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Last Saturday, the Shanghai Nighthawks battled the Shanghai Warriors for the AFLC championship at Yuanshen Stadium. Shanghai's got a third team, too -- The Titans. They didn't make it to the championship.

The grassroots league started in Shanghai back in 2013, and they play full-on, 11-a-side, bone-crushing American football.

Other teams in the league include the Chongqing Dockers, Chengdu Pandamen, Guangzhou Tigers, Hong Kong Warhawks, Guangzhou Apaches, Hong Kong Cobras, and the Hong Kong Combat Ocras.

"Warriors...come out and play..."

The NFL has been pushing hard in China these last few years, too. Actually the Nighthawks and Warriors have played each other at NFL Homefield at Luwan Stadium.

Chris Mac from the AFLC says "It's not a bunch of foreign players reliving their high school dreams in China. The AFLC is over 80% local homegrown football." For a really long read on football in China, check about the Chongqing Dockers.

None of that flag football nonsense.

How popular can American football really get in China though? Complicated rules, high barriers to entry, and risk of injury do make the game less attractive than say, soccer or basketball.

Chris Mac says he strongly believes American football in China has a bright future: "I've been working with AFLC for four years and we've seen dramatic growth in local recruiting, referees, coaches, and sponsorship...There's definitely many more stakeholders of American football in China outside of the NFL and AFLC."

One solid revenue stream for American football organizations might be apparel. Check this jacket -- real fresh.

Both teams had fans repping hard, cheering from the stands and tailgating before the event. Throughout the day, at least 1000 people came through the free event.

The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat. The Nighthawks tried, but in the end, the Warriors won 37-30.

Someone got injured but no one went to the hospital this time.

Rage.

Squad.

American Football: A New Hope

Looking pretty lihai.

Pride.

That's it for this season. The league is open to all, and anyone interested in playing, reffing, or otherwise volunteering can check the . Next season starts in mid-to-late August.