Bringing mixed martial arts to the Palmetto state. Forbes magazine calls it a billion dollar blood sport. The sport has come a long way from the anything goes type matches, to events that are regulated by state athletic commissions. As we found out tonight there is certainly an interest here in the Lowcountry.

In between a law firm and a church on Rivers avenue lies the breeding ground for the next generation of fighters. At Precision Fight Sport under the instruction of Jerry Brewer, a ten year veteran of Gracie Jujitsu, people young and old are taking up the sport.

"It was the most effective martial art I have seen," said Brewer.

Brewer began training local fighters in 1999. Since then he says interest has grown to an all-time high.

"What has been the most interesting is the number of women popping in and the police and military who have recognized how effective this stuff is," said Brewer.

Brewer says once the sport adopted new rules, policies, and procedures, it slowly became more accepted into the mainstream. The training you see here is the closest thing to a real altercation with the least amount of risk.

"90 to 85 percent of the people that come in here are not looking to step into the octagon; they are looking for self defense and a good form of exercise," said Brewer.

Training in South Carolina is legal, but competition is not and Brewer believes the state is missing out on the sports success. Since the sport became regulated in 2001, the associated press reports the most serious injury during a licensed fight was a broken arm. Neighboring states, Georgia and North Carolina have legalized mixed martial arts.

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