Fans can take in expo, ‘Tuff Girls’ card

The historic UFC 100 card at Mandalay Bay on Saturday night is far from the only event of interest for mixed martial arts fans this weekend.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship kicks things off with its first Fan Expo at Mandalay Bay on Friday and Saturday.

Many fighters, including most of the biggest stars in the UFC and World Extreme Cagefighting, will be on hand to meet and greet fans, as well as sign autographs.

There also will be MMA demonstrations, training and development sessions, and a Grapplers Quest tournament.

The full cast for Season 10 of "The Ultimate Fighter," which includes Kimbo Slice, will be revealed Friday morning at the expo. Autographs will be available from 11 a.m.-noon.

In addition, more than 100 companies and brands will be exhibiting their MMA-related products and services.

The UFC also will partner with Maxim magazine during the expo for the Maxim Octagon Girl Search.

The winner of the competition will receive a UFC Octagon Girl contract.

A limited number of tickets to the expo can be purchased at ufcfanexpo.com.

• TUFF-N-UFF CARD -- Las Vegas promotion Tuff-N-Uff has put on several mixed martial arts cards in the city over the past few years.

The competitors in the event at the Orleans Arena on Friday night will look quite different than past cards, however.

The organization will host "Tuff Girls," the first all-female MMA card in Las Vegas.

Tuff-N-Uff is looking to capitalize on the large amount of fight fans expected in town for UFC 100 the following night.

"We are kicking off a historic weekend in MMA with an exciting matchup of some of the nation's top female mixed martial artists," said Barry Meyer, president of Tuff-N-Uff. "We have a lineup of featured fighters who not only pack a punch but have colorful lives outside the ring."

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.