In combat sports, mixed martial arts (MMA), also known as cage fighting, is the new kid on the block.

In MMA opponents can punch, kick, knee, elbow, throw, strangle and stomp. The sport is growing in popularity and is regulated in most parts of Australia.

But many in the sport claim the rules are often ignored, especially at the amateur level.

The ABC's Background Briefing has discovered that important health and safety regulations are not adhered to and fighters are subjected to unnecessary risks.

Rob White, a Professor of Criminology at the University of Tasmania, is a critic of the sport, which he says has been controversial from the outset.

"To the spectator it appears to be no holds barred. It appears to have no rules. And basically that's how it's being sold, as the new gladiator contest, as a blood sport," he said.

Professor White says MMA should be tightly controlled, because it is inherently violent.

"Banning it may not be a solution because it's already become more or less entrenched. But we can regulate it and channel it to a particular direction", he said.

There are regulations in place, although they differ between states and between professional and amateur fights.

At the international level MMA is dominated by the US-based Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and Australia is the fastest growing audience for the UFC.

Australia has a small professional scene - the vast majority of MMA participants train in amateur gyms and take part in amateur fight events.

'Open slather'

Fighter Rusty McBride at the Australian Fighting Championship. ( Eugene Hyland for triple J's Hack )

Regulation differs markedly between the three eastern states where the vast majority of MMA events occur.

In Victoria, professional and amateur fights are regulated in the same way and health and safety rules are closely monitored by the Combat Sports Board.

In NSW, professional MMA fighters are registered; the promoters are licensed; there are compulsory medical checks and government officials monitor the events.

The rules are supposed to be same for amateur fights but in practice they are often not followed.

"With the amateurs it was almost open slather," MMA referee Steve Perceval said.

Mr Perceval used to referee only at professional events. Recently he started refereeing amateur fights and says he was surprised when he saw fighters stepping into the cage without having their serology tests completed.

These tests are done to show fighters are clear of blood borne diseases like Hepatitis B and C, and HIV.

"It's mandatory for professional fighters to have their serology tests done," Mr Perceval said.

"I don't see the difference between amateurs and professionals. They are still people that can contain those diseases and it should be done for either amateurs or professionals, it doesn't matter."

Mr Perceval says he pulled out of an MMA event because none of the fighters could show him their blood test results.

"When I started stopping fights, saying listen, these guys can't fight because they haven't given me a serology test, that puts a lot of pressure on the promoter, it puts a lot of pressure on the fighters, and a lot of pressure on me as a referee for these matches," he said.

Dangerous system

A man pins his competitor down during the Australian Fighting Championship. ( Eugene Hyland for triple J's Hack )

Other amateur fight shows have gone on without a doctor, and athletes fought without medical books to prove they were fit to fight.

Some fighters step into the cage weekend after weekend despite being concussed, subjecting themselves to serious brain injuries.

The official regulator, the NSW Combat Sports Authority, issues permits for amateur fight events but is often not on site to oversee them.

Sydney-based combat sports promoter, John Ioannou, says the system is dangerous.

"It's just a recipe for an accident to happen," he said.

"If these promoters want to put a show out there without adhering to the rules and regulations, there's going to be a problem. It needs to be enforced. If people can get away with it then they will. We're playing with people's livelihoods here."

Some people within the industry are so concerned about the Government's inability to regulate the sport that they have decided to take matters to their own hands.

In Queensland there is no government regulation and Peter Hickmott, a referee there, says it is a dangerous situation.

"For us with the sport it's like being able to drive a truck but not have a licence. Nobody's really concerned with that until something goes wrong," he said.

Mr Hickmott has formed an organisation called MMA Australasia and hopes it will become a national body, with a national licensing system for promoters and fighters at all levels.

"The primary reason for setting up MMA Australasia is to make sure that the athletes are taken care of," he said.

"The fighters' safety is paramount for us in any aspect of the sport. If we don't try and control it, it will only implode on itself and people will start to get seriously hurt and no-one takes responsibility for it. We want to make sure the sport as it grows is controlled."

MMA Australasia is now trialling in Queensland.

Background Briefing airs at 8.05am Sunday morning on ABC Radio National.