View: https://youtu.be/qHeqM38LbjQ
In the '90s, everyone surrounding the Mixed Martial Arts world was still finding their footing. Oftentimes, it wasn't even the intention for those who wound up leaving their marks to get involved in the first place.
Currently residing in Orange County, California, and working as a boxing coach, Erin Toughill has seen it all over the years – she never would have assumed that would have been the case when she was just 18.
Using a fake ID as a rebellious young adult, Toughill would sneak into bars before turning 21. Ultimately, this led to a major life change as one night out she met her future coach Sean McCully – the brother of eventual UFC veteran Justin McCully.
Exchanging some drunken words, McCully asked Toughill if she thought she was tough to which Toughill proudly answered with confirmation. Offering her an invite—or perhaps a request—to show up to his gym the very next day, Toughill did just that and these rest, as they say, was history.
Four years later in September 1999 and an opportunity presented itself for Toughill to professionally debut in the sport of MMA. At a time where footage was less than readily available of fighters, Toughill recalls ordering video through Black Belt Magazine to do any sort of opponent studying.
"I remember distinctly watching it on the big screen and I'm like, 'Yeah, I can beat this bitch,'" Toughill told MyMMANews. "Little do I know, because we don't know any of this because there are no records running around – she was 4-0 or 3-0 in MMA and it was my pro debut. But she was like 40-5 in kickboxing.
"I'm 20 and she's basically my age now, 38. I get there and we're gonna get a thousand dollars – a thousand dollars is pretty rad because even nowadays people don't get a thousand dollars (laughs). So I'm like whatever, Sean's brother Justin was going to fight, Heath Herring was on the card, Gilbert Yvel, it was a pretty big f*cking thing. And I'm like… I think I'm badass… I think. Then I see this chick."
Continued: Fearchasing: Erin Toughill's Pioneership and Keeping the Fire Alive