HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — More than a dozen athletes in the tri-county area have entered the 22nd annual Original Toughman Contest scheduled this weekend at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena in Huntington, W.Va.

Thirteen fighters from Gallia County, one from Meigs County and two from Mason County, W.Va., have signed up for the event, which begins Friday, Jan. 15 and continues on Saturday, Jan. 16.

The Original Toughman Contest gives novice amateur fighters age 18-39 an opportunity to test themselves in the ring for three one-minute rounds using 16 ounce gloves, headgear and a mouth piece. MMA fighters are welcome and no entry fee is required.

The winners in each weight class will be awarded a $1,000 prize, a Toughman jacket and will be eligible to advance to the world championship event. Runners-up will be awarded $300 and a trophy. Prize money in the women’s divisions vary based on the number of competitors. In all, 21 female fighters have signed up for this year’s event along with 150 male fighters.

According to a press release issued by West Virginia Sports Promotions, Inc., a 90-minute documentary film is being produced about this year’s Huntington, W.Va. toughman contest by Lichtblick Media out of Berlin, Germany. A camera crew has reportedly been filming three fighters, Matt Workman, John Creamer, and Matthew Bacus, for the past five weeks as they prepare for the event. This weekend’s competition is to be the “highlight” of the documentary.

The Huntington, W.Va., contest was chosen because it is the largest “Original” Toughman Contest in West Virginia, ranks in the top five nationally, and is known in the fighter community to feature the “toughest competition,” according to the press release.

Four Gallia County residents have signed up in the Heavyweight Division (185-400 pounds) including:

• Greg Cook, Gallipolis, 5-8, 230 pounds.

• Jordan Fields, Gallipolis, 6-3, 350 pounds.

• Floyd Jones, Crown City, 6-0, 215 pounds.

• Daniel Stapleton, Crown City, 5-11, 190 pounds.

Two fighters from Gallia County, one from Meigs County and one from Mason County, W.Va. have entered the contest in the Light Heavyweight Division (160-184 pounds) including:

• Andrew Clark, Gallipolis, 5-8, 184 pounds.

• Brett Crabtree, Crown City, 6-1, 182 pounds.

• Brian Estep, Rutland, 6-1, 184 pounds.

• Henry Mecer, Apple Grove, W.Va., 5-11, 180 pounds.

One Mason County, W.Va., resident and four Gallia Countians have signed up to compete in the Middleweight Division (140-159 pounds) including:

• Andrew Diehl, Gallipolis Ferry, W.Va., 5-10, 150 pounds.

• Jack Russell, Gallipolis, 6-0, 155 pounds.

• Kevin Smith, Bidwell, 6-1, 158 pounds.

• Casey Taylor, Gallipolis, 5-11, 159 pounds.

• Jonathan Whiteman, Gallipolis, 6-6, 159 pounds.

One Gallia County fighter has entered the Women’s Heavyweight Division (156 pounds and up):

• Monica Smith, Gallipolis, 5-7, 170 pounds.

Two Gallia County residents have also signed up for the Women’s Lightweight Division (155 pounds and under) including:

• Toya Mayes, Gallipolis, 5-7, 142 pounds.

• Brianna Spencer, Gallipolis, 5-7, 118 pounds.

The excitement is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. both nights and will include a U.S. Marine Corp presentation of the colors along with the singing of the national anthem. Tickets cost $15 for general admission, $20 for reserved seating, and $30 for VIP ringside (first four rows). A $1 ticket fee is also being charged by the arena. Tickets can be purchased at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena box office or charged by phone at 1-800-745-3000. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. both nights.

This event is being produced by Jerry Thomas of West Virginia Sports Promotions, Inc., who has been promoting the Toughman Contest in West Virginia for 30 years. The documentary, directed by Tanja Hamilton of Berlin, Germany, will first be aired on German and French public television stations, but will later be broadcast in the U.S.

For more information, call 1-800-296-3897.