Photo stories: Cage Fighting Breaks Free: CageFighting03

Eddie Morales gets caught in a rear naked choke by Fernando Lopez, and momentarily loses consciousness as the referee steps in to stop the fight. Before legal amateur MMA fights were held in Monterey County, two other types of events occurred: underground fights and “smokers.” Local promoter MacNeill described underground fights as spontaneous events that were much more like street brawls. These events often did not incorporate a ring or cage, but simply pitted two fighters against one another.

Eddie Morales gets caught in a rear naked choke by Fernando Lopez, and momentarily loses consciousness as the referee steps in to stop the fight. Before legal amateur MMA fights were held in Monterey County, two other types of events occurred: underground fights and “smokers.” Local promoter MacNeill described underground fights as spontaneous events that were much more like street brawls. These events often did not incorporate a ring or cage, but simply pitted two fighters against one another.