When Jeff Meyer first joined his brother Barry Meyer in promoting amateur bouts, he wasn?t altogether convinced that fight fans would pay good money to watch anything other than pros. A couple decades of filling venues later, however, and the brothers? Tuff-N-Uff promotion is not just a fan favorite in the Las Vegas area, it is also the top amateur MMA organization in North America.
As for how, exactly, that happened, Jeff is modest. ?To be honest, I think a big part of that is because we luckily have been riding the coattails of the UFC,? he tells Cagewriter.
?For twenty five dollars, fans can come to a Tuff-N-Uff event, at a nice venue, and watch amazing fights. Let?s face it ? MMA is usually a lot more expensive to watch, live. But it?s amazing to watch, live. Making a great live card, affordable, during a time when the UFC has grown so much, helps. Also, Las Vegas doesn?t have a professional sports team, and it?s historically been a big fight city. ?
An inexpensive product wouldn?t be worth buying if it wasn?t also a quality one, however.� Scores of talented and exciting future UFC fighters, including current world champ Ronda Rousey and former title challenger Jon Fitch, first went through the Tuff-N-Uff ranks.
Tuff-N-Uff?s expert talent scouting and matchmaking has consistently resulted in top talent putting on great fights in their ring and cage. Jeff says that, up until his passing in 2013, his brother Barry did a great deal of the scouting for the event.
?My brother did a lot of scouting,? he says.
?Now, we?ve got talent scouts who watch more fights than anyone, and who also go to local gyms and check fighters out, first hand.?
Jeff says that a big part of how Tuff-N-Uff is able to attract top amateur talent is the professional feel to its shows. ?If you put on a professional show that runs smoothly, it gives the competitors the feeling they might expect at the next level,? he explains.
?It?s also no secret that we produce top level fighters. Fighters often go from our events to big professional events. To me, the blue print is kind of like this ? Tuff-N-Uff as an amateur, then the RFA, as a pro, and after that, the UFC.?
Alan Jouban, a UFC welterweight who fights Saturday in Brazil against Warlley Alves, echoes Meyer?s sentiments. Jouban fought as an amateur in Tuff-N-Uff, before getting the call to go pro by the RFA, and then the UFC.
?Fighting in Tuff-N-Uff prepared me for what it was like as a professional,? he said.
?They?ve got the lights, cameras, and nice venues. They really helped me develop to the point where I was ready to go pro, and be successful.?
Eight female competitors will look to take their next steps towards professional success at Tuff-N-Uff?s Friday event in Las Vegas. The promotion has partnered with Invicta FC to host two tournaments (one at featherweight, and one at lightweight), with professional contracts with the top all-female promotion. As expected, the eight women come from all over (they hail from seven different states, in all), and have solid records thus far (their combined record is 26-5).
Meyer says the potentially star-making event tonight is simply carrying on Tuff-N-Uff?s top-notch tradition. ?We want to put on fights with the world?s best talent,? he says.
?Always.?
Follow Elias on Twitter @EliasCepeda & @YahooCagewriter
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