Get ready to be gripped by excitement and anticipation as Suncoast Casino & Entertainment World prepares to host the United Fight League (UFL) Cage Fight Night on 27 November 2011.

This spectacular event will see amateur fighters battle it out through a combination of extreme sportsmanship.

The UFL is affiliated to, and sanctioned by Mixed Martial Arts of South Africa (MMASA), and showcases 30 to 40  amateur fighters with 20 officials overseeing the exhilarating event.

The event showcases various divisions based on age and weight, and will stage three provincial title fights, one UFL heavy weight title fight, 14 amateur fights and three professional fights.

“Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a combination of combat discipline such as wrestling, boxing, Muay Thai, Karate and Jiu Jitsu. MMA has influenced and infiltrated the sports market and youth culture in South Africa, and seems to have exploded as the spectator sport of choice for the next few years.

MMA boasts a current viewership of around 120 million people worldwide, and is one of the fastest growing competitive sports globally,” says Mark Delafield, event organiser for UFL.

UFL has a Youth Development Programme that educates underprivileged children in the various disciplines at the community centres in their areas.

Calvin Msani, the current KZN Bantam Weight title holder who will be defending his title on Sunday, has practised karate and kickboxing since childhood years before progressing to MMA.

“MMA is a part of me. It has taught me discipline and perseverance. I would not be where I am today if it was not for the passion and motivation I have for the martial arts and fighting as a sport.

“I want to teach all the youngsters who come to my gym that hard work and dedication always pays off. I have been training since I was a little boy, and now I am defending champion of my title.

“I operate a small gym in the township of Inanda out of a room at a crèche where I have my training sessions and also train young boys from my community.

“I want the youth to see me as an inspiration and to realise the benefits of competitive sport from an early age. When I compete I take a few boys who I have been training to compete at events so that they can learn firsthand what the sport is all about,” he says proudly.

United Fight League starts at 6pm, with doors opening at 4pm.

Tickets can be purchased from Computicket at R100 per person.