RHINELANDER, Wis. (AP) -- Ernie Paulson is a rare breed of athlete. He lost his left leg below to the knee to cancer as a teenager and fights mixed martial arts -- the combat sport of punching, kneeing, kicking and choke holds.

But he says finding opponents is hard because they don't want to lose to a guy with a fake leg.

He says that motivates him because he doesn't want to be viewed as inferior.

The 32-year-old home designer and lumber yard salesman from Rhinelander has 2-3 record as a professional and his next bout is July 18 at a King of the Cage event on the Lac du Flambeau Chippewa Reservation.

Leaders of the Association of Boxing Commissions say they know of only two other severely handicapped athletes -- one from Georgia and another in Nebraska -- who have been in mixed marital arts bouts.