Tuff-N-Uff moves into bigger venue

Tuff-N-Uff has built a strong following for its amateur mixed martial arts shows in the ballrooms at The Orleans.

In fact, the upstart organization has outgrown its facility. Its next show will be Saturday at the Orleans Arena and will feature more than 50 fights.

"Fortunately, we've been able to get a good crowd at the ballroom and it's been growing and expanding and selling out," Tuff-N-Uff president Barry Meyer said. "So it's better to go to the bigger arena and give more fans and athletes an opportunity. It's exciting."

The arena will be set up with two rings and will have fights going simultaneously beginning at noon with an open invitational.

After the conclusion of that portion of the card, one of the rings will be blocked off and the main card "Future Stars of MMA: USA vs. Mexico" will begin at 8 p.m. It will feature a group of American fighters taking on a team of fighters from Team Combate Extremo from Mexico.

Tickets for the event start at $25.

• WEC -- World Extreme Cagefighting has been hosting more and more events outside of Las Vegas, but the Zuffa-owned organization will return to its roots with a card at the Hard Rock Hotel on Aug. 9.

Sources close to the event confirmed that the card will be headlined by a bantamweight title bout between Miguel Torres and unbeaten top contender Brian Bowles.

The two were supposed to meet in Chicago in April, but Bowles was forced to withdraw from the bout with a back injury.

Torres (37-1 as a professional) is ranked among the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

• UFC BACK TO L.A. -- Ultimate Fighting Championship will return to Los Angeles for the first time in more than three years when it hosts UFC 104 at Staples Center on Oct. 24.

The UFC has been to the arena just once before, a card that was headlined by a bout between Matt Hughes and Royce Gracie on May 27, 2006.

Anaheim also has hosted three cards.

• TUF 10 COACHES -- Filming for the 10th season of the UFC's hit reality show, "The Ultimate Fighter," is less than a week away, and the organization has yet to announce the coaches.

Rumors are swirling that new light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida will coach one team while former champ Quinton "Rampage" Jackson will lead the other team.

Machida's manager appeared to confirm the rumor during a news conference before the fighter's bout with Rashad Evans.

A reporter asked Machida if he had been asked to coach on the show should he beat Evans. Ed Soares, who serves as Machida's interpreter in addition to his managerial duties, replied simply, "Yes."

When asked why he didn't pass the question on to Machida, Soares responded that he had yet to tell the fighter about the opportunity because he didn't want to distract him from the task at hand.

The show would serve as the buildup to a title bout between the two coaches to take place soon after the finale of the season is aired.

The show tapes in Las Vegas.

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