Tuff-N-Uff is the second-longest-running MMA promotion in the United States, behind only the UFC. Having lobbied the Nevada State Athletic Commission in 2008 to sanction amateur MMA, they have more than 30 years of industry experience. Besides being known as the premier amateur MMA promotion, Tuff-N-Uff mainly hosts exceptional professional fights and bills itself as having “The Future Stars of MMA.” This claim is backed by a history of fighters graduating the promotion for the UFC. Notables include Ronda Rousey, Tracey Cortez, and Khalil Roundtree Jr., while announcer Justin Bernard, of UFC Fight Night and Road to the UFC fame, has been the promotion’s longtime voice since 2010. Expect him to be there when Tuff-N-Uff 157 kicks off on Friday, September 25th, 2026 at 6 pm PT live and streaming on UFC Fight Pass.
In dramatic Vegas fashion, the monthly Tuff-N-Uff card, numbered 157, will be held poolside at the Sahara. Expect the desert weather to have cooled enough to allow the fighters to compete outside while encouraging people to watch the action from the tops of pool floaties (this reporter will NOT be getting in the pool, thank you very much). However, for those of us not pool-bound, seats are available. The pool also sports a massive 240-foot LED screen, just in case anyone was concerned about missing the action.
The main card features two exciting flyweight title fights: Devon Jackson vs. Israel Galvan in the main event and Paula Bittencourt vs. Rainn Guerrero in the co-main event. Each will consist of five rounds, each lasting five minutes.
The main event pairs two fighters whose records tell only part of the story. Jackson brings power and unusual recent activity across both MMA and boxing, while Galvan enters on a five-fight winning streak with a more varied finishing game.
Jackson, an American freestyle fighter, is 31 and 6-3 in his professional MMA career. Across MMA and boxing, he has competed seven times since January 2026, going 6-1, with three of those bouts taking place in boxing. His most recent loss came in March 2026 against then-undefeated boxer Sachery Sam, who is now 7-0. His previous loss was in November 2024 to a then-5-0 Christian Natividad, who has just scored a spectacular TKO victory over Colton Loud on September 8th on Dana White’s Contender Series, going 10-0 and earning a contract. Jackson last fought at Tuff-N-Uff 154 against Shamel Findley, earning a TKO victory via ground-and-pound in the second round. He fights out of Spokane, WA.
Jackson has KO power, finishing 50% of his wins by KO/TKO. But he can be reckless with his strikes, inviting counter-punching because his defense is not as tight as it could be. In his last fight against Findley, he was wobbled multiple times but recovered and kept going. He has also shown the awareness to change levels when exchanges become dangerous, giving him another route out of difficult striking situations. He’s been the distance three times, though two of those fights ended in decision losses. Jackson’s path to victory is to keep the fight primarily standing while avoiding reckless exchanges, forcing Galvan to respect his power and capitalizing when Galvan enters range.
Galvan, an American mixed martial artist, is 26 and 10-3 in his professional career. He is on a five-fight winning streak dating back to September 2023. His last loss was also against a then-4-0 Christian Natividad on October 14th, 2022. Natividad is therefore the most obvious common opponent between Friday’s title challengers. Galvan last fought in March 2026 at Tuff-N-Uff 152, earning a submission victory over Jose Sandoval with an arm triangle choke in the third round. He trains out of Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Galvan has solid all-around skills. His strikes are quick, his defense tight, and he mixes in kicks well while switching between conventional and southpaw stances. Submissions count for the largest share of Galvan’s wins at four; however, he also has three KO/TKO finishes–one in each round–and three decision wins, so Galvan can feasibly win from any angle. Galvan’s path to victory over Jackson is to use his faster striking against Jackson or take it to the ground and hunt a submission. One potential concern for Galvan is activity: Jackson has competed far more frequently over the past two years, including several boxing bouts.
The co-main event presents a different kind of matchup. Neither Paula Bittencourt nor Rainn Guerrero has ever been stopped by strikes as a professional, but both enter the fight having recently shown an increased ability to finish opponents. With Tuff-N-Uff’s inaugural women’s flyweight championship at stake, durability may be tested against increasingly dangerous offense.
