Erin Toughill American mixed martial artist, former boxer, and former American Gladiators contestant. Date of Birth: 13.06.1977 Country: USA

1. Erin Tapp: A Force in Mixed Martial Arts
2. Early Career in Martial Arts and Boxing
3. Establishing a Presence in MMA
4. Retirement and Return to MMA
5. Stints with Strikeforce and Martial Combat
6. "American Gladiators" and Personal Life

Erin Tapp: A Force in Mixed Martial Arts

Erin Tapp, an American mixed martial artist, former boxer, and "American Gladiators" competitor, has made her mark in the combat sports world.

Early Career in Martial Arts and Boxing

Tapp's journey into combat sports began at the tender age of 18 when she took up kickboxing. She later diversified her training by incorporating Brazilian jiu-jitsu under the tutelage of Sean McCully. Tapp made her professional debut on September 27, 1999, and ventured into boxing on July 20, 2000. Despite a respectable record of 8 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses in boxing, Tapp ultimately abandoned the sport after a defeat to Laura Ramsey.

Establishing a Presence in MMA

Tapp's transition to mixed martial arts had an inconsistent start. After her first three fights resulted in a mix of wins, losses, and a draw, she rebounded with five consecutive victories. However, her momentum halted when she was defeated by Megumi Yabushita in the finals of the 2004 Smackgirl World ReMix Tournament. Tapp returned to the win column in 2006 with a victory over Jen Case.

Retirement and Return to MMA

In 2007, Tapp announced her retirement from both boxing and MMA. However, she made a triumphant return on November 20, 2008, at Palace Fighting Championships 11. She had to shed 20 pounds to make weight, but dominated her opponent and secured a decisive victory. Tapp's success continued with two more wins over Karen Williams and Emily Thompson. A scheduled fight with Adrienna Jenkins was later canceled.

Stints with Strikeforce and Martial Combat

Tapp was set to make her Strikeforce debut on November 7, 2009, against Marloes Coenen, an opponent she had faced in 2004. However, medical concerns forced her to withdraw. After publicly declaring her departure from Strikeforce on March 18, 2010, Tapp announced her reinstatement on April 9 after resolving a misunderstanding. A planned bout with Shana Olsen was later canceled due to weight issues, leading Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker to announce that Tapp's next fight would take place outside the organization. A potential match with Cristiane Santos also fell through. Tapp was scheduled to face Bao Yu Dan at Martial Combat 9 on September 15, 2010, but withdrew due to a broken collarbone.

"American Gladiators" and Personal Life

Beyond her MMA career, Tapp gained popularity as "Steel" on "American Gladiators." On November 20, 2009, she married Neil Melanson, a jiu-jitsu instructor.