Category Archives: mixed martial arts

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

BLACK BELT RETURNS TO ACTION AT NEF 22 IN LEWISTON

Leave a comment

Lewiston, Maine (March 24, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its next event, “NEF 22: ALL ROADS LEAD HERE” on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  The fight card will feature a mix of mixed-martial-arts (MMA) and professional boxing bouts.  Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of a professional welterweight bout to the MMA portion of the “NEF 22” fight card.  Jarod “Last Minute” Lawton (4-2) returns to the NEF cage to face Aaron Aschendorf (2-2) at a fight weight of 170-pounds.

 

One of the true stars of the NEF roster, Jarod Lawton last appeared for the promotion a year ago at “NEF 17.”  That night, Lawton lost  a split decision to Bellator veteran Dennis Olson (14-11) after three rounds of a brutal, physical battle.  It was Lawton’s first loss in the cage in three years.

 

Lawton holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ).  Along with his wife, Marcela Sorentino Lawton, he is the co-owner of Team Lawton Martial Arts and Innovative Athletics – a team New England United (NEU) affiliate based in Farmingdale, Maine.  With a reputation for pulling out late-fight submission victories, Lawton says that he will be looking for the finish against Aschendorf on April 23.

 

“I have been working hard on improving my game,” said Lawton.  “I am in the best shape of my life and excited to be fighting again.  I don’t know much about Aaron, but I’m always prepping to fight tough opponents and put on very exciting fights.  I will be hunting for the finish as always.”

 

Aaron Aschendorf is a member of the Atlantic Beach Combat Club based out of Atlantic Beach, Florida.  He began actively competing in the sport of MMA in 2004.  After a four year break, Aschendorf returned to the cage this past fall for House of Fame MMA in Jacksonville, Florida.  He is clear that he plans on coming in aggressive against Lawton when he makes the trip to Maine next month.

 

“All I can say about this fight is that I’m leaving it all in the cage that night,” said Aschendorf.   “I’m going to fight hard and aggressive. Jarod better be ready for a war, because I’m not holding anything back.”

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 22: ALL ROADS LEAD HERE,” takes place Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets for “NEF 22” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at 207.783.2009 x 525.  For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com.  In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

 

mixed martial arts, MMA, World Series of Fighting

WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING STATEMENT ON MMA LEGALIZATION IN NEW YORK

Leave a comment

LAS VEGAS (March 22, 2016) – New York State passed landmark legislation today permitting future Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) competitions to take place there.

World Series of Fighting CEO Carlos Silva made the following remarks:

“This is an exciting and historic day for our great sport.  Those who have been lobbying for the legalization of MMA in NY State, including World Series of Fighting’s new COO Michael Mersch, should be commended for their persistence and commitment to seeing through the passage of legislation that will finally allow fans to watch live MMA in the Empire State, and fighters to compete there.  We recently opened an office in Manhattan so, along with our television partner, NBC, we are looking forward to bringing our brand of professional MMA to New York very soon.”
Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA

BELLATOR MMA STATEMENT ON LEGALIZATION OF MIXED MARTIAL ARTS IN NEW YORK

Leave a comment

 

SANTA MONICA (March 22, 2016) – Today, the State of New York passed legislation that will allow the sport of mixed martial arts to emanate from the “Empire State.”

 

Bellator MMA President Scott Coker had this to say regarding the landmark announcement:

 

“The New York Assembly’s vote to legalize MMA is a watershed moment for this incredible sport. As someone who has been promoting combat sports for more than 30 years, this is a very exciting time for mixed martial arts. We at Bellator MMA are very much looking forward to hosting an event in the ‘Crown Jewel of America,’ New York.  Two Bellator champions, Liam McGeary and Marcos Galvao call New York home and I know it means a great deal to the both of them, as it does for the entire promotion. We’ve already been in contact with the great people at the Barclays Center and several other incredible venues, and we can’t wait bring our world-class athletes and action-packed shows to an arena in the Empire State soon.”

