Udi Ochie: Emmanuel

CONTENDERS CLOTHING LAUNCHES FIGHTING FOR FIGHTERS FUNDALL PROCEEDS TO GO DIRECTLY TO PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS AFFECTED BY THE COVID-19 CRISIS!

FIGHTERS CAN SIGN UP NOW FOR A DIRECT PAYMENT SENT OUT FIRST WEEK OF MAY ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE NEW’GO THE SOCAL DISTANCEFUNDRAISER T-SHIRT& 10% OF SALES AT CONTENDERSCLOTHING.COM TO GO TO FUND
Las Vegas, NV. (April 13, 2020): Contenders Clothing is proud to announce the creation of the Fighting for Fighters Fund, a new program that will put money directly, and immediately, into the hands of professional fighters affected by the current Covid-19 crisis.

With combat sports across the United States being suspended indefinitely, many fighters who earn a living competing professionally are self-employed contractors leaving them out of work and not eligible for state unemployment. While there is money earmarked for contract workers under the Cares Act, funds have been hard to, if not impossible, to access, leaving many working class fighters in dire need of assistance.

While some well-known apparel companies are donating to large and mostly worldwide health organizations, we’ve yet to see any company directly help fighters,” said Contenders Chief Executive Officer, Jonathan Snyder.

We have been embraced by professional fighters of all levels who have worn our boxer briefs and t-shirts at weigh ins and we truly consider anyone who wears us as part of our family. They’ve had our back and now it’s time to have theirs.

Funding for Fighting for Fighters will come from the sales of an exclusive, ‘Go The Social Distancet-shirt created specifically as a fundraiser for the program. Na mgbakwunye, Contenders Clothing is giving 10% of every single sale throughout the entire month of April at www.contendersclothing.com directly into the fund.

Payments will go out the first week of May and will be divided equally from the overall amount Fighting for Fighters raises between all eligible fighters.

We’ve come to find that fighters are special people in and out of the ring and not enough people understand their sacrifice. Ọ bụrụ na Fighting for Fighters can literally buy groceries for a fightersfamily for a week or pay a utility bill at a time when they desperately need it, then we will consider it a success.

If you are an active professional fighter based in the United States whose income has been affected by the Covid-19 crisis please sign up at:
https://contendersclothing.com/pages/contenders-fighting-for-fighters-fund

If you’d like to purchase the Go the Social Distance t-shirt and have all proceeds go to the Fighting for Fighters Fund, please head to:
https://contendersclothing.com/collections/t-shirts/products/go-the-social-distance-tee

ABOUT CONTENDERS CLOTHING
Contenders Clothing’s boxer brief line, which contains the first ever officially licensed Muhammad Ali and Rocky collections, has been a favorite of professional boxers at weigh-ins since launching in 2018. From world champions such as Tyson Fury to up and coming contenders and prospects, Contenders has been at the forefront of the world of boxing apparel.

Fight Club, Contenders Clothing’s endorsement program, was established in 2019. With a focus on working class and inspirational fighters, Contenders Fight Club has already seen one of it’s athletes, Andrew Cancio, win a world title in a massive upset. In addition to the announcement of current #1 contender and former world champion Jessie Magdaleno joining Contenders Fight Club last month, Contenders is continuing it’s commitment to the boxing industry with plans on announcing several new signees throughout 2020 that represent the future of the sport.

Maka ozi ndị ọzọ nleta: www.contendersclothing.com
For any further information on Contenders’Fighting for Fighters Fund – please drop us a line atchris@contendersclothing.com and we will get right back in touch. Thanks in advance for your support and helping spread the word.
Follow Contenders Clothing on Social Media!     

Bellator MMA Statement on May Events

Due to the ongoing safety concerns surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as current federal, state and local government mandates, Bellator MMA officials today have announced that three upcoming live events scheduled for May have been postponed.

These events include:

  • Bellator 242 – May 9 na San Jose, Calif.
  • Bellator European Series London – May 16 na London
  • Bellator 243 – May 29 in Temecula, Calif.

The organization will continue to monitor the situation closely and fully intends to reschedule the events as soon as possible.

