New Fight Chix Article Up Now!

Check out the new article on FIGHT CHIX CEO Elisabeth Nuesser right now at this link:

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/business/1633085,6_3_NA22_FIGHTCHIX_S1-090622.article

Beneath the Surface with Erin Toughill

Erin Toughill has endured intense hardships starting at a very young age. She has literally been fighting all her life, and through fighting she has found peace. In this very candid interview Erin opens up and lets us see what led her to fighting, what she has had to overcome, who pisses her off and what she has in store for the future.

Can you tell us how you got into mixed martial arts and who you admire in the sport?

ET: I am days away from my 32nd birthday...I originally saw MMA when the first UFC came out...1993 or so? I grew up around gangs and drugs and I was always getting into trouble and just being a "bad kid". UFC was something I gravitated towards because of the blatant violence, of course, and as a kid who was always fighting, I thought it was the greatest thing I had ever seen. I started training in BJJ at around 17 or 18, and soon after that started striking. I was training and still having fun being a kid. I was in my own apartment at 17 years old and would go to whatever classes were available when not working. When I was 21, my future coach (Sean McCully) approached me about doing MMA. I was not even aware that women did MMA, I was just going to kick box. At any rate, I had my first MMA fight just after I turned 22 years old and I never looked back. I admire all of the people who started in this sport and have helped it evolve into what it is today and those who will further propel it into mainstream sports.

Can you talk about how your training is going and when your next fight is and with what promotion?

ET: I took about two weeks off from my May 8th fight, and have been getting back into shape since a couple weeks ago. I'm set to fight August 15th and it will be for StrikeForce on the undercard. Looks like I get the winner of Cyborg vs. Gina Carano, who are fighting on the same card. My training is always top notch. When I am not with my regular coach Brian Rauchbach and John Marsh, I am over training at CSW with Erik Paulson and the rest of Team Archangel. I just got back from WEC and actually trained with Miguel Angel Torres. We did not even do rounds, we just punched and kicked each other for 40 or 45 min straight. He is an ANIMAL. Of course I would have to stop when he dropped me with body shots or if I needed a second to breathe. But I train only with men, and prefer it that way. Women get emotional training with other women, and that can affect their training. King Mo Lawal is my wrestling coach. It’s very complete...it’s very good right now.

How did you get on American Gladiators and how was that experience?

ET: I had a sports/movie agent that referred me for Season One. I did not think it was going to be anything great, so I did not go back to my second call back. I actually would have been hired. On Season Two, they requested me personally and I came back, went through a small screening process, and I was hired. It was an amazing experience, and I loved it. Still have my costume. Yes, I keep in touch with several of Gladiators. I got along with all of them.

What do you feel is the state of Women's MMA and where do you see it going in the next five years?
ET: Clearly, I see it growing. It took people years to understand and accept the men's fighting. So it's not just gonna fall into mainstream without any hitches. What I see with women (fighters and regular women alike) is there is not a lot of camaraderie like men have. I see the women judging and hating on other women all the time. We all have our moments, but maybe because I am older, or have been through more things in my life, I just don't understand why women have to compete at such a furious rate with other women to be the "Alpha Female". Women tend to be jealous and territorial by nature, but I think if they would be open to getting past that, and just supporting each other, women (and women's sports) would really benefit from that sisterhood. But you get a lot of women who are not living happy lives, in general, and they take that out on other women whose lives they covet. I have seen it happen to me and I just see it every day. I just do not get it.

Who do you want to fight?

ET: I want to fight anyone who is ranked above me, first of all. Which is Cyborg and Gina. I just want the casual fan to know me, and with me now fighting in StrikeForce, I think that will definitely happen. And of course anyone that feels they can beat me. I will fight anyone...anytime, anywhere.

Tara LaRosa had some strong words about you on a recent interview on The Rear Naked Choke Radio show, with her and Gina ---talking about weight cutting--- and she said you complained about the cut and wanted to fight at 150 lbs. ---what are your thoughts on how many women have missed weight? Is it a woman issue or a professional issue?

ET: First, I have not listened to it, and I won't because Tara is a joke: she is a joke to women's MMA. Walking around at 170 lbs and cutting to under 145 lbs was not an easy task. But I made the cut and won the fight: that's what matters. As of the last five years, I have commented on Tara when she has felt the need to bash me or any other female fighter that is prettier than her or gets more exposure than her, which is about 99.9 percent of women fighting. What I know about Tara is this: she has no life. She is a troll who is socially inept and can only have mild social interaction behind a computer screen. I don't know what's funnier: her trying to kiss Gina Carano's ass and pretending she never bashed Gina to try and get into StrikeForce, her getting KO'd on her feet by Jennifer Howe, or when Tara was on the FOX Sports online MMA show recently. Her jaw was grinding madly as she tried to look comfortable on TV. I mean, it hurts to just look at her. Radio is probably a better line of work for her.

I am not impressed by Tara or her fighting - I never have been. I am friends with many of the women including Meisha Tate, Ginelle Marquez, Debi Purcell, Tanya Evinger, Gina Carano, Lana Stefanac and Shayna Baszler, to name a few. I am for the advancement and empowerment of women in MMA, unlike Tara. She has to realize women's MMA (as a whole) can be based off looks to the casual fan. It might not be "fair", but that's the facts. Her looks could be irrelevant, but it's her poor attitude in this sport that is stopping her; not because she's so "overlooked". She is completely obsessed with me, it's bizarre. Tara should stop running her big jaw and should focus on herself. And of course, she's at an even lower weight now. If we could come to a catch weight...I would smash her. If they can determine that she's a woman before any of that, then we can go from there. Even if I did kick her ass, it still would not shut her up. On that note, I think if Tara was a happy person (in general) she would not act like this. If she received more hugs and someone to tell her they cared about her, I think she would be a different person.