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA

UNDEFEATED BRENT PRIMUS WELCOMES ‘TONINHO FURIA’ TO THE LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION DURING MAIN CARD OF ‘BELLATOR 153’

Leave a comment

 

SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (March 22, 2016) – The main card line-up for “Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson” on April 22 continues to grow, with today’s addition of Brent Primus (6-0) versus “Toninho Furia” (27-5) in lightweight action at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

 

The bout joins a main event that features the highly anticipated Bellator debut of Benson “Smooth” Henderson (23-5), as he challenges welterweight champion Andrey Koreshkov (18-1) for his belt. Former featherweight titlist Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (24-3) meets John “Macapa” Teixeira (19-1-2) in the co-headliner and Connecticut’s own “Irish” Brennan Ward (13-3) returns to action, when he welcomes Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos (20-16) into the Bellator MMA fray at 170-pounds.

 

Tickets for “Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson” start at just $30 and are on sale now at Bellator.com, Ticketmaster.com and the Mohegan Sun Box Office. The event airs live and free on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream live on Bellator.com and The Bellator Mobile App. Additional contests will be announced shortly.

 

Widely regarded as one of the sport’s top prospects, Primus is a fighter who has sacrificed a fledging landscaping company that he owned in order to pursue his dreams of MMA gold. Primus returns to the Bellator MMA cage fresh off a hard-fought victory over Derek Anderson at “Bellator 141: Guillard vs. Girtz.” Now, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt will look to apply his craft for the fifth time under the Bellator banner – making his first appearance during the SPIKE-televised main card.

Following his promotional debut, “Toninho Furia” has decided to make return to the 155-pound lightweight division from featherweight, where he last competed. The 27-year-old Brazilian Top Team product has competed professionally since 2005 and has won nine out of his last ten matchups. Furia has a proven affinity for ending fights early, with eight of his victories coming in the opening frame.

 

For more information on these two prospects, take a look at each of their profiles on Bleacher Report:

Brent Primus – “The Beaten Path: Prospect Brent Primus Traded His Own Business for MMA Gloves”

“Toninho Furia” – “The Beaten Path: Longtime Prospect Gleristone Santos Is Ready for Bellator Debut”

 “Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson” Updated Fight Card:

Bellator MMA Welterweight World Title Bout: Andrey Koreshkov (18-1) vs. Benson Henderson (23-5)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Co-Main Event: Patricio Freire (24-3) vs. John Teixeira (19-1-2)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Feature Bout: Brennan Ward (13-3) vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos (20-16)

Bellator MMA Lightweight Feature Bout: Brent Primus (6-0) vs. Gleristone “Toninho Furia” Santos (27-5)

 

Preliminary Card:

Bellator MMA Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Sam Watford (1-0) vs. Dean Hancock (2-0)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Chris Foster (8-4) vs. Felipe Lavandoski (5-0)

Bellator MMA Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Jason Bakanowski (3-2) vs. T.J. Hepburn (4-2)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Pete Rogers (2-3) vs. Mike Mangan (0-3)

Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Mike Zichelle (7-4) vs. Joe Cronin (19-16)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Matt Bessette (17-7) vs. Keith Richardson (14-6)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Tim Caron (3-0) vs. Justin Sumter (0-0)

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Blair Tugman (7-6) vs. Jay Perrin (2-1)

mixed martial arts, MMA, World Series of Fighting

WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING NAMES MICHAEL MERSCH CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND GENERAL COUNSEL

Leave a comment

LAS VEGAS (March 22, 2016) –World Series of Fighting has appointed distinguished Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) industry veteran and sports attorney Michael Mersch, its new Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, effective immediately.

Mersch brings to the world championship MMA league, over eight years of experience as a senior level executive and Assistant General Counsel for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).  In his latest role, he served as General Counsel and Chief Political Advisor for the Nevada Attorney General.

