ITV4 to Air Cage Gladiators 7

ITV4 is bringing mixed martial arts - also known as "cage fighting" - to terrestrial UK television for the first time.

It will be the first UK terrestrial channel to show the sport which has been criticised by some for being too violent. The British Medical Association has called for it to be banned.

The more violent elements of MMA such as biting have been banned in recent years but there are still few restrictions on tactics and no protective clothing. Supporters say many other sports, such as horse racing, are more dangerous.

It involves two fighters punching, kicking and wrestling in a caged ring. The sport has become popular in the UK in recent years and attracted strong television audiences for less high-profile channels. In the US CBS announced it would air a competition for the first time this spring.

ITV4 will show the one-off, a tournament organised by promoter Cage Gladiators, on May 18.

Organiser Chris Zorba said: "I think to get it on a terrestrial channel has been one major obstacle MMA has had. It's just all the ignorance really from day one, now we're turning people around to get them to understand that it's not like cockfighting, bare-knuckle fighting.

"All the publicity it's had from America with the UFC coming over, it's starting to become more mainstream. It is a technical sport. These fighters are so skilled and have to master so many different arts to fight in a cage."

Emile Coleman, spokesman for the company, said: "Cage Gladiators is pleased to announce after many months of negotiations that it is to be broadcast on ITV4 on Sunday May 18. This will be the first time that British MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) has been televised on any of the more traditional network broadcasters...

Cage Gladiators 7 will be filmed live on Sunday, April 27 and then broadcast on ITV4 [which] has commissioned two one-hour programmes to be broadcast together on the above date."

Last year the BMA called for a ban before a major MMA tournament at the O2 arena.

Source: www.digitalspy.co.uk