BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- The sport of mixed martial arts over the past five years has become a national phenomenon.

In 2008 alone, mixed martial arts pay-per-views grossed over $300 million in revenue.

ABC23 went inside the cage Tuesday to get a local look into this sport.

While mixed martial arts have brought in huge financial gain, the sport does polarize the sporting community. Those who back the sport view it as the ultimate chess match-up just with a physical overtone. The flip side of that: some view it has human cockfighting. One Central Bakersfield spot has brought a no-nonsense attitude inside the cage.

According to Eddie Haflich, Bakersfield has a rich tradition in fighting for what it wants. “Bakersfield has always been a fight town,” said Haflich.

The Barbell Club co-owner installed the cage just a few months back in response to the local popularity of mixed martial arts. Those who are hard-core enough to enter the “battle base” give credit to how this downtown spot approaches the mental mindset of cage fighting, which something they say Bakersfield breeds.

The Barbell Club deserves credit for punching out the perception that you need a fighting background to hit the mat. The club loves finding the everyday guy wishing to escape the mundane and trade in cufflinks for fisticuffs.

It should be noted while the male gender has made the sport popular, women are also anxious to grapple in the cage. The Barbell Club did add that women as of late have flooded the club requesting lessons.