Dị ka mgbe niile, the health and safety of our athletes, Fans, partners and staff remains our top priority. We appreciate the understanding and patience of everyone involved during this incredibly difficult time.

Refunds for ticketholders to these events, as well as Bellator 241 originally scheduled for March 13 na Mohegan Sun Arena, will be available at their original point of purchase.

Biko gaa naBellator.com n'ihi na ozi ndị ọzọ.

Were Fitness na Digital Age

site: Ihe Andz

WhatsApp pings 10am… ”Ndewo, nke a bụ mgbatị gị, n'ihi coronavirus ụlọ emechiwo ụlọ ahụ ruo mgbe amara ọzọ ”.

Ọ bụrụ na ị masịrị m, ị ga-achọkwa nke onye ọsọ ahụ iji chebe ahụ na uche gị, Ozi ahụ dị n'elu bụ ọnọdụ ntụgharị aka ahụ. Chefuo akwụkwọ mposi, Achọrọ m igwe ihe m chọrọ!

Nke ahụ bụ maka m, onye na-egwu mgbatị ahụ…kedu maka ndị nkuzi onwe ha, ndị ọgụ MMA, ndị mgba, ndị ọkpọ na-enweta ihe ha ji ebi ndụ na ihe niile Covid-19 na-amanye anyị ịghara?

Ọrụ ndị a nwere ike ọ gaghị abụ "ọrụ dị mkpa" dị ka ndị ọkwọ ụgbọ ala na nnukwu ụlọ ahịa, mana ndị ọrụ a bụ ọrụ dị mkpa maka ụbọchị ndị na-abịa maka uche, ahu, na nkpuru obi onye obula, tumadi n’oge ntiwapụ na-adịwanye mkpa n’ụbọchị, ọbuná dika awa.

Ozi ọma ahụ bụ…nkwukọrịta dijitalụ nka nka abughi ihe ohuru. Vidio na-arụ ọrụ, mgba na mgba MMA ka etinyere na ha site na TV, YouTube na dị ka ebe ọ bụla ị nwere ike ịchọta enyo.

Nzọụkwụ mbụ bụ ịjụ onwe gị, kedu ka i siri nye oru gi rue ugbu a?

Ugbu a, ị nwere ike ị megharịa nke ahụ n'ihu igwefoto? 

Ugbu a, you nwere ike iji kọmpụta ma tinye ihe na saịtị ndị otu?
(lelee nke a https://www.capterra.com/sem-compare/membership-management-software)

Hey! I nwere ahia!

Ihe fọrọ nke nta ka ọ bụrụ ọrụ agụmakwụkwọ ọ bụla, enwere ike digitized ma gosi ya. Emela, ọ gaghị adị mma ka ezigbo ihe ọ bụla, ị gaghị atụ anya ka ndị ahịa gị nwee ngwa nke mgbatị ahụ…

…Mana nke a bụ akụkụ dị aghụghọ ma lee ihe dị iche na mkpọsa na-aga nke ọma na nke na-abụghị…

Ihe mbu ighota bu, ndị mmadụ ga-akwụ ụgwọ maka uru, tumadi na oge a mgbe ego ga-eme nke ọma. Ka anyị mee ya nke ọma

Nke A: Olu adalata. Ngwá ọrụ anaghị arụ ọrụ, yabụ gbanwee usoro ọzụzụ gị ka ị chọghị iberibe iberibe ndị ahụ. Jụọ onwe gị, kedu ihe ị ga - agbanwe ma ọ bụ na-eme ihe ị na-eme ma ọ ga -eme ka ọhụhụ gị?

Enwere ike dochie steepụ steepụ, igwe nwere ike dochie okwute (kpachara anya).

Ọ bụrụ na ị na-eme vidiyo ọzụzụ gị na ngwa ndị a toned, na-eme ya ihe onye obula nwere ike ime, na mmefu ego obula, i nwetara onwe gị onye mmeri.

Nke a bụkwa ohere ijikọ na ọrụ ndị ọzọ na-arụkọ ọrụ ọnụ dị ka ihe oriri na-edozi n'oge ịnọpụ iche. Oke ohere adịghị agwụ agwụ, ikekwe ọbụna karịa karịa ka ọ dị.