“I am excited to re-enter the MMA business with one of the premier players and recognizable brands in the space,” said Mersch.  “With its robust team of media and sports business executives as well as blue-chip partners, beginning with NBC and IMG, World Series of Fighting is in the midst of an exciting phase of growth with great things on the horizon.”

“We are looking forward to having Michael Mersch bring his wealth of industry specific knowledge, experience and relationships to our growing enterprise, and are confident that he will be a driving force in the next chapter of our business,” said World Series of Fighting CEO Carlos Silva.

In his new, dual role, Mersch will be responsible for overseeing World Series of Fighting’s business operations and legal affairs; negotiating and drafting all talent, television, venue, sponsorship and merchandising legal agreements; and spearheading and managing all government relations efforts on behalf of the league.

A frequent guest speaker for the Sports Lawyers Association as well as numerous MMA industry summits, Mersch is recognized as one of the foremost experts on legislation and regulation in the world’s fastest growing sport.

World Series of Fighting action returns to NBCSN, live from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 2, beginning at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT.

In the main event of the star-studded, world championship doubleheader, reigning world middleweight (185 pounds) champion David Branch (17-3) will put his coveted title on the line against top contender Clifford Starks (13-2) while, in the co-main event, superstars Jon Fitch (27-7-1, 1 NC) and Joao “The Brazilian Samurai” Zeferino (20-7) will square off with the vacant world welterweight (170 pounds) crown at stake.
mixed martial arts, MMA, World Series of Fighting

WSOF30: BRANCH VS. STARKS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLEHEADER LINEUP RECEIVES FIVE PRELIMINARY BOUTS

Leave a comment

PRELIMINARY FIGHT CARD TO STREAM LIVE ON
WSOF.COM PRIOR TO FOUR-FIGHT, LIVE NBCSN TELECAST

LAS VEGAS (March 21, 2016) –World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) announced today the addition of five preliminary card bouts to its highly-anticipated WSOF30: Branch vs. Starks world championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) doubleheader event at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 2, live on NBCSN at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT.

Topping the undercard bill that will stream live, in its entirety on an embeddable video player on WSOF.com, beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, will be a welterweight (170 pounds) collision between Abubakar Nurmagomedov (11-1-1) and Matt “The Thunder From Down Under” Frincu (7-1).

The adopted brother and training partner of superstar Khabib Nurmagomedov, the 26-year-old Abubakar, who hails from Dagestan, Russia is riding a three-fight win streak, while Frincu of Tempe, Ariz. via Queensland, Australia will put a five-fight win streak on the line.

Nurmagomedov boasts an impressive 82 percent finish rate, while Frincu has earned six of his seven professional wins to date by way of (T)KO or submission.

In lightweight (155 pounds) preliminary card action, undefeated knockout artist Steve “Thunderbeast” Kozola (6-0) will make his World Series of Fighting debut against fellow fast-rising star Gil Guardado (5-1).

On fire since his professional debut victory in July 2013, Kozola of San Diego, Calif. via Chicago, Ill. comes to World Series of Fighting after producing back-to-back, devastating KO victories – each with a furious onslaught of punches – under the promotion of Bellator.

On January 16, 2015, Kozola scored a second round (1:25) KO on Jonathan Rivera at Bellator 132 and, on March 15, 2015, he scored a first round (2:22) KO on Ian Butler at Bellator 137.

Guardado of Las Vegas will look to notch his third consecutive win after two dominant performances inside the World Series of Fighting decagon cage.

The 30-year-old Xtreme Couture prodigy submitted Pete Martin with a guillotine choke in the first round (3:31) of action at WSOF22 on August 1, 2015, and closed out the year with a unanimous decision victory over Giga Chikadze at WSOF26 on December 18.

In a flyweight (125 pounds) scrap, Carlos Garcia (1-1) of San Bernardino, Calif. will make his professional debut against Jason Pacheco (1-0) of Las Vegas.

Adam Aquaviva (4-2) of Las Vegas will face off with Andres Ponce (3-2) of Tempe in a bantamweight tilt and, in the opening preliminary card matchup, Jeff Roman (1-2-1) of Las Vegas will square off with Nick Salantri (0-1) at welterweight.

