It’s called Mixed Martial Arts, or MMA.  But these days, CBS Television is calling it a nearly 300% increase in male viewers ages 18-34 during Saturday primetime.  The sport is becoming such a national phenomenon that the Los Angeles Times recently reported televised MMA matches now routinely pull in more male 18-34 viewers than the NBA Playoffs. 

So whether it’s nationally televised events, or the number of training sites popping up from the XFC (Extreme Fight Championship) in Cedar Park to the CTC (Competitive Training Center) in Austin, there is no denying the popularity of MMA is through the roof.

“When you see these guys grappling on the ground with blood all over them, head to toe, people find that appealing,” said Ernesto Peralez, a kids Brazilian jiu jitsu instructor. 

But it’s that image of blood-spattered warriors often battling inside a cage that has caused critics to label MMA as nothing more than human cockfighting, a label many participants vehemently dispute.

“It’s more than just gladiatorial human cockfighting, it’s actually a sport, a science to it,” said Omar Garza, a science teacher and MMA participant.

The science behind MMA is its multiple disciplines.

“It's more intricate than a chess match, so it appeals to the intellect, the intelligent, and you have to be highly trained so it also appeals to the sports fanatics,” said Deborah Wofford, an MMA participant.

The sport does just what its name implies, it mixes several martial arts like Karate, Muy Thai kickboxing, judo and jiu jitsu.  It also incorporates wrestling and boxing.

“You've got to know how to defend a take down, or you've got to be able to take somebody down and fight the way you want to fight,” said Joe Namee, the CEO of CTC.  “In boxing, you just have to box.  With this, you’ve got to know a lot more.  You’ve got be more athletic.”

The fact so many fighting techniques come into play is the reason why some say MMA has surpassed boxing as America’s favorite fisticuffs sport, no hands, fists or headbutts about it.

Others say MMA just offers more of a challenge.

“I think deep down in everybody, there's a fighter, and to go out and fight in a cage, it helps to bring forth that sort of inner fighter inside of you, to see what you're made of,” said Wofford.

Certain MMA organizations fight in a traditional boxing ring, but others, usually the televised events, fight in a cage, which seems to add to both the misnomer and mystique about the sport.

“It does seem like the back room, back alley, yes, but the cage also adds a different dynamic to the sport,” said Namee.

“That cage serves as a safety precaution,” said Pat Miletich, a five-time World Ultimate Fighting Champion who champions his sport’s safety record.  “With rings, you'll see athletes go through the ropes and outside of the ring, which is dangerous, where the cage protects the athletes from having falls that could injure them.”

“At the end of the night, the best fighters go home in decent shape,” said Garza.  “No one's eyes are poked out or ripped out.  No one's suffering or knocked out unconscious or in a severe coma.”

Statistics would seem to back that up.  According to the MMA Access website, and the National Center For Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, there have only been two MMA-related deaths.  MMA Access then compares those numbers to the more than 200 amateur and professional boxers that have died in the ring since 1980.  That’s more than seven boxing-related deaths a year.

“Mixed Martial Arts is just the vehicle we use to test our skills in a competitive nature,” said Miletich.  “Some people choose tennis, some people choose mountain climbing, we choose mixed martial arts.  We're just a little different cut out of the rug than most people.”

Like every other sport that’s arrived, MMA has the merchandise to back up the hype.  It’s target audience can buy everything from shirts, shorts and other gear.  There’s even MMA backpacks and action figures to help entice the next generation of MMA fans.