Nke B: Ndị Upsell – Ndị mmadụ enweghị ngwa ndị a, gịnị kpatara na ọ bughi ya. Storeslọ ahịa niile na-ata ahụhụ. Gaa ụlọ ahịa na ụlọ ọrụ ndị a ma gbue nkwekọrịta ị ga - enyere aka nweta ahịa ha.

N'oge ya, ị na-akpọsa ngwa ahịa ego pụrụ iche na ngwa kachasị mma. Mgbe ị na-amalite irite ọrụ ọrụ na ahịa ndị a. Ezigbo mmeri maka mmadụ niile. Ọ bụrụ na ịchọrọ enyemaka na ahịa dijitalụ gị, soro ndị a kpaa nkata.

Buru n'uche ndị na-ege gị ntị, omume igwe mmadu ya na otu esi ere ya.

Amaara m na ndị a bụ ụdị ọhụụ nke ụzọ ahịa maka ndị na-agbago mgbatị ụwa, ndị a bụ oge anyị ga-amụta ka imeghari ma gbanwee…m'ọ bụ tufuru.


NEF 43 RESCHEDULED TO JUNE 13 DUE TO CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS

Orono, Maine (March 20, 2020) - New England alụkarị ọgụ (NEF) announced today that the fight promotion’s next mixed-martial-arts (Emmanuel) omume, "NEF 43: Rampage,” has been rescheduled to Saturday, June 13, 2020. Ihe omume, which will originate from the Collins Center for the Arts on the University of Maine’s flagship Orono campus, was originally scheduled to be held on April 18. Event organizers, Otú ọ dị, have decided to reschedule to June 13 based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recent recommendation that all events and gatherings consisting of 50 people or more be postponed for at least eight weeks due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19 coronavirus contagion.

Earlier today, NEF released the following statement from its owners Nick DiSalvo and Matt Peterson via its Facebook page:

Due to ongoing concerns surrounding the coronavirus and public gatherings, NEF 43 has been re-scheduled to Saturday, June 13, 2020, at the Collins Center for the Arts in Orono. Doors will open at 6 pm and first fight will be at 7 pm.

For tickets purchased through a fighter (or for those who plan to purchase tickets through a fighter): All tickets printed with the April 18 date will be honored at the door on June 13. If you cannot attend the event on the new date of June 13, please contact the fighter that originally sold you the ticket.

For tickets purchased through the CCA box officeAll tickets printed with the April 18 date will be honored at the door on June 13. If you cannot attend the event on the new date of June 13, please email the box office atccatix@maine.eduYou may also call 207.581-1755 and leave a message. The box office will take refund requests until next Friday, March 27, 2020, na 5 pm EDT.

Thank you all for your patience and continued support as we continue to monitor and adjust to this unprecedented situation. We wish all of our fans, alụso, staff, and friends good health and safety at this difficult time.

– Nick DiSalvo & Matt Peterson

New England alụkarị ọgụ’ next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 43: Rampage,” will take place on Saturday, June 13, 2020, at the Collins Center for the Arts at UMaine Orono. Tiketi ndị na ere ugbu a, nawww.CollinsCenterfortheArts.com.  

BJ GARCEAU TO FIGHT ONE LAST TIME AT NEF 43 IN ORONO, Maine

Ozugbo tọhapụ: Orono, Maine (March 12, 2020) - New England alụkarị ọgụ (NEF) will present its next mixed-martial-arts (Emmanuel) event at the Collins Center for the Arts on the University of Maine’s flagship Orono campus. The event, titled “NEF 43: Rampage,” will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2020, with a bell-time of 7 pm EDT. Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the addition of an amateur strawweight bout to the card.BJ Garceau(1-1) a na ndokwa ihuFatima Kline(1-0) at a fight weight of 115 pound.

