketed in popularity in recent months. In MMA, two fighters enter an octagon-shaped padded cage or a ring and battle for a number of rounds until either a fighter submits by “tapping out”, a referee or doctor stops the bout, a fighter can no longer continue, or the scheduled number of rounds is completed. If the fight reaches its round completion, a panel of judges scores each individual round with cumulative scores determining the fight’s victor.
Although the sport of MMA has been around for nearly two decades, many viewed the sport as barbaric in its early years, prompting most states to deem the sport illegal. MMA was banned in the state of North Carolina in 1994. In recent years, however, the sport has made a concerted effort to become more organized and clean up its product, designating weight classes, setting a fundamental basis of rules, and emphasizing a number of various fighting skills.
A new breed of mixed martial artist evolved as a result of the changes, one well versed and highly trained in a number of fighting disciplines that range from collegiate Greco-Roman wrestling to Brazilian Ju-Jitsu, kickboxing, and Muay Thai fighting.
After the sport’s revision, North Carolina legalized mixed martial arts this past March, and Hines Promotions, Inc. has led the way in bringing the excitement of MMA to the mountains and foothills of North Carolina through “Mayhem in the Cage” MMA Cage Fights.
“We’ve promoted a wide range of events in the area from car shows to the Toughest and Baddest Brawl to Gospel concerts,” said promoter James Hines. “We promote events from as far north as Ohio to events in Alabama, and North Carolina is a favorite area of ours which we call home.”
Mayhem in the Cage held its most recent event on May 31 at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum Annex in Winston-Salem, where a crowd of over 2,000 gathered to watch a night of mixed martial arts bouts and received a special treat with a guest appearance from Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter Sean “The Muscle Shark” Sherk.
“Many people at the event told us it would definitely be an event they would come again and again to see, so it has been well received,” Hines said. “In the state of North Carolina since live fighting has only recently been legalized, we have spent a lot of time educating people on what the sport is and what it is not, and the response we have received has been very positive.”
Mayhem in the Cage provides added incentive for fighters to bring their “A” game to the cage. This weekend’s event in Lenoir is one of a series of events in which fighters can accumulate points toward a championship later in the year.
“Champions will be determined by both success and participation during the year. Winning fighters receive five points each time they compete and win, with losing fighters receiving two points,” Hines explained.
The excitement of MMA and the technical skill of fighters has become a combination that is appealing to many fans that are hungry for real action and competition. “The reason the sport is so popular is because people know they will see action,” Hines added. “They will see full contact action and they know that there will be a winner in the fight. People don’t like to see sports where a winner is not determined, but in MMA there is a definite winner.”
Doors open for Mayhem Cage Fights in the Foothills at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday evening, with fights beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the event can be purchased online at the Mayhem Cage Fights website (www.mayhemcagefights.com) or can be purchased at the following locations: Kelly Sports (Hudson), Flex Fitness Authority (Morganton), Prime Time Video and Tanning (Hickory), and Crossroads Harley-Davidson (Buell).
Advance ticket prices are $45 for VIP front row, $30 for cage-side, and $20 for general admission, but tickets may also be purchased at the door Saturday night.
