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By Dave Goosselink
MMA- or "mixed martial arts" - is one of the world's fastest growing sports, with crowds loving the brutal battles.
It's also gaining momentum here, with Dunedin hosting the country's first internationally-sanctioned fight night.
It's been described as a blood sport, but MMA is the brand of fighting capturing a new generation of fans. The square ring of boxing is replaced by an octagonal cage, fighters using an arsenal of Muay Thai, wrestling, and Jiu-Jitsu to dominate their opponent.
"I think once the cage doors close you know, there's definitely some bad intentions," says Devon Latoa, novice MMA fighter.
"But we're all friends afterwards, you know - it's nothing personal, it's just business."
Latoa came into the sport from kick boxing, spending three years building towards his first MMA cage fight.
The sport's popularity has been boosted by video games and overseas TV coverage. Fighters say it's all about calculated danger, and promoters are confident it's got the right appeal for Kiwi fans.
"New Zealand's got the talent, and they love the good physical stuff, like the contact sports, and with a rugby background and that, so yeah I think we've got a big future in it," says Matt Toa of Hammerhead MMA.
"MMA's just growing rapidly around the world, and New Zealand's taking off as well so we're keen to catch up on everyone else," says Peter Clinch, South Island middleweight champ.
He claimed the new South Island middleweight title at the country's first internationally-sanctioned MMA fight night - that's an important step in taking it from a spectacle to a genuine competitive sport.
"By doing that we can start building up rankings, we can also have titles, and also eventually down the road build up New Zealand champions," says Toa.
"And who knows what happens from there, you know they can fight Australian champs or even work towards a world title."
And with young fighters keen to punch above their weight, that's a goal now in their sights.
3 News