The Pelham Civic Complex just got a bit more diverse and a lot more extreme as Thunder Promotions has announced “The Battle for Alabama,” a mixed martial arts event, is coming to the complex Friday, Feb. 5.

The night will feature 14 fights between Team Alabama and Team Iowa.

The fights will begin at 6 p.m., and Team Alabama’s James Neely will take on Team Iowa’s Travis Fulton in the main event.

Pelham Marketing Director Eva Shepherd said the MMA fight just helps broaden the scope of events the Civic Complex can host.

In addition to ice skating events, the complex has also recently hosted a tennis event and will host a cheerleading competition and a pool tournament this year.

“We’re continuing to try to bring in as many different events as we can,” said Shepherd. “(Thunder Promotions) was looking for a place that could hold the crowd they are estimating and we were a perfect fit. We have a safe environment, a great facility and free parking.”

Rod Ricciardi, Thunder Promotions CEO, said the host site for the event came down to Huntsville and Pelham.

“We looked around at different venues, but with the facility, the parking and the location (of the Pelham Civic Complex), everything about it was perfect,” Ricciardi said.

Shepherd said the complex has turned down similar fighting events in the past, but Thunder Promotions’ event was too good to pass up.

With a target audience of young adults, Shepherd said she expects a different environment than that of many previous events held at the complex.

“These fans are really a dedicated fan base and I am expecting it to be a lot of fun,” Shepherd said.

Ricciardi agreed.

“You’re going to see some very, very good fights,” Ricciardi said.

In fact, Shepherd said Thunder Promotions has been so pleased with the city’s facilities, they already looking at adding another date.

“They’re looking at another date in the spring, and they haven’t even held their first event,” Shepherd said.

In addition to the main event of Neely vs. Fulton, “The Battle for Alabama” card will also feature:

Co-main event

Richard White vs. Scott White

Josh Roberts vs. Willie Johnson

Main fight card

170 pounds

Sauske Zapata vs. Andre Kase

Joseph Ames vs. Adrian Miles

Marquell Horton vs. Brennan Smith

Adam Morse vs. Nihad Rosic

155 pounds

Aaron Woods vs. Brad Thompson

Juan Zapata vs. Scott Kinzenbach

145 pounds

Adem Mujakic vs. Anthony Retic

Chris Ortiz vs. Tyler Jake Roberts

135 pounds

Eldis Sakanovic vs. Jim Henderson

125 pounds

Nate Williams vs. TBD

105 pounds

Sadie Roberts vs. Paige Fairley

For tickets to the event, visit ThunderPromotions.com.

VIP tickets are $69.25, gold preferred seating is $48.25, silver preferred seating is $37.75 and bronze general admission seating is $22.

The fight card is subject to change without notice.