A sixth, middleweight (185 pounds) preliminary fight featuring Clinton Williams(7-3) of Las Vegas will be announced soon.

Priced from $20, tickets for WSOF30: Branch vs. Starks, are available for purchase online at WSOF.com and AXS.com.

Doors at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino will open for the event at 4 p.m. PT, and the first preliminary bout will begin at 5 p.m.

In the main event, reigning World Series of Fighting middleweight champion David Branch (17-3), the league’s first-ever, two-division title holder, will put his coveted crown on the line against top contender Clifford Starks (13-2).

In the co-main event, superstar Jon Fitch (27-7-1, 1 NC) will battle recent World Series of Fighting one-night, eight-man tournament runner-up Joao “The Brazilian Samurai” Zeferino (20-7) with the vacant World Series of Fighting welterweight championship at stake.

Elsewhere on the four-fight, live NBCSN telecast, submission expert Vinny “Pezao” Magalhaes (13-7) will square off with Jake “The Honey Bear” Heun(9-4) in a light heavyweight (205 pounds) contest, while World Series of Fighting newcomer and knockout artist Abu “Gladiator” Azaitar (11-1-1) will lock horns with Danny “Dee1” Davis, Jr. (11-10-1) at welterweight.
Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

MARCOS GALVAO SET TO DEFEND BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE AGAINST EDUARDO DANTAS IN MAIN EVENT OF ‘BELLATOR 156’ ON JUNE 17

Leave a comment

 

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (March 21, 2016) – Bellator MMA’s Bantamweight Championship will be on the line in a rematch pitting Marcos “Loro” Galvao (17-6-1) and former champion Eduardo “Dudu” Dantas (17-4) against one another in the main event of “Bellator 156: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” on June 17 inside Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif.

 

The bout was originally slated to take place at “Bellator 150: Kongo vs. Spartan” in February, but the current champion was forced to withdraw from the contest due to illness.

 

“Bellator 156: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” airs live on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream live on Bellator.com and The Bellator Mobile App. Additional fights will be announced shortly.

 

Tickets for the event start at only $25 and are on sale this Thursday, March 24 with a special pre-sale this Tuesday and Wednesday at Ticketmaster, Bellator.com and the Save Mart Center Box Office.

 

“Loro,” who has fought for world-renowned promotions the likes of World Extreme Cagefighting and Shooto since 2003, will be competing for the 11thtime under the Bellator MMA banner. The 33-year-old is presently in the midst of a four-fight winning streak and has emerged victorious in seven of his last eight scraps. In his last outing, Galvao finished Joe Warren at “Bellator 135: Warren vs. Galvao” via submission to win his first-ever championship.

 

Meanwhile, Dantas will be looking to duplicate the success he had against Galvao in their first meeting, which resulted in a second-round knockout atBellator 89. The 27-year-old Nova Uniao product bounced back from his unanimous decision loss against Warren to defeat Mike Richman in the same manner at “Bellator 137: Halsey vs. Grove.” The Bellator Season 5 Bantamweight Tournament winner is looking to call himself a two-time bantamweight champion come June 17.

 

Updated “Bellator 156: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” Card:

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Title Bout: Marcos Galvao (17-6-1) vs. Eduardo Dantas (17-4)

Bellator, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

FIVE-FIGHT MAIN CARD NOW COMPLETE FOR INAUGURAL ‘BELLATOR KICKBOXING: TORINO’ EVENT ON APRIL 16 IN ITALY

Leave a comment

KEVIN ROSS, RAYMOND DANIELS & DENISE KIELHOLTZ RECEIVE OPPONENTS

SANTA MONICA, CA. (March 18, 2016) – Bellator Kickboxing’s groundbreaking inaugural event, “Bellator Kickboxing: Torino,” has been finalized with the opponents for Kevin Ross (30-9), Raymond Daniels (10-3) and Denise Kielholtz (43-2). Ross will square off against Matteo Taccini (24-3-1), while Daniels takes on Francesco Moricca (15-2-1) and Kielholtz goes head to head with Veronica Vernocchi (31-6-1) at the historic Pala Alpitour in Torino, Italy on April 16.