What do you do pre and post fight---any rituals?

ET: I do a lot of visualization. I think that is as important (or more) than the physical aspect. I just try to keep calm and use my energy in the most positive way that would correlate to my fights. I can be a very intense person, and that power can overtake me at times...so I am trying to use that power to my benefit instead of it typically being my downfall when I was growing up.

What do you like to do when you are not training for a fight?

ET: I am not a big party person any more, but don't get me wrong, I love to go have a good drink and have some fun. Mostly, I work on building my personal training business with my adult and kid clients and my pro athletes. I also constantly train to try and better myself and my game. I love to just be my family and my friends, as well as traveling, movies or just reading a good book.

Do you have any deals in the works you'd like to mention or plug?

ET: "Time Warp" for the Discovery Channel will be airing in mid/late June which I am excited about. I am now working with Cage Fighter, and am happy to have a great sponsor behind me. There are some other deals, but my main focus is my fighting in StrikeForce. That is my priority and my main concern.

I know you have had some ups and downs in life, losing your sister and a public divorc e---how have those events changed you as a person?

ET: Oh well, yes...Within three years, my sister died in a car accident, my father died soon thereafter of cancer (although I feel it was a broken heart) and I went through a divorce. In three years I went through all of that, and to come out of it as "centered" as I am right now, is unbelievable even to me at times. What I know, is that you can’t believe everything you read; you need to give people the benefit of the doubt before you judge them. I do my best to try and live an honest life and to treat people the way I want to be treated. It takes a lot to push me, and even me ripping on Tara, that has been years of her just running her mouth. In the scheme of things, all of that is very inconsequential. When you lose the most important people in your life, you see what truly matters in the rest of your life. People will always have things to say, but as long as I know I am doing what's best for me and my life, that is what matters. I am more tolerant of people and of myself. I treat the people who are close to me like this is their last day, every day. I am far from perfect, but I try to make a difference in the world, whether it’s helping women's MMA, being good to the people you come in contact with, or helping train my clients and making a difference in their lives. That’s what is important.

Miss RaRa and Urijah Faber's After Party

Miss Rara and her family was rockin' her new signature burnout tee at the WEC this past weekend. Rara did Urijah's braids before the fight and then they were hanging out at the Park after the fight. Check out the photos on www.urijahfaber.com and get your own Rara burnout at at www.fightchix.com

WEC Picks

WEC 41: Media Day @ Ultimate Fitness
- combatlifestyle.com - CombatLifestyle Nightlife

Mike Brown Vs. Urijah Faber
Name: Mike Brown
Height: 5' 6" (168 cm)
Weight: 145 (66 kg)
Record: 21-4-0

VS

Name: Urijah Faber
Height: 5' 6" (168 cm)
Weight: 145 (66 kg)
Record: 22-2-0

As much as we love Faber and his exciting style AND our very own Miss Rara will be there live after braiding Urijah's hair today---Brown is bigger, stronger, a better wrestler and cleaner striker. Urijah has a ton of heart to go along with his skills, so that may be the difference in the fight.


Jose Aldo Vs. Cub Swanson
Name: Jose Aldo
Height: 5' 7" (170 cm)
Weight: 145 (66 kg)
Record: 14-1-0

VS

Name: Cub Swanson
Height: 5' 7" (170 cm)
Weight: 145 (66 kg)
Record: 13-2-0

Jose Aldo has been tearing up the 145lb division and look for the streak to continue tonight. He will come out on top and earn the next title shot very soon.

Donald Cerrone Vs. James Krause
Name: Donald Cerrone
Height: 6' 0" (183 cm)
Weight: 155 (70 kg)
Record: 9-1-0, 1 NC

VS Name: James Krause
Height: 6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight: 155 (70 kg)
Record: 10-0-0

Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone should be the 155lb champ right now. Look for him to put the first loss on Krause's record with his complete package style of fighting.

Josh Grispi Vs. Jens Pulver
Name: Josh Grispi
Height: 5' 11" (180 cm)
Weight: 145 (66 kg)
Record: 12-1-0

VS

Name: Jens Pulver
Height: 5' 7" (170 cm)
Weight: 145 (66 kg)
Record: 22-11-1

Jens doesn't get any easy fights and Josh is no joke. We are rooting for Jens on this fight and hope he gets back on the winning track with a KO in round 2

Strike Force Picks

Strikeforce Lawler vs Shields: Weigh Ins
- combatlifestyle.com - CombatLifestyle Nightlife


Robbie Lawler vs. Jake Shields
We have to ride the fence on this one. If it stays standing KO for Robbie and if it goes to the ground Jake is a submission master. Size and strength may be a big factor here and Robbie should win with a TKO.

Nick Diaz vs. Scott Smith
Diaz has been on a roll but Smith is always one punch away from a win. I hope Diaz goes to the ground with this one to secure a submission win.

Andrei Arlovski vs. Brett Rogers
Rogers has a punchers chance, but that is really it. Look for Andre to get back in the win column with a KO victory over Brett in Rd 2

Kevin Randleman vs. Mike Whitehead
Randleman and Whitehead doesn't look to be the most exciting matchup. I think Whitehead's youth will out weigh Randleman's experience and he will win via scorecards.

Phil Baroni vs. Joe Riggs
Baroni believes he is reborn now training out of Xtreme Couture. He has the power but I am not sure if mentaly he is ready to take the next step. Look for a slugfest with Riggs getting the better of the exchanges for a KO in round 3.

Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante vs. Mike Kyle
Feijao has been on a terror as of late with a string of 1st round KOs. Look for the streak to continue