Category Archives: New England Fights

BARRY OUT, ORTOLANI RETURNS TO NEW ENGLAND TO FIGHT KRAMLICH

Lewiston, Maine (August 26, 2016) – He has one of the largest and most passionate fanbases of any New England fighter, and now John Ortolani (0-0 boxing, 8-10 MMA) will return to New England Fights (NEF) after a two-and-a-half year absence at “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS” on September 10 in Lewiston.  Ortolani, however, will not be competing in the NEF MMA cage.  He will make his professional boxing debut that evening, stepping in to replace Connor Barry (0-1) against Casey “Buzzsaw” Kramlich (4-0-1, 2 KOs) in a four-round middleweight contest.

 

John Ortolani has been a fixture of the New England MMA scene since 2009.  It is well-documented that Ortolani is a two-sport athlete.  In addition to fighting MMA, he is a midfielder in Major League Lacrosse (MLL) where he has played for the Boston Cannons, Rochester Rattlers and Florida Launch.  Recent years have seen Ortolani take up residence in Tampa, Florida where he has continued competing in MMA out of South Tampa Jiu-Jitsu & MMA.  A native of Billerica, Massachusetts, he looks forward to making the trip north to New England where he will have the opportunity to once again fight closer to home in front of his friends and family.

 

“I am excited to be fighting back in Maine again,” said Ortolani.  “I’d like to thank (NEF owners) Matt (Peterson) and Nick (DiSalvo) for having me back. This will be my first time stepping in the ring and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve wanted to test myself in a boxing match for years and now is my chance. Casey is a great opponent and I’m happy I could fill in and give him a good fight. I am a true martial artist and can’t wait to test my hands. It’s been almost three years since fighting for NEF. Get ready for an exciting fight.”

 

At the other end of the spectrum, Casey Kramlich has made a second home of the boxing ring.  Training out of the Portland Boxing Club in Portland, Maine, Kramlich had an extensive amateur boxing career prior to turning professional in 2014.  This past spring he gave Jason Kelly (5-1, 3 KOs) his first taste of defeat in the ring.  Kramlich followed up that win with a dominant technical knockout victory over Zenon Herrera (0-2) in the third round of Kramlich’s NEF debut at “NEF 24.”

 

“I’m looking forward to fighting on an NEF card again,” said Kramlich.  “I’ve been training hard and ready to put my talent on display. My opponent has a little weight advantage on me, but I plan on using my speed and angles to pick him apart.”

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS,” takes place on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets 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.”

 

THREE WOMEN’S FIGHTS, TWO TITLE FIGHTS AND NEW FACES FIND A HOME ON NEF 25 CARD

 

Lewiston, Maine (August 19, 2016) –New England Fights (NEF) today announced the full fight card for the promotion’s next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS.”  It is scheduled to take place onSaturday, September 10, 2016 in Lewiston.   The dynamic card will feature professional boxing bouts, as well as both professional and amateur mixed-martial-arts (MMA) contests.

 

On the boxing portion of the card, Brandon Montella (4-0) will meet Tollison Lewis (2-1) in a four-round light-heavyweight contest, while longtime Maine middleweight John “Rumble” Webster (8-7-1) returns on the eve of his 48th birthday to battle Zenon “K-Bar” Herrera (0-2).  Rounding out the pro boxing portion of the card will be Casey “Buzzsaw” Kramlich (4-0-1) and Connor Barry (0-1) in a four-round bout.

 

The professional side of the MMA card will feature a total of three Bellator and one Invicta veterans.  Jesse “The Viking” Erickson (7-5) and Jon Lemke(5-6) will rematch their previous bout won by Lemke at Bellator 93 in 2013.  Bellator 144 competitor Walter Smith Cotito (3-4) returns to Maine after a three-year absence to meet Elias “Danger Mouse” Leland (2-1), while Valerie “Valociraptor” Aspaas (0-0) herself returns to Maine after three years to make her pro debut against Invicta 16 veteran Sarah “SwitchKick” Click (0-1).

 

The amateur MMA card will be headlined by two title fights.  Rafael “Deez Nuts” Velado (3-0) takes on Jimmy Jackson (3-2) for the vacant amateur lightweight title.  Amateur bantamweight champion Johnny Crafts (4-0) steps up in weight to challenge Caleb Hall (7-3) for Hall’s featherweight crown.

