In recent years, toughman competitions have been Elizabeth City's only outlet for viewing combat-style sports. Last year, the door opened for a new avenue — mixed martial arts. North Carolina lawmakers passed legislation allowed the sanctioning of MMA events in the state.

Donnie Markham, co-owner of The Fitness Warehouse and sponsor of the toughman events, formed the Amateur Fight League, which will hold its first matches tonight at the National Guard Armory.

"Pretty much the reason we did toughman was it was legal at the time, we were just waiting for the state to legalize MMA," Markham said.

MMA is just as its name implies, a mixture of martial arts, which includes boxing and wrestling. Where it differs from things like the toughman, is in the athletes, according to Markham.

"It's full contact. Punching, kicking, grappling, submissions," he said. "With toughman, a lot of the guys don't train for it. They come in off the street, whereas even at the amateur level with MMA, the guys that we have that haven't fought before, they have been training. So you aren't getting some guy off the street without any skills."

MMA is probably the fastest growing combat sport. Ultimate Fighting Championship is the most widely known league, with matches on cable TV several nights a week. The AFL will be styled like that, but is an amateur competition. N.C. law states that a fighter must have at least five amateur fights to his credit before he can consider turning pro. That is a big part of the AFL's goal.

"Once the guys get five fights with us, or with another organization, we're going to help them turn pro, sponsor them, pay for their expenses," Markham said. "That is the long-term goal, to groom some amateur guys."

The AFL is doing more than putting on fights, though. The league is producing a highlight show and will have a 12-week run on WSKY-TV 4, beginning June 7.

"I'm the only promoter in North Carolina I know, and I'm pretty sure in Virginia, that is actually is going to put stuff on TV," Markham said.

There are 24 fighters on tonight's card, which begins at 7 p.m. Tonight's matches are the first round of the AFL tournament with the league's champions being crowned on Aug. 30 in Greenville. Part of the proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Special Olympics.