BJ Garceau will enter the NEF cage for the third and final time on April 18. Garceau, who was diagnosed with Type-1 juvenile diabetes in 1993, made headlines with her amateur debut and became an inspiration to many. She defeated Sarah Ziehm (1-2) via split decision at “NEF 32” in February 2018. Garceau returned to the cage later that year, losing to Chelsea Tucker (3-3) in the third round of an “NEF 36” contest. Garceau is a product of Young’s MMA based in Bangor, Maine

“I’m so excited to be back in the cage in my hometown, for what will be my final fight this April,” said Garceau.  “I want to be able to leave my old stomping grounds with my hand held high at the end and walk away with a win for my fans, enyi, ezinụlọ, na-azụ, team and myself. I’ll give it everything I’ve got one last time and this will be a fight you don’t want to miss. With that being said, I am beyond grateful for my opponent taking on the fight and every opportunity Young’s MMA, NEF and everyone in the mixed martial arts community has given me over the years. Daalụ, daalụ, daalụ!"

Fatima Kline will make the trek from her home in Hyde Park, New York for the fight. At just 19-years-old, Kline already holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. She made her amateur MMA debut last fall with a unanimous decision win on a card in White Plains, New York. Kline represents Black Hole Jiu-Jitsu based in Wappingers Falls, New York.

“I would like to thank NEF for giving me the opportunity to showcase all of my hard work,” said Kline when reached for comment. “Being that this is my debut fight for the organization, I promise to be at the top of my game come fight night. Daalụ, BJ, for accepting this matchup, and I look forward to seeing you in the cage. The one message I would have for the crowd is: be prepared to be entertained.”

New England alụkarị ọgụ’ next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 43: Rampage,” will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2020, at the Collins Center for the Arts at UMaine Orono. Tiketi ndị na ere ugbu a, nawww.CollinsCenterfortheArts.com.  

Banyere New England alụkarị ọgụ

New England alụkarị ọgụ ("NEF") bụ a ọgụ ihe n'ọkwá ụlọ ọrụ. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for fighters and fans alike. NEF Executive otu nwere ọtụtụ ahụmahụ na ọgụ egwuregwu management, ihe mmepụta, media mmekọahụ, ahịa, na iwu na mgbasa ozi.

AARON LACEY RETURNING TO THE CAGE AT NEF 43 IN ORONO, Maine

Ozugbo tọhapụ: Orono, Maine (March 11, 2020) - New England alụkarị ọgụ (NEF) will present its next mixed-martial-arts (Emmanuel) event at the Collins Center for the Arts on the University of Maine’s flagship Orono campus. The event, titled “NEF 43: Rampage,” will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2020, with a bell-time of 7 pm EDT. Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the addition of a professional featherweight bout to the card.Aaron “Relentless” Lacey(6-2) a na ndokwa izute“Yours Truly” Chris Herd(2-3) at a fight weight of 145 pound.

It will have been 19 months since the last time Aaron Lacey stepped in the NEF cage as a competitor. Lacey defeated veteran Jon Lemke (7-9) in the main event of “NEF 35” in September 2018. He has not fought since due to an injury suffered later that fall. A former NEF Amateur Featherweight Champion, Lacey started his professional career a perfect 4-0 before going 2-2 in his last four bouts. He will look to make his comeback a successful one on April 18. Lacey represents Young’s MMA based in nearby Bangor, Maine.

“I’m so super excited to be getting back into my happy place,” exclaimed Aaron Lacey.  “Matt (Peterson, NEF ngalaba-nwe na matchmaker) worked really hard to get me a fight on this card, and I am beyond grateful! April 18nke ‘Relentless’ returns!"

Lacey si iro, Chris Herd, will make the 1,000-mile trip from his home in Wilmington, North Carolina for the fight. Herd had a stellar amateur career, na-aga 5-0 with four knockouts and one submission and capturing a regional championship along the way. Both of his wins as a professional have been first-round finishes with one a technical knockout and the other a submission. Herd currently represents Brunson’s MMA & Fitness based in Wilmington, North Carolina.

“No man can touch me without my permission,” said Herd when reached for comment.  “This fight will go where I want it, and I will finish it at will.”

New England alụkarị ọgụ’ next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 43: Rampage,” will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2020, at the Collins Center for the Arts at UMaine Orono. Tiketi ndị na ere ugbu a, nawww.CollinsCenterfortheArts.com.  

