Tuff-N-Uff

Tuff-N-Uff
First event 1994
Purpose Amateur MMA fighting
Headquarters Spring Valley, Nevada
President Burt Meyer
Website Tuff-N-Uff

Tuff-N-Uff is an amateur MMA fighting organization, which organizes and promotes events in the State of Nevada.[1]

History

Tuff-N-Uff was founded in 1994 in order to help promote and lobby for the sanctioning of amateur MMA events in the United States, in addition to other aspects of combat sports. The first amateur MMA event organized by Tuff-N-Uff was held on November 14, 2003. This was the first amateur MMA event to ever be sanctioned by the State of Nevada.[2][3] For the first five and a half years, events were held in the ballroom of The Orleans hotel in Paradise, Nevada, until the organization began hosting events at the larger Orleans Arena in 2009. Other venues have included the South Point Arena, Larry Flynt's Hustler Club, CasaBlanca Resort, Cox Pavilion, and The Pearl at the Palms. Tuff-N-Uff has organized several special events series, including the "Tuff-N-Uff" series 1 through 3, the "Future Stars of MMA" series, the first ever all-female amateur event "Tuff Girls", and "Festibrawl" 1 through 6.

The company was founded by the late Barry Meyer, a black belt in tae kwon do and former hedge fund trader, who served as president of the organization until his death in 2013. The organization has since been run by his father Burt Meyer. Barry Meyer said of the organization 2009 that "our goal is to establish this as the premier amateur brand around legitimate fighters, make it an affordable event, and entertaining with lasers, music and a cool atmosphere".

Between December 2006 and March 1, 2014, the company held 52 amateur MMA competition events in both Las Vegas and Mesquite, Nevada, in addition to Paradise.[1][4][5][6] Their events have included tournaments held to earn a professional MMA contract, such as the women's Tuff-N-Uff Strawweight Tournament for a contract with Invicta Fighting Championships. The opening round of the tournament was held on April 11, 2014.[7][8][9] Most events are focused on amateurs building their fight resume, or fighting for Tuff-N-Uff amateur championship titles. Titles are available for both male and female fighters.[10][11]

Tuff-N-Uff alumni

Fighters who have performed in Tuff-N-Uff include former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey, whose career was launched while fighting in the organization,[12][13][14] in addition to Kyra Batara,[15] Chris Holdsworth, Jessamyn Duke, Ryan Couture, Marina Shafir,[7][16] Jon Fitch, Brad Imes, Jesse Taylor, Nick Thompson, Tonya Evinger,[17] and ABC 13 Las Vegas program director Larry Mir.[18] In all about twenty fighters has moved up from Tuff-N-Uff to fight for the UFC, and about a dozen women have turned professional.[19]

References

  1. 1 2 "TuffNUff". Sherdog. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  2. ↑ Jennifer Miller (May 30, 2009). "Are You Tuff N Uff?". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  3. ↑ "About". Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  4. ↑ Andy Samuelson (March 28, 2009). "Lesser-named fighters show they are TUFF-N-UFF". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  5. ↑ Adam Hill (May 26, 2009). "Tuff-N-Uff moves into bigger venue". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  6. ↑ Adam Hill (October 21, 2013). "Tuff-N-Uff president Meyer, 42, mourned at service". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  7. 1 2 Hunter Homistek (March 21, 2014). "MMA Organization Tuff-N-Uff Announces Tourney, Winner Earns Invicta FC Contract". Bleacher Report. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  8. ↑ Bill Halter (Apr 2, 2014). "Wren-Holmes will go for pro contract in the octagon". NBC 6 California. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  9. ↑ Rob Tatum (March 18, 2014). "Tuff-N-Uff Announces Strawweight Tournament, Winner Receives Contract with Invicta FC". MMA Corner. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  10. ↑ Robin Leach (March 17, 2014). "TSA agent, single mom, MMA fighter Kari Lichtenwalner formerly tipped scales at 200". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  11. ↑ Adam Hill (April 11, 2014). "Amateur MMA bout at The Orleans canceled due to 'medical situation'". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Ronda Rousey". Sherdog. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  13. ↑ Brian Martin (March 22, 2013). "Beginning to Scrape Career Surface". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  14. ↑ Alan Snel (April 4, 2014). "Tuff-N-Uff teams with top all-women mixed martial arts fight business". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  15. ↑ Robert Sargent (March 22, 2014). "Women's MMA Report: Jessica Andrade wins at UFC 171, Invicta FC signs new prospects". MMA Junkie. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  16. ↑ Adam Hill (August 24, 2009). "Ryan Couture recovers from knockdown to win". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  17. ↑ "MMA loses respected figure with Tuff-N-Uff exec Barry Meyer's unexpected passing". MMA Junkie. October 16, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  18. ↑ Allison Duck (January 8, 2010). "Q&A with Tuff-N-Uff fighter Larry Mir". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Hall of Fame". Retrieved April 11, 2014.
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