Marina Shafir returns to Tuff-N-Uff cage Friday

During the three-fight tour de force that has been Marina Shafir’s amateur mixed-martial-arts career, the burgeoning fighter has generated her share of buzz and built quite a name for herself.

The downside to all of that is that it can be difficult finding opponents.

Shafir has finally locked down a fight and will return to competition on Friday night in Tuff-N-Uff’s “The Future Stars of MMA” main event against Tabitha Patterson at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

“I’m f------ elated,” Shafir, undefeated in three amateur bouts, said Monday about returning to the cage. “I’m nervous, I’m excited. I feel really good about it.”

The 25-year-old, who trains at the Glendale Fighting Club under Edmond Tarverdyan and alongside Ronda Rousey, the Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s bantamweight champion, has found fights and opponents hard to come by, according to her camp.

Shafir’s last bout — and her first since moving outto California in late 2012 — was also under the Tuff-N-Uff banner and came March 23 when she dismantled Danielle Mack via armbar in just 59 seconds. All three of Shafir’s bouts have come via armbar submission inside the first round, as she’s totaled just 3:36 worth of time in the cage.

Shafir said she doesn’t know much about Patterson (3-1), but she’s confident going in. Patterson, at least record-wise, is the most experienced and successful opponent Shafir has faced.

“I know she’s feisty, she’s aggressive, that’s pretty much it,” Shafir said. “But I’m feistier and more aggressive.”

Friday’s event is set to stream on iPPV for $9.99 and begins at 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.tuffnuff.com.