TrueSport MMA will host its first amateur mixed martial arts event at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino's Muse Ballroom on Saturday, May 16, 2009. The card is tentatively scheduled to feature 13 bouts with most of the fighters coming from local area Las Vegas gyms.

"The purpose is to allow amateur guys that are in town to get some experience. It's a great opportunity for these up-and-coming guys that want to go pro to show their stuff," TrueSport MMA president Keith Evans told the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Tuesday.

The promotion's official website ( www.truesportmma.com ) lists the co-main event fights will be two lightweight (155 lbs.) matches: Sam Martin of Las Vegas (Team Randleman) vs. Jimmy Spicuzza of Las Vegas (Mica/Fasi Sports) and Cody Ziemer of Boise, Idaho (Team Pulver) vs. Kimo Yadao of Las Vegas (Xtreme Couture).

The card will also feature a featherweight (145 lbs.) tilt between fellow Las Vegans: Shawn Rodriguez (Las Vegas Elite) vs. Justin Linn (TapouT Training Center). Linn will be representing the event's presenting sponsor, the new TapouT Research & Development Training Center in Las Vegas.

Fighters from Striking Unlimited, Warrior Gym, Fasi Sports, Team Wand, TapouT Training Center, Hardknocks, Excel, Team Randleman, Team Pulver, Xtreme Couture, Las Vegas Elite, One Kick's Gym, and Arizona Combat Sports will also be competing in this inaugural TrueSport MMA event.

The doors will open at 6 p.m. PST on Saturday night with the first bout scheduled to start at 7 p.m. PST. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster and the Hard Rock box office and range from $15 to $45.