Local fight clubs are finding a home court advantage in North Carolina, thanks to a new state law allowing mixed martial arts matches.

Pat Wiggs won Raleigh's first showcased match April 26 at Dorton Arena when his opponent submitted in the second round. Wiggs, 33, who lives and trains in North Raleigh, improved his record to four wins and one loss and is considering turning pro.

"It was nice to have cheers and support from our local fans," he said. "We've always had to travel to other states to fight, and it's great that North Carolina can be part of the fun."

Mixed martial arts, a combination of wrestling, boxing, judo, and jiu-jitsu is a classic combat sport. It was banned in the '90s, when its "no holds barred" approach to fighting caused states to consider the sport too uncontrolled. Various sanctioning organizations stepped in to add judges, time limits and other regulatory measures, then lobbied legislatures to legalize the sport.

Today, only 11 states still ban mixed martial arts, according to Jason Culbreth, a local fight promoter and owner of CrossFit, a North Raleigh training gym. The sport is already becoming more popular, and Culbreth estimates there are about 30 mixed martial arts fighters in the Triangle.