 

The amateur card will also feature two women’s bantamweight bouts with Brianne Genschell (0-0) and Melissa Trahan (0-0) making their respective cage debut against one another, while Jessica “The Black Widow” Borga(2-1) is scheduled to meet Rachael Joyce (1-0).

 

The full “NEF 25” fight card (subject to change):

 

PROFESSIONAL BOXING

 

175 POUNDS: Brandon Montella vs. Tollison Lewis

160 POUNDS: John Webster vs. Zenon Herrera

155 POUNDS: Casey Kramlich vs. Connor Barry

PROFESSIONAL MMA

 

205 POUNDS: Mike Hansen vs. Matt Andrikut

155 POUNDS: Jesse Erickson vs. Jon Lemke

145 POUNDS: Matt Denning vs. Taylor Trahan

135 POUNDS: Elias Leland vs. Walter Smith Cotito

125 POUNDS: Sarah Click vs. Valerie Aspaas

 

AMATEUR MMA

155 POUND*TITLE: Rafael Velado vs. Jimmy Jackson

145 POUND*TITLE: Caleb Hall (c) vs. Johnny Crafts

155 POUNDS: Caleb Swoveland vs. Frank Johanson

135 POUNDS: Walt Shea vs. Joel Downing

135 POUNDS: Brianne Genschell vs. Melissa Trahan

135 POUNDS: Jessica Borga vs. Rachael Joyce

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS,” takes place on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets 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.”

 

SECOND WOMEN’S MMA FIGHT ANNOUNCED FOR NEF 25

Lewiston, Maine (August 18, 2016) – OnSeptember 10, 2016 New England Fights (NEF) returns to Lewiston with its next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS.”  Just 48-hours following the announcement of a professional women’s mixed-martial-arts (MMA) bout between Sarah “SwitchKick” Click (0-1) and  Valerie “Valociraptor” Aspaas (0-0), the promotion confirmed a second women’s fight for the card.  In the amateur bantamweight division, Rachael Joyce (1-0) will take on Jessica “The Black Widow” Borga (2-1).

 

Rachael Joyce is a member of Team Irish and Gracie Barra Bangor based in Brewer, Maine.  She made her amateur MMA debut in October 2015 against Christine Brothwell (0-2).  Joyce won the fight via knockout in the second round.  She has since had difficulty finding opponents until Borga stepped up to take the bout at “NEF 25.”  Joyce currently holds a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ).

 

“This fight has been a long time coming for me, and NEF has finally made it happen,” said Joyce.  “I am a completely different fighter than I was a year ago, and I’m ready to show everyone on September 10th in the NEF cage against a committed opponent.  If someone is willing to travel from Florida for an amateur fight she is ready for a brawl.  That’s my kind of fight.”

 

Like Joyce, Jessica Borga won her first amateur MMA fight by knockout.  It took her a mere 14-seconds to put Victoria McCollum (0-1) away in the summer of 2015.  Borga followed up that performance with another first-round finish two months later.  She trains out of Champions MMA in Lakeland, Florida where, also like Joyce, she is a BJJ blue belt.

 

“I’m always looking to forward to fighting worthy opponents,” said Borga when reached for comment.

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS,” takes place on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets 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.”

 

LELAND TO FACE RETURNING BELLATOR VETERAN AT NEF 25

Lewiston, Maine (August 18, 2016) – OnSeptember 10, 2016 New England Fights (NEF) returns to Lewiston with its next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS.”  Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of a professional bantamweight mixed-martial-arts (MMA) bout to the fight card.  Elias “Danger Mouse” Leland (2-1) has signed to meet Walter Smith Cotito (3-4) at a fight weight of 135-pounds.

 

Six of Leland’s combined seven amateur and professional MMA fights have taken place in the NEF cage.  The Portland, Maine resident’s only loss to date in NEF was in his last fight against Jay Perrin (2-2) in the spring of 2015.  Late last year, Leland made his pro boxing debut in the NEF ring, taking Josh Parker (0-3-1) to a draw on the judges’ scorecards.  He has proven to be strong in both his standup and on the mat.  Leland, a member of Jay Jack and Amanda Buckner’s The Academy of MMA in Portland, is a dangerous opponent no matter where a fight ends up.

 

“I have been working hard since last year to become better in every aspect of my game,” said Leland.  “I can’t wait to test myself on this tough dude.  Good luck, Walter – and prepare yourself for a hell of a show!”