Banyere New England alụkarị ọgụ

New England alụkarị ọgụ ("NEF") bụ a ọgụ ihe n'ọkwá ụlọ ọrụ. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for fighters and fans alike. NEF Executive otu nwere ọtụtụ ahụmahụ na ọgụ egwuregwu management, ihe mmepụta, media mmekọahụ, ahịa, na iwu na mgbasa ozi.

FEATHERWEIGHT BOUT ADDED TO NEF 43 CARD IN ORONO, Maine

Ozugbo tọhapụ: Orono, Maine (March 10, 2020) - New England alụkarị ọgụ (NEF) will present its next mixed-martial-arts (Emmanuel) event at the Collins Center for the Arts on the University of Maine’s flagship Orono campus. The event, titled “NEF 43: Rampage,” will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2020, with a bell-time of 7 pm EDT. Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the addition of a professional featherweight bout to the card.Carl Langston (0-5) a na ndokwa izuteAaron “Short Fuse” Hughes(0-0) at a fight weight of 145 pound.

Carl Langston comes into the fight looking for the first win that has eluded him thus far in his professional career. Last month, Langston took on Jacob Deppmeyer (1-0) in Portland, Maine at “NEF 42,” losing via first-round technical knockout. It was his first fight back with the promotion since losing his pro debut in April 2018. Langston, a lifelong practitioner of Taekwondo, currently represents Young’s MMA based in nearby Bangor, Maine.

“It’s been hard getting fights altogether, but even more so in my home state,” noted Langston.  “So, with this last lost I didn’t think I was going to get another fight for a bit. I got in my own head and said I wanted to stop fighting for a bit, but when I got the call three weeks after the loss, I couldn’t say no. This is something I need, back-to-back fights. I just have to show up like I show up in the gym and I’ll get my hand raised without a doubt.”

Aaron Hughes will make both his professional and promotional debuts with NEF. He has had a very active amateur career since his debut in 2015, putting together a record of 4-6 while competing on fight cards in his home state of Massachusetts. Hughes represents Regiment Training Center of Fall River, Massachusetts where he trains alongside the likes of current UFC star and former NEF Professional Cruiserweight Champion Yorgan De Castro (6-0).

“I’m really excited to take the trip to Maine to make my professional debut,” said Hughes when reached for comment.  “My opponent is skilled, but I’m coming to put on a show, and he’s just a man in the way of my dreams to the UFC. Thank you to NEF for having me out.”

New England alụkarị ọgụ’ next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 43: Rampage,” will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2020, at the Collins Center for the Arts at UMaine Orono. Tiketi ndị na ere ugbu a, nawww.CollinsCenterfortheArts.com.  

Banyere New England alụkarị ọgụ

New England alụkarị ọgụ ("NEF") bụ a ọgụ ihe n'ọkwá ụlọ ọrụ. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for fighters and fans alike. NEF Executive otu nwere ọtụtụ ahụmahụ na ọgụ egwuregwu management, ihe mmepụta, media mmekọahụ, ahịa, na iwu na mgbasa ozi.

LIZ CARMOUCHE TO MAKE BELLATOR MMA DEBUT AGAINST UNDEFEATED MANDY BÖHM IN MAIN EVEN EVENT OF PROMOTION’S RETURN TO PECHANGA RESORT CASINO

EVENT SET FOR FRIDAY, May 29 AT 10 P.M. ET/9 P.M. CT ON PARAMOUNT NETWORK & DAZN

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, MACH 13!



LOS ANGELES – Bellator officials today announced that the eagerly anticipated promotional debut of Liz Carmouche (13-7) will take place on Friday, Ka 29 at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. against undefeated SBG Ireland’s flyweight prospect Mandy Böhm (6-0, 1 NC).



Tiketi maka Bellator 243: Carmouche vs. Böhm go on sale March 13 na 3 p.m. PT and are available at the Pechanga box office, yanaBellator.com, Ticketmaster.com na Pechanga.com.



