Photo stories: Cage Fighting Breaks Free The often brutal sport of mixed martial arts makes it's debut in Monterey County with its first fully sanctioned cage fights.
![Jonathon Gaxiola kisses his younger brother after winning his debut cage fight at the Central Coast Throwdown's {quote}Winter Brawl{quote} in Salinas. Gaxiola said training as a fighter gives him potentially dangerous tools, but that training has also helped him develop discipline and responsibility. “This sport is a really good way to get away from [the gang] lifestyle,” said Gaxiola, who was exposed to gangs growing up in the area. “This teaches you the mental game. It shows you how to have that mental toughness to overcome those pressures.”](http://cdn.lightgalleries.net/4bd5ec0148ca2/images/CageFighting09_thumb-1.jpg)