 

Walter Smith Cotito is no stranger to the NEF cage.  In September 2013, Cotito shocked Maine fans by submitting former NEF MMA Pro Lightweight Champion Bruce Boyington (13-8) in the first round of a bout at “NEF X.”  Most recently, Cotito competed at Bellator 144 in Connecticut.  He holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and is based out of Team Link in Hooksett, New Hampshire.

 

“I think this kid is really brave to take a fight with me, but I will make sure I’m his worst nightmare,” exclaimed Cotito when reached for comment.

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS,” takes place on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets 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.”

PRO WOMEN’S BOUT HAS ALL THE MAKINGS OF A FIGHT OF THE NIGHT CONTENDER AT NEF 25

Lewiston, Maine (August 17, 2016) – For the second time in New England Fights (NEF) history, a professional women’s mixed-martial-arts (MMA) bout will take to the fight promotion’s cage.  OnSeptember 10, 2016 when NEF returns to Lewiston with its next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS,” the professional portion of the MMA card will feature a women’s flyweight bout between Sarah “SwitchKick” Click (0-1) and  Valerie “Valociraptor” Aspaas (0-0).  Click and Aspaas will look to continue the recent tradition of women’s fights taking “Fight of the Night” honors at NEF events.  Judging from the extensive martial arts backgrounds of both competitors, the fight could very well do just that.

 

Sarah Click made her initial foray into the martial arts world at just eight-years-old when she began training in Taekwondo.  Now a sergeant in the United States Army, Click began competing in MMA in 2014 after returning from a tour of Afghanistan.  Over the course of her amateur career, Click captured several regional titles throughout New England and New York.  She made her professional debut for national promotion Invicta last spring.  Click is a member of Team Juniko of Hyannis, Massachusetts.

 

“I’m really excited for the opportunity to fight at one of New England’s best promotions,” said Click of NEF.  “They are doing big things for fighters, and they are coming off one of their best shows to date. Valerie has fought some of the best 125 talent, going the distance with KGB and Kaitlyn Chookagain. I’m going to do what I do best and bring a war that you won’t want to miss!”

 

Like her opponent, Valerie Aspaas got her start in martial arts at a young age, training in Isshin-Ryu Karate.  She currently holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ).  In 2014, Aspaas won the Buffalo, New York version of the Golden Gloves.  She made her NEF debut at “NEF IX” in Biddeford, Maine, defeating Maria Rios (2-3) via unanimous decision.  The fight was a brutal bloodbath that had the capacity crowd on the edge of its collective seat for the duration.  Aspaas will enter the professional ranks at “NEF 25.”

 

“My professional debut has been a long time coming, and I am honored to have the opportunity to do it under NEF,” said Aspaas when reached for comment.  “I fought for them a few years back, and I believe that the promotion and the people of Maine remember the bloody, exciting battle I fought against Maria Rios.  They should expect to see more of the same ferocity and grit from a more evolved version of the Valociraptor when I step back into the cage on September 10th.”

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS,” takes place on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets 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.”

DENNING INKS NEW NEF DEAL; WILL FACE TRAHAN AT NEF 25

Lewiston, Maine (August 15, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF) returns to Lewiston on September 10, 2016 with the fight promotion’s next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS.”  Earlier today, NEF executives announced the re-signing of Lewiston featherweight mixed-martial-artist Matt “Ken Doll” Denning (3-3) to a new developmental deal.  The first fight of the deal will see Denning face Taylor Trahan (5-6) on the main card of “NEF 25.”

 

“I’m excited to have signed another contract with NEF,” said Denning. “I was planning on retiring, but I still have too much fight left in me. I haven’t been doing great record-wise, but if people have seen the opponents I have faced and the performances I put on, they know I’m evolving.”

 

Denning, a member of Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ), has had eleven of his thirteen combined amateur and professional fights in the NEF MMA cage.  He signed his first developmental deal with the promotion in the fall of 2014.  Denning got off to a 2-0 start as a pro before dropping three of his next four.  He says that his new focus will be on improving his abilities through tough fights rather than trying to pad his record.

 

“I’m excited to fight Taylor Trahan. He’s a tough, tough fight, but I wanted it. I need the motivation to get back in prime shape like I was when I fought Jeremy Tyler and made my pro debut against Derek Shorey. I’m over records. I’m done with everyone’s opinions. I talked to my coaches and team and I’m going to fight tough guys and do my best to beat them and get better. When I am finally done fighting, I want people to remember that I fought extremely tough opponents and did very well. Thanks to Matt and Nick for asking for me back. I plan on putting on a great show come September 10th. Who knows–maybe the NEF fans will see me in the boxing ring soon! Oss.”