The event will be broadcast live Friday, Ka 29 na Paramount Network na DAZN na 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator’s MMA YouTube channel. Ọzọ oké mmanya ga-mara ọkwa na-abịa izu.



A United States Marine Corps veteran and established flyweight competitor, Carmouche joined Bellator’s women’s flyweight division this past December following a six-year run in UFC – a tenure that includes world title bouts in both the bantamweight and flyweight divisions, as well as notable wins over Katlyn Chookagian and Jessica Andrade.



Fighting out of San Diego, the 36-year-old Team Hurricane Awesome-product also formerly competed for Strikeforce, notching a pair of victories with the promotion. She also earned a win over Valentina Shevchenko earlier in her career. Prior to “Girl-Rilla’s” days as a professional athlete, the Lafayette, Louisiana-native spent five years serving as an aviation electrician in the United Stated Marine Corps, where she completed three tours of duty in the Middle East.



Fresh off a flyweight title victory on the regional MMA scene last May, Mandy Böhm is ready to bring her undefeated mark as a professional to the highest levels of the sport when she meets former two-division title challenger Liz Carmouche on May 29. Hailing from Germany, but training under the tutelage of John Kavanagh at SBG Ireland in Dublin, “Monster” is a force to be reckoned with on the feet, but showcased her strong submission skills when she handed top Canadian prospect Jade Masson-Wong the first loss of her career in 2019.



Emelitere Bellator 243: Carmouche vs. Böhm Ọgụ Kaadị:

Flyweight Main Event: Liz Carmouche (13-7) vs. Mandy Böhm (6-0, 1 NC)



****

559 Fights returns to Visalia

SELMA, Calif. – Larry Gonzales hasn’t had the best of luck in his young mixed martial arts career. The Fresno heavyweight had three fights fall apart before he even had a chance to compete.

But once Gonzales stepped foot in the cage, he hasn’t looked back amassing a 4-0 ndekọ, capturing a 559 Fights Heavyweight Championship and climbing to a No. 3 ranking in the state.

Gonzales hopes to keep the good fortune going on March 13 – Friday the 13th – in a heavyweight title showdown with Fresno’s Kail Melton (1-2) at the Visalia Convention Center. Doors open at 6pm and first fight is at 7.

“Looking at things now this might be one of the largest fight cards we’ve ever put together," 559 Fights owner Jeremy Luchau said. “15 mma bouts in all, with three of them being title fights and a grappling tournament. I don’t know what more fight fans could possibly want.”

The co-main event features a California Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Organization Middleweight State title fight, pitting two of the Valley’s best 185-pound prospects against one another – Hanford’s Marqus Blevins (3-0) and Orange Cove’s Jared Velasquez (4-3).

“It’s been a long time coming to get Blevins into the 559 Fights cage,” Luchau said. “Blevins trains out of Valley Fight Club and that’s where I had my start in mixed martial arts training. It’s an honor and a pleasure to be able to have them represented in our promotion. And I’m also excited to have Velasquez back in action. He’s as tough as they come and represents a great city in Orange Cove where we just had an extremely successful event.”

Flyweights will also take center stage, as 125-pound 559 Fights kingpin Johnny Maldonado of Bakersfield defends his perfect 4-0 record in a rematch with former champion Josue Gonzales (3-2) of San Luis Obispo.

559 Fights will also be hosting its first grappling tournament, which will take place in the 155-185 weight classes and feature competitors from all over the Central Valley.

“The fight card is pretty stacked, but I’m probably most excited about this grappling tournament that we are doing,” Luchau added. “There’s going to be a lot of notable names from the Valley competing. It’s a great start for us on where we see the future of both grappling and 559 Fights heading in the future.”

In other main card bouts; Irvine flyweight Meggan Tamondong (2-1) takes on Rocklin’s Valerie Thurs (3-4), Lindsay lightweight Mark Felix (4-3) battles Sacramento’s Julius Wright (5-4), Hanford featherweight Denzel Rosaroso (3-0) fights Bakersfield’s Sal Bruno (2-2-2), Sanger welterweight Anthony Mata (1-1) tangles with Bakersfield’s Jeramy Titsworth (1-1) and Porterville light heavyweight Omar Reneau (2-3) fights Lathrop’s Danny Moreno (2-2).

