After declining an August Strikeforce fight with Shana “Rock Solid” Olsen due to an inability to make 145 pounds, Erin “Steel” Toughill will now travel to Singapore for her next fight. She will compete for the upstart Martial Combat promotion at Martial Combat 9 on September 15th.
Toughill’s opponent is reportedly China’s Bao Yu Dan and the fight will be contested at 155 pounds. Dan’s record is reportedly 3-0 in MMA but, as with some other fighters on the Martial Combat cards, background information is scarce. The bout should serve as a tune-up fight for Toughill.
No stranger to controversy, Toughill (10-2-1 MMA; 8-2-1, 1 NC Boxing) has frequently called out other female fighters for missing weight or for taking fights against unknown and overmatched opponents. During a back-and-forth online exchange with Olsen, Toughill addressed Olsen’s failure to make weight for a fight last year with Kaitlin Young. However, Toughill, who has twice been on the brink of Strikeforce title fights before pulling out due to medical or weight issues, opted not to cut down to 145 and her fight with Olsen was then scrapped entirely.
Additionally, Toughill was quick to criticise Kim Couture for travelling to Mexico earlier this year to face an overmatched Rosa Vizcarra, though the similarities between that fight and the Martial Combat bout are undeniable. Dan (3-0-0), who hails from China, will also be making her Martial Combat debut in the fight. All of her previous bouts have taken place in Asia. As with some other participants on the Martial Combat cards, Dan’s fights are yet not documented in databases here in North America.
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker previously told MMARising.com that Toughill could receive a shot against Strikeforce Women’s Middleweight (145-Pound) Champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos – or possibly a rescheduled fight with Olsen – if she is victorious in the September fight. He did not specify whether Toughill would be required to compete at 145 pounds outside of Strikeforce to “prove” that she could make the weight, though he reportedly told Olsen that Toughill would, indeed, be required to. Toughill’s fight will be at 155 pounds, not 145.
Martial Combat 9 takes place on September 15th at the Compass Ballroom at Resorts World Sentosa Convention Centre in Sentosa, Singapore. The event airs on ESPN STAR Sports in Singapore.
(Photo Credit: Sherdog.com)
[…] Toughill now going to Singapore for September fight…NOT at 145 Erin Toughill Now Set To Fight In Singapore | MMARising.com Shana Olsen said that Scott Coker told her that Erin was going to have to make 145 in her fight […]