Hoping for Mixed Martial Arts in Tennessee

A STATE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE IS EXPECTED TO RECOMMEND THAT LAWMAKERS GIVE THE GREEN LIGHT TO MIXED MARTIAL ARTS.

THE SPORT THAT'S BEST KNOWN BY THE NAME "ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP" IS ILLEGAL IN TENNESSEE RIGHT NOW....AND SUPPORTERS SAY THAT'S COSTING THE STATE MILLIONS.

NATE RICE DOESN'T JUST DO THIS FOR EXERCISE.

"It's a fighter's dream to be a professional be pro."

THE PROBLEM IS...MIXED MARTIAL ARTS IS ILLEGAL IN TENNESSEE...

SO HE HAS TO TRAVEL OUT OF STATE TO COMPETE.

Nate Rice/Fighter: "A lot of fighters...they're poor...they don't have a lot of money to travel...they just commit their time here...it takes a lot of time. I have a full time job I gotta work."

IT'S WHY FANS OF THE PART BOXING...PART WRESTLING AND PART MARTIAL ARTS SPORT HOPE THIS LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE CAN HELP.

"All the rules are the same all over it."

MEMBERS ARE CONSIDERING RECOMMENDING TENNESSEE LEGALIZE MIXED MARTIAL ARTS...ALLOWING BIG NAMES LIKE THE ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP TO HOLD EVENTS HERE.

SEN. TIM BURCHETT / (R) KNOXVILLE: "Let's be honest...it's a huge cash cow for the state's that hold them. That's what's really behind it all and it's our job as legislators to make sure it's as safe as possible."

SAFETY WAS A BIG CONCERN FOR MANY STATES TEN YEARS AGO...WHEN THE UFC ADVERTISED NO HOLDS BARED FIGHTING.

IN THOSE DAYS YOU WOULDN'T FIND GYMS LIKE THIS ONE IN SOUTH NASHVILLE WHERE EVEN CHILDREN ARE TRAINING.

ED CLAY / ED CLAY'S MIXED MARTIAL ARTS: "Some people wouldn't want to watch it because it was too violent...there were people hitting each other's head on the ground or kneeing each other in the head on the ground."

SKY ARNOLD / FOX 17 NEWS: "Now supporters say a lot has changed since then...beginning in the year 2000...that's when organizers started adding rules to the sport not the least of which included requiring gloves."

MARC RATNER / ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP: "Do people get injured...yes...there's cuts...there's contusions an occasional concussion...but the refs are well trained...they have to jump in there before anyone get's hurt and they stop the fight."

SUPPORTERS SAY THOSE RULES HAVE CREATED THE SPORT THEY LOVE TODAY.

ONE THAT SUPPORTERS SAY COULD BRING IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS PER EVENT HERE...IF PEOPLE LIKE NATE COULD FIGHT LEGALLY.