Erin Toughill

Erin Young Toughill (born June 13, 1977) is an American former professional boxer, mixed martial artist, and bare-knuckle boxer who also appeared as a Gladiator on the American Gladiators series.

She began kickboxing at the age of 18 and started training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu soon after.

Under the watch of her LA Boxing trainer Sean McCully, Toughill debuted in mixed martial arts on September 27, 1999, and fought to a draw with Irma Verhoeff at World Vale Tudo Championship 9 in Aruba.

Less than a year later, she made her professional boxing debut on July 20, 2000.

Along with her MMA career, Toughill holds a professional boxing record of 7 wins, 5 losses, 1 draw and 1 no contest.

She counts IBF Super Middleweight contender Librado Andrade, a long-time sparring partner, among her close friends.

Boxing career Toughill had only one loss before losing her against Laila Ali. Her final boxing match was against Laura Ramsey, whom she defeated previously. Toughill's father died three days before her rematch to Laura Ramsey. Toughill lost the fight by technical knockout in the first round. She and retired soon after with a record of 7–3–1, 1 NC.

Toughill returned to boxing on January 27, 2019, against Maricela Cornejo losing a unanimous decision. Toughill fought again on May 18, 2019, losing via TKO to Raquel Miller.

Mixed martial arts career After going 1–1–1 in her first three bouts, Toughill won five straight fights before losing due to illegal hits to the spine in the finals of the 2004 Smackgirl World ReMix Tournament to Megumi Yabushita. She competed once more and scored a technical knockout victory over Jen Case in 2006.

In 2007, Toughill retired from both boxing and MMA. Toughill came out of retirement from MMA and fought Jan Finney on November 20, 2008, at Palace Fighting Championships 11. Despite cutting over to make the contracted weight limit, Toughill was victorious and later went on to defeat Karen Williams and Emily Thompson in subsequent events for PFC after a fight with Adrienna Jenkins was cancelled due to injury.

Strikeforce Toughill was set to make her Strikeforce debut on November 7, 2009, at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers in a rematch with Marloes Coenen, whom Toughill defeated in 2004. However, she later withdrew from the fight due to an undisclosed medical condition.

On March 18, 2010, Toughill announced that she was planning to leave Strikeforce. She had been scheduled to compete on the undercard of Strikeforce: Nashville on April 17. However, in a second posting on April 9, 2010, Toughill attributed the disagreements with Strikeforce to misunderstandings and stated that she would be staying with the promotion.

Toughill was scheduled to face Shana Olsen at Strikeforce: Houston on August 21, 2010, but the fight was cancelled due to concerns over Toughill's ability to make weight. According to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, Toughill's next fight will not take place in Strikeforce, but she remains a part of the promotion's roster.

Toughill was offered to face Cristiane Santos for a bout in 2010, but the fight never came into fruition.

Post-Strikeforce Toughill was scheduled to compete outside of Strikeforce against China's Bao Yu Dan at Martial Combat 9 on September 15, 2010, in Singapore. However, on September 13, Toughill withdrew from the fight after citing a broken clavicle.

Toughill returned to active competition after nearly two years at Freestyle Cage Fighting 46 on April 9, 2011. The fight was against Ashley Sanchez at a catchweight (per Toughill's request). Toughill lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Toughill agreed to face Anna Barone at BlackEye Promotions 5 on October 1, 2011, in Fletcher, North Carolina, but withdrew from the fight after suffering a rib injury in training.

American Gladiators Toughill became a cast member of NBC's primetime series, American Gladiators, where she became known as Steel.

Bare-knuckle boxing career BYB Extreme Toughill made her bare knuckle boxing debut with BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting Series, losing a 5-round split decision to Jozette Cotton at BYB 6 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood on July 16, 2021.

On March 12, 2022, she defeated Sonya Dreiling via unanimous decision at BYB 9, improving her bare knuckle record to 1-1.

Personal life Erin married Neil Melanson, a grappling coach and lead Jiu-Jitsu instructor at Xtreme Couture, in a private ceremony on November 20, 2009. Melanson also serves as the primary grappling coach for UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture, and has cornered Couture during several recent MMA fights. The couple is currently going through a divorce.

Toughill's younger sister, Megan, was killed in a car accident on September 19, 2004, which was about three weeks before her title fight with Yvonne Reis.

Media Toughill was featured on MSNBC's Warrior Nation as she prepared for a fight.

In 2022, Toughill launched Talk Tough with Erin Toughill, an interview-style podcast focused on bare knuckle boxing.

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Ashley Sanchez Decision (unanimous) Freestyle Cage Fighting 46

Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States Win

Emily Thompson Decision (unanimous) PFC 13: Validation

Lemoore, California, United States Win

Karen Williams TKO (punches) PFC: Best of Both Worlds

Lemoore, California, United States Win

Jan Finney Decision (unanimous) PFC 11: All In

Lemoore, California, United States Win

Jen Case TKO (punches) VF - Showdown at Cache Creek II

Brooks, California, United States Loss

Megumi Yabushita DQ (elbows) Smackgirl - World ReMix 2004

Shizuoka, Japan Open Weight Queen tournament finals. Win

Marloes Coenen KO (punch) Smackgirl - World ReMix 2004

Shizuoka, Japan Open Weight Queen tournament semi-finals. Win

Miwako Ishihara TKO (corner stoppage) Smackgirl - World ReMix 2004

Shizuoka, Japan Open Weight Queen tournament first round. Win

Miwako Ishihara Decision (unanimous) Smackgirl - Dynamic

Shizuoka, Japan Win

Kaoru Ito Decision (unanimous) W - Fusion

Tokyo, Japan Win

Megumi Yabushita Technical Submission (armbar) ReMix - Golden Gate 2001

Japan Loss

Svetlana Goundarenko Submission (scarf-hold armlock) ReMix - World Cup 2000

Japan Open Weight tournament semi-finals. Win

Irina Rodina Decision (split) ReMix - World Cup 2000

Japan Open Weight tournament quarter-finals. Draw

Irma Verhoeff Draw World Vale Tudo Championship 9

Aruba Professional boxing record

Bare knuckle boxing record

Accomplishments Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under James Boran 2001 ReMix Golden Gate Japan Champion W-Fusion 2001 Japan Champion