The trio of Italy natives join a card that already features some of the top athletes in kickboxing, including one of the most accomplished knockout artists in all of combat sports, Melvin Manhoef (37-12), who takes on the always dangerous Alexandru Negrea (8-2). Also, a 165-pound ISKA title fight between Mustapha Haida(37-3-3) and Karim Ghajji (95-12) will take place in the co-main event slot. “No Mercy” is also scheduled to return to MMA when he challenges for the Bellator MMA middleweight title against Rafael Carvalho at“Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” on May 20.

The debut of “Bellator Kickboxing: Torino” will take place on April 16 and be televised Friday, April 22 at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT, immediately following “Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson” on SPIKE. Meanwhile, “Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Campos” airs on SPIKE Saturday, April 16 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

American Muay Thai standout Ross is also referred to as “The Soul Assassin,” and he will look to live up to that name come April 16. Ross and his opponent, who is a 2014 ISKA Champion out of Rome are currently scheduled to be the very first fight in Bellator Kickboxing history. The two will undoubtedly look to kick off the promotion’s first event with an emphatic, memorable performance.

The pair of flyweights will come out swinging when Kielholtz and Vernocchi bring their impressive skill sets to the cage in an enticing matchup. Dutch striking specialist Kielholtz recently went “5 Rounds” in a Bellator digital piece.

In the welterweight division, Daniels, a 35-year-old American southpaw will be opposite Moricca, an Italian slugger and winner of the 2015 Ring Rules tournament, looking to impress in front of his home crowd. Daniels has made a name for himself as one of the top karate fighters in the USA and through his numerous knockouts by way of spinning-kick, translating to an instant fan-favorite wherever he fights.

For additional information about the “Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Campos” event, click here.

Complete “Bellator Kickboxing: Torino” Fight Card:

Bellator Kickboxing Middleweight Main Event: Melvin Manhoef (37-12) vs. Alexandru Negrea (8-2)

Bellator Kickboxing 165-Pound Feature Bout: Mustapha Haida (37-3-3) vs. Karim Ghajji (95-12)

Bellator Kickboxing Welterweight Feature Bout: Raymond Daniels (10-3) vs. Francesco Moricca (0-0)

Bellator Kickboxing Flyweight Feature Bout: Denise Kielholtz (43-2) vs. Veronica Vernocchi (31-6-1)

Bellator Kickboxing Bantamweight Feature Bout: Kevin Ross (30-9) vs. Matteo Taccini (0-0)

Complete “Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Campos” Fight Card:

Bellator MMA Lightweight Main Event: Patricky Freire (15-7) vs. Derek Campos (16-6)

Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Alessio Sakara (17-11) vs. Brian Rogers (12-8)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Feature Bout: A.J. McKee (3-0) vs. Danilo Belluardo (5-1)

Bellator MMA Flyweight Feature Bout: Anastasia Yankova (2-0) vs. Anjela Pink (Debut)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Feature Bout: Daniele Miceli (2-0) vs. Daniele Scatizzi (6-2)

Bellator, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, MMA

DAN CHARLES SET TO FIGHT AUGUSTO SAKAI DURING MAIN CARD OF ‘BELLATOR 155: CARVALHO VS. MANHOEF’

Leave a comment

SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (March 17, 2016) – A heavyweight bout between Dan “The Man” Charles (10-3) and Augusto Sakai (9-0) has been added to the main card of “Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho on May 20.

 

The fight joins a card that already features an enthralling Middleweight World Championship main event, when Rafael Carvalho (12-1) defends his belt against the explosive power of Melvin “No Mercy” Manhoef (30-12-1). In addition, former Bellator MMA Featherweight titlist Pat Curran (21-7) will return to action for the first time since June, when he faces the always-dangerous Georgi Karakhanyan (24-5-1) in the card’s co-main event.

