Over the last decade, interest in Mixed Martial Arts has skyrocketed nationally, stealing audiences from professional wrestling and boxing, and packing sports bars for pay-per-view events. But only eight months ago, South Carolina sanctioned MMA events, and this weekend the sport makes its Grand Strand debut.
For years local fighters have been training for Mixed Martial Arts events. Myrtle Beach native Tomar Washington has been fighting for five years, having to travel all over the country for an official fight.
Saturday's event - the Bash by the Beach at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, will feature both amateurs and professionals. The main event is Nissen Osterneck, a 30 year old former Myrtle Beach City Council candidate, who has fought in, and won, UFC events.
"Every time I've been the out of town bad guy," said the Hawaiian-born Osterneck. "It's not the biggest show I've been in, but it will have new feelings."
But it's also a big night for the amateurs. Chris Cain moved to Conway three years ago, and only started training in the past year. But he's had five strong amateur bouts, and he will turn professional after Saturday night's fight.
"This area is just going to love it," said Cain. "You can feel everything when you're at a fight. And what else is there to do here? Everyone is going to love fighting."
One of the reasons why MMA has become so popular is that fighters with different concentrations can compete against each other. Washington started in boxing. Osterneck has a jujitsu background. Cain wrestled in high school.
And you can be of all shapes and sizes. Murrells Inlet native Jordan McDonald is excited to take the cage in her first fight in her home state. McDonald is about 5 and half feet tall, and not much more than 100 pounds, so she's not your typical fighter.
"Being a smaller female, its really hard to get fights," McDonald lamented. "I've always been into male dominated sports. I'm kind of an adrenaline junkie."
The Bash at the Beach starts at 7pm Saturday night at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. Tickets can be purchased at www.carolinafightpromotions.com.
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