It’s billed as the fastest-growing sport in America.

It’s wild, loud and unpredictable.

It’s mixed martial arts. And judging by the turnout and emotion at the Washington County Fairgrounds on Saturday night, MMA is a hit in the Mountain Empire.

An overflow crowd of about 3,000, which began arriving hours before the event, watched the 25 fights in the first Ruckus in the Cage.

"Fans of all ages are turning to this sport because of the excitement and reality," said event referee Rick Mullis. "It really comes down to that primal one-on-one, best man wins sort of thing without the politics you see in boxing or a big sport like NASCAR."

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Matt "The Terror" Serra strolled into Tri-Cities Regional Airport lobby Friday afternoon with a huge world championship belt and a broad smile.

While weary business travelers seemed confused by the fuss, several fans instantly recognized the latest sensation in one of America’s fastest-growing sports.

One week after earning national headlines with a shocking UFC welterweight title win at Houston’s Toyota Center, Serra will be the celebrity guest for tonight’s "Ruckus in the Cage" mixed martial arts cage fight at Abingdon’s Washington County Fairgrounds. The first of 25 amateur fights is set for 7:30.

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He was winning, or at least holding his own, until now.

Michael Smith, a Marine from Virginia Beach, sprang forward and threw a right cross direct to Wyatt’s nose.

Smith missed a second punch and then drove forward with four quick blasts to Wyatt’s face.

Blood trickled from Wyatt’s nose.

In less than four minutes, the main event at Saturday’s Ruckus in the Cage at the Roanoke Civic Center would be finished.

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Imagine you are in a room when the power goes haywire.

The lights flicker. You begin to lose consciousness.

If you are lucky, the lights snap back on.

After the fight you find out your nose is broken.

That's how Roanoke fighter Joel Wyatt describes it. And five days a week, the 20-year-old plumber trains for that punch.

He hopes to be on the throwing side of the fist.

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