EFC Africa, the extreme fighting championship, is the largest event of its kind on the continent and promises to blow the local fight scene wide open.

Previously an underground sport with a bloody reputation, MMA has grown in popularity worldwide to become one of the most watched sports in the US and the fastest-growing in the world.

MMA is a full-contact combat sport in which contestants battle it out in a cage until an opponent either opts out or is knocked out. It is not for the faint-hearted.

Tomorrow, 22 of the continent’s fiercest fighters and two seasoned MMA fighting professionals from America are set to battle it out at the EFC Africa event. The fight night will include 12 fights with the potential to keep audiences glued to their seats for at least four hours of action-packed combat.

“MMA has a huge following in the country and the continent deserves a world-class event to put our fighters on the map ,” said EFC Africa director Cairo Howarth.

“The cage is ready, the fighters are ready, let the action begin.”

Modelled on the American extreme fighting phenomenon , the event will host more than 4000 spectators seated in grandstands around a raised hexagonal cage.

“Fighters include Gareth McLellan from Johannesburg fight training camp Fight Fit Militia and Gabe Casilla from Las Vegas, who trains with MMA legend Wanderlei Silva,” Howarth said.

The doors open at 4.45pm and tickets are available from R225 at Computicket outlets.