Bittencourt, a Brazilian mixed martial artist, is 31 and 8-3 in her professional MMA career. She is on a two-fight MMA winning streak, earning a split-decision victory over former Bellator title challenger Alejandra Lara at Invicta FC 59 in December 2024 before stopping Jaqueline Ferreira with elbows and punches in the first round at Shooto Brasil 134 in December 2025. Bittencourt also competed outside conventional MMA in January 2026, defeating former UFC fighter Jessica-Rose Clark by split decision in a five-round DBX custom-rules championship bout. Her three MMA losses have all come by decision, including fights against undefeated PFL standout Dakota Ditcheva and former Bellator title challenger Denise Kielholtz. According to her Sherdog record, Bittencourt has never been finished in her professional MMA career. She trains out of Nova União in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Bittencourt is primarily a striker, with five of her eight MMA victories coming by KO/TKO according to her professional record. She likes to pressure forward and carries legitimate power in her hands, particularly with her right, but she is capable of mixing in takedowns rather than relying solely on striking. Her fight against Kate Bacik at Invicta FC 56 showcased both sides of her game, with Bittencourt dropping Bacik with a straight right after catching a body kick and finding brief success from top position, despite ultimately losing a split decision. Invicta’s official recap details the action, and the promotion has also made the full fight available. She has no submission victories as a professional, instead preferring to inflict damage from top position when the fight reaches the ground. Bittencourt’s path to victory against Guerrero is to make the fight physical, pressure her into the pocket, and capitalize on her power while mixing in takedowns as Guerrero begins to find a rhythm at range.
Guerrero, an American mixed martial artist, is 34 and 8-2 with one no contest in her professional career. She has not officially lost since September 2023, when Dione Barbosa submitted her by armbar in the first round on Dana White’s Contender Series. Since then, Guerrero defeated former UFC fighter Pearl Gonzalez by unanimous decision, fought Shanna Gomez in a five-round bout that was later overturned to a no contest, and scored consecutive first-round TKOs over Melani Gonzalez and veteran Carina Damm. Guerrero last fought on April 25, stopping Damm with punches at 2:19 of the first round. Her Sherdog record shows that she has never been knocked out as a professional; her two losses have come by decision and submission. She fights out of Houston, Texas, and trains at W4R Training Center.
Guerrero has historically shown an ability to win fights over longer stretches, with four of her eight victories coming by decision, but her recent performances suggest increasing finishing ability. Her record includes three KO/TKO victories, one submission and four decision wins, giving her paths to victory in all phases of the fight. At 5-foot-6 with a 66.5-inch reach, Guerrero will be two inches taller than Bittencourt, although their listed reaches are nearly identical. She has also experienced a full five-round fight, going the distance against Gomez before the result was overturned to a no contest. Her most apparent vulnerability has come on the ground, where Barbosa submitted her with an armbar on the Contender Series. Guerrero’s path to victory against Bittencourt is to use her speed and movement, avoid prolonged exchanges in the pocket, and force the heavier hitter to work over five rounds rather than allowing Bittencourt to plant her feet and unload power shots.
On paper, the two title fights offer very different questions. Jackson’s power will be tested against Galvan’s speed and versatility, while Bittencourt and Guerrero enter a five-round fight having proven exceptionally difficult to put away. By the end of the night, Tuff-N-Uff will have two flyweight champions crowned beside the pool at SAHARA.
HOW TO WATCH — TUFF-N-UFF 157: JACKSON vs. GALVAN
Date: Friday, September 25, 2026
Location: The Pool at SAHARA Las Vegas, 2535 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV
Preliminary Card:
6:00 PM PT / 9:00 PM ET
Streaming FREE on Tuff-N-Uff’s YouTube, Facebook, and Kick channels.
Main Card:
7:30 PM PT / 10:30 PM ET
Streaming LIVE worldwide on UFC Fight Pass.
In Person:
Doors open at 5:30 PM PT. First fight begins at 6:00 PM.
Tuff-N-Uff 157 is a 21+ event at The Pool at SAHARA Las Vegas.
Featured Bouts:
• World Flyweight Championship — Devon Jackson vs. Israel Galvan
• Inaugural Women’s World Flyweight Championship — Paula Bittencourt vs. Rainn Guerrero
Tickets and event information: TuffNUff.com and Eventbrite.
For one Friday night in Las Vegas, the usual ropes separating resort relaxation from fight night disappear: the cage is coming to the pool.
As of publication, Tuff-N-Uff has not announced the remainder of the card.
Update, Sept. 21, 2026: This article has been updated to include additional information on how and where to watch, as well as updated details about the pool venue.