NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) -- Amateur mix martial arts might be brutal and dangerous to some, but it is one of the fastest-growing sports around.
Fans in April piled into the Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk to watch their favorite fighters battle it out in the octagon, the ring where the bouts takes place.
The participants subject themselves to intense battles where there is kicking, punching and often blood - for no money.
Because of the threat of blood-borne diseases, you might think these amateur fights would be overseen by some government agency, but they aren't.
For that reason, amateur MMA has drawn the scrutiny of lawmakers who believe the bouts need some regulation.
"I don't want my opponent getting blooded up and then it coming on me," said Joshua Freeman, a fighter who traveled to Norfolk to compete in the event.
For fighters like Freeman, the amateur circuit is a means to an end -- hoping to one day fight in professional leagues like UFC. That's where they can make money and possibly land endorsement deals.
The April fight was organized by Jimi Partyka, who says leagues in other states are surprised to learn Virginia has no regulations for amateur events.
"They were absolutely just shocked that guys didn't need a pre-physical and blood or anything else. They just couldn't believe that we were operating like that," said Partyka, the founder of the Spartyka Fight League.
Even though he doesn't have to, Partyka follows rules similar to those followed by the pros. He says he does it, in part, to protect his league and the fighters.
In fact, a doctor and paramedics were on standby during the entire event.
"The last thing I want to ever find out is like 'hey man I used to fight for you a couple years ago, fought a guy, he got blood on me now I got this disease or that disease,'" he said.
The issue of unregulated fighting has been a problem in other states where people can simply walk in off the streets to compete without being tested to find out if they're free of any illnesses.
For some fighters, the concern is about those who might take an unfair advantage in the ring.
"The most common - performance enhancing drugs and that's not right," said fighter Misael Franco.
Changes are coming to the sport thanks to Virginia lawmakers.
Organizations that sanction a fight will be required to show fighters have negative HIV, Hepatitis B & C tests and those tests must be administered within 180 days before an event takes place.
"Physicals will be required for all fighters coming in and blood work," Partyka added.
"That differently makes comfort level pretty high (with) fighters along with who you're fighting," said Franco.
The new rules will take effect on Oct. 1st.