Grappling competitors include; Porterville’s Brandon Cohea, Fresno’s Nick Bustamante, Selma’s Julian Tovar, Parlier’s Christian Avalos, Fresno’s Art Hernandez, Visalia’s Marc DeLaCruz, Fresno’s Alex Rojas and Bakersfield’s Matt Reed.

For more information please visit www.559fights.com

CONTROVERSIAL FIGHT WILL GET A REMATCH AT NEF 43 IN ORONO

Ozugbo tọhapụ: Orono, Maine (February 28, 2020) - New England alụkarị ọgụ (NEF) will present its next mixed-martial-arts (Emmanuel) event at the Collins Center for the Arts on the University of Maine’s flagship Orono campus. Ihe omume, titled “NEF 43: Rampage,” will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2020, with a bell-time of 7 pm EDT. Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the addition of an amateur flyweight bout to the card. Caleb “Dr. Feelgood” Austin (4-0) ga na-enwe James Ploss (1-2) at a fight weight of 125 pound.

The bout will be a rematch of the first fight between Austin and Ploss that took place three years prior in April 2017 at “NEF 28.” Austin was declared the winner of that first contest, but not without controversy. Seconds into the first round, Ploss had a tight guillotine choke applied to Austin. Austin tapped out, but the referee was out of position to see the tap. Ploss released Austin from the hold, thinking he had won the fight. The referee, to Ploss’ bewilderment, ordered the fight to continue. As Ploss tried to make sense of the situation, Austin took him down and finished the fight moments later by technical knockout.

In the days that followed, many were critical of Austin on social media. The matter seemed to die down after a few days, only to be brought back to the forefront with a vengeance late last year when former UFC and WEC star Mike Brown (26-9) shared the clip on Twitter as an example of “fighting until the referee tells you to stop.” Suddenly, the fight received global attention from major online news sources likeBloody ElbowMMA JunkieThe Athletic, naThe Yeah.

The first fight with Ploss was Caleb Austin’s amateur MMA debut. He was 18-years-old at the time and still a senior at Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, Maine. Austin was a standout wrestler in high school, putting together a record of 208-11 over four years and winning state titles at 126 pounds his junior and senior years. He was named the 2017 “Wrestler of the Yearby the Lewiston Sun Journal. After graduation, Austin continued his wrestling career at the University of Southern Maine, but he took the next two years off from MMA competition. He returned last summer and has won three fights in a row since he made his comeback. Austin currently represents Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ) na Lewiston, Maine.

“I’m excited to finally be able to fight James again to gain some closure,” said Austin of the rematch with Ploss. “My MMA debut has haunted me since it happened almost three years ago. I’m thankful to James and his team for giving me this opportunity to get back in there with him. I’ve wanted this for a long time and I promise to make the most of the moment. When I exit the cage this time, it will be without question or controversy—it will end definitively.”

James Ploss went on to fight two more times in 2017 and has not competed since. He is a member of Greg Williams’ Team Kaze based in Lancaster, New Hampshire. Like Austin, Ploss will be looking for closure to the outcome of their first encounter.

“I’m grateful for a rematch with Caleb,” said Ploss. “Reflecting, I have pondered the question, ‘Am I better than Caleb or is he better than me?’ This is the perfect chance to find out—a second chance for us both to give it our all and see who comes out on top giving the fans, MMA community, and both of us the rematch we all want! April 18, we both test ourselves.”

New England alụkarị ọgụ’ next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 43: Rampage,” will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2020, at the Collins Center for the Arts at UMaine Orono. Tiketi ndị na ere ugbu a, nawww.CollinsCenterfortheArts.com.  

Banyere New England alụkarị ọgụ

New England alụkarị ọgụ ("NEF") bụ a ọgụ ihe n'ọkwá ụlọ ọrụ. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for fighters and fans alike. NEF Executive otu nwere ọtụtụ ahụmahụ na ọgụ egwuregwu management, ihe mmepụta, media mmekọahụ, ahịa, na iwu na mgbasa ozi.