Story & Photos Thomas Martinez

They are locked in a cage surrounded by thousands of screaming spectators. But this one will not be fought following the conventional rules of boxing or classic Greco-Roman wrestling. This is cage-fighting, one of the fastest growing and most savage sports in America.

The following portraits offer a stark look at the sport’s physical and emotional toll. They were taken immediately before and after bouts. The men pictured — winners or losers — were not posed or coached. The blood, sweat, and emotions are their own.

Fighters will tell you they fight because they love it — the bruises are merely a temporary side effect. Spectators celebrate them for their sport, not for the blood they spill.