 

Tickets for “Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” start at just $25 and are on sale now at Bellator.com, the CenturyLink Arena Box Office or CenturyLinkArenaBoise.com.

 

“Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” airs live and free on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream live on Bellator.com andThe Bellator Mobile App. Additional contests will be announced in the coming weeks.

 

After an injury bumped Sakai from the co-main event of “Bellator 150: Kongo vs. Spartan,” the 24-year-old Brazilian heavyweight is ready to return to action and has his sights set on remaining unbeaten in his 2016 debut. Sakai is coming off of another flawless year under the Bellator MMA banner, recording victories in each of his two appearances, including a unanimous decision win over Alex Huddleston in his most recent bout at “Bellator 145: With A Vengeance.”

 

Dan “The Man” Charles, enters his sixth fight with Bellator MMA and looks to add to his impressive 10-3 professional record. The 30-year-old Phoenix native, capped off 2015 with an emphatic knockout of Chase Gormley at “Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis,” in September.

 

Updated “Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” Fight Card

 

Bellator MMA Middleweight World Title Fight: Rafael Carvalho (12-1) vs. Melvin Manhoef (30-12-1)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Co-Main Event: Pat Curran (21-7) vs. Georgi Karakhanyan (24-5-1)

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Feature Bout: Dan Charles (10-3) vs. Augusto Sakai (9-0)

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

BARBARIAN VERSUS BERSERKER ON APRIL 23 IN LEWISTON

Leave a comment

Lewiston, Maine (March 17, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its next event, “NEF 22: ALL ROADS LEAD HERE” on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  The fight card will feature a mix of mixed-martial-arts (MMA) and professional boxing bouts.  Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of a professional light-heavyweight bout to the MMA portion of the “NEF 22” fight card.  Mike “The Mustache” Hansen (3-3) has signed to face Jesse “The Barbarian” Baughman (0-1) at a fight weight of 205-pounds.

 

Mike Hansen is the founding member of Berserkers MMA based out of Rumford, Maine.  He is an alumni of Mountain Valley High School (MVHS) where he won a state championship wrestling as a heavyweight in 2004.  Hansen made his MMA debut shortly after graduating from high school, only to step away from the sport for a decade in order to serve his country as a combat engineer in the United States Army.  He returned to the MMA cage in 2015 as a member of the NEF roster.  After restarting his career with a record of 2-1, Hansen dropped his first bout of 2016 to Zach Elkins (1-1) last month.  He will look to rebound from that loss on April 23.

 

“I’m looking forward to getting back in the cage fast coming off this loss,” said Hansen.  “I wasn’t mentally in that fight, so this time around with Baughman, I’m going to be mentally focused.  Jesse is a big guy and a tough fighter – and he seems like a guy I could get along with.  So, when we are done smashing each other up, hopefully we can get a drink.”

 

Like Hansen, Baughman is a United States military veteran, where he served in a recon unit of the special forces and earned a level-three certification in Army combatives.  He is currently a member of Team Link based out of Hooksett, New Hampshire.  As an amateur MMA fighter, Baughman put together a perfect record of 5-0 and was the number-one ranked light-heavyweight in the northeast region prior to turning professional.  Baughman made his pro debut last November at “NEF 20” against Matt Andrikut (2-0).

 

“On April 23rd, I’m looking forward to getting back in there and putting on a show,” said Baughman.  “My fans from New Hampshire want to see a war – and best believe they will!  Mike Hansen is a worthy opponent.  He knows going in, this will be a bloody battle till the end.  I have the best guys around preparing me for this matchup.  Big thanks to Taylor Trahan, Kevin Haley, Brett Trahan and Rob Belliveau.”

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 22: ALL ROADS LEAD HERE,” takes place Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets for “NEF 22” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at 207.783.2009 x 525.  For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com.  In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”