Has anyone seen one of these fights?

Brawl breaks out over cage fight

A brawl has broken out between the Victorian government and the organisers of cage fighting after the controversial sport was banned in the state.

Sports and Recreation Minister James Merlino said he would not follow the lead of other states and allow cage fighting in Victoria.

Cage fighting is established in Sydney and an event was held recently at the National Institute of Dramatic Art's (NIDA) main theatre - where Shakespearean plays are often staged.

NIDA has since said it won't host the sport again.

The sport's promoters on Sunday dismissed the Victorian government's ban as a stunt, predicting the sport - already allowed in Queensland and Western Australia - would soon come to Victoria.

Contestants participate in no-holds-barred mixed martial arts fighting that allows kicking, punching, choking and kneeing of opponents in a two-metre-high cage.