Hard rock thumped through the speakers and nonalcoholic beer flowed as more than 1,000 amped-up American soldiers crowded around a makeshift boxing ring one evening earlier this month at a U.S. base in southern Iraq.
"Let's get ready to ruuuumble!" the emcee bellowed, kicking off Contingency Operating Base Adder's first Friday Night Fights, where American servicemen, special forces and private contractors beat each other bloody in mixed martial arts bouts that are spreading fast on U.S. installations throughout Iraq.
The mixed martial arts clubs are modeled after the immensely popular Ultimate Fighting Championship organization's blend of sports and showmanship. Bouts on U.S. military bases aren't quite as nasty as the televised matches from Las Vegas : Military fight clubs must follow Modern Army Combatives rules, which ban some street-fighting moves.
By: Brant
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