Wanna fight?

The penniless pursuit of South Florida’s amateur MMA fighters

Inside the world of amateur mixed martial arts.

The smell of sweat is ripe at the bar, as used shin pads and gloves pile up next to the mixed drinks. The fighters are herded into a back room to warm up in the shadows of two floodlights. The audience erupts with excitement while workers move quickly to wipe fresh bloodstains off the mat for the next fight. Two new contestants are locked inside the cage for a brawl.

With a set of gloves and shin pads duct-taped to their bodies, the two fighters trade blows. A bloody nose quickly erupts on one man, which becomes like a mister spraying blood into the crowd with every punch. A swift kick to the jaw puts one competitor flat on his back; a flurry of punches to his head follows, until a referee stops the beating.

While this may not seem like the most glamorous way to pursue a dream, it comes with the territory of being an amateur mixed martial arts fighter in South Florida.

By definition, mixed martial arts, or MMA, is a contact sport that allows a wide range of fighting techniques including striking, kicking and grappling.

“Anything can happen in an MMA fight,” says Miguel Baeza, a professional MMA fighter from

“Amateur is all about learning, it’s all about making those sacrifices. It’s about persevering, it’s about that grind.” Miranda Barber, amateur MMA fighter from Deerfield Beach

PHOTOS BY JOHN MCCALL/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Amateur fighter Tim Travarca punches grounded opponent Abraham Cunningham during XFN 20 in Fort Lauderdale on June 9. Xtreme Fighting Nation is a local MMA promotion that showcases up-and-coming amateur fighters in South Florida.

Amateur MMA fighter Ryan Kuse stays focused in his fight after bloodying his opponent at XFN 20.