 

Looking at the length of his career, it is hard to believe Taylor Trahan is only 25-years-old.  The native of Littleton, New Hampshire, and current resident of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, made his amateur MMA debut back in 2009, shortly after his 18th birthday.  Seven years and 26 fights later, Trahan is recognized as one of the most prolific competitors in all of New England MMA.  While he has fought in every corner of the region, Trahan has yet to step into the NEF MMA cage.  He predicts that he and Denning will put on an exciting, fight-of-the-night performance in his NEF debut.

 

“I’m looking forward to being a part of NEF 25,” said Trahan. “NEF always puts on a great show. I’ll be fighting Matt ‘Ken Doll’ Denning.  He’s a game opponent, but I see  holes in his game that I’ll be looking to exploit.  I predict the fight having a lot of fireworks and being fight of the night.”

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS,” takes place on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets 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.

 

LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT SLUGFEST SCHEDULED FOR NEF BOXING RING

Lewiston, Maine (August 12, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF) returns to Lewiston on September 10, 2016 with the fight promotion’s next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS.”  The fight card will feature both mixed-martial-arts and professional boxing bouts.  Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the first pro boxing bout signed for the event.  Brandon Montella (4-0, 3 KOs) will take on Tollison Lewis (2-1, 1 KO) in a four-round light-heavyweight contest.

 

Montella graduated from Carrabec High School in North Anson, Maine in 1998.  Soon after, Montella joined the United States Marine Corps (USMC).  He served in the marines until 2003 when he received an honorable discharge.  After spending the better part of a decade in Virginia, Montella moved with his wife to the Boston, Massachusetts area in 2011.  He owns and operates The Way, LLC boxing gym in Woburn, Massachusetts.  Montella has been on a tear in the boxing ring of late, scoring three knockouts in an eight-month period.

 

Tollison Lewis cut his teeth in the NEF MMA cage.  He has found more success, however, in the boxing ring.  Lewis took a fight on one day’s notice against veteran John Webster (8-7-1, 6 KOs) in the fall of 2014.  He would dominate that fight and win by decision.  Lewis followed up that performance with a stoppage of Zenon Herrera (0-2) last year, earning himself a crack at Brandon Berry’s (11-2-1, 7 KOs) Northeast Junior Welterweight Title earlier in 2016.  Lewis predicts nothing short of an all-out slugfest with Montella on September 10.

 

“I’m expecting a battle,” said Lewis.  “I know I’ll be prepared for one. Expect a war! I’m not going to talk about it – I’m going to show it, and losing isn’t an option.”

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS,” takes place on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at207.783.2009 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.”

BELLATOR 93 REMATCH TO FEATURE PROMINENTLY ON NEF 25 FIGHT CARD

Lewiston, Maine (August 11, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF) returns to Lewiston on September 10, 2016 with the fight promotion’s next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS.”  NEF executives announced earlier today that Jesse “The  Viking” Erickson (7-5) and Jon Lemke (5-6) will square off for the second time in their respective careers.  Lemke won the first meeting at NEF’s co-promotion with Bellator, “Bellator 93,” in the spring of 2013.  The bout will take place in the 155-pound lightweight division.

 

Originally scheduled to take place earlier this month at “NEF Presents Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight” in Bangor, Erickson-Lemke II was postponed when Erickson suffered an injury in training.  Devin Powell (8-1) stepped in to replace Erickson in the bout.  While he was stopped late in the first round, Lemke put on a valiant performance, shattering Powell’s nose in the process.  Lemke hopes to get back on the winning track at “NEF 25.”

 

“My last couple of performances have been a bit disappointing for me as a fighter, so I wanted to fight again as soon as possible and figure this out,” said Lemke.  “I am incredibly grateful for another opportunity to fight for NEF.  I am learning how to separate who I am as a person and man versus who I am as a fighter when I step in to that cage.  This will enable me to stop holding back and really leave it all in the cage.  Jesse is a fighter through and through and this will be a great battle for sure.”

 

Erickson, on the other hand, is coming off a brutal knockout victory over Amos Collins (4-5) this past June.  It was just the latest in a string of improved striking performances from Erickson in the past couple of years.  He says that he will welcome the opportunity to stand and exchange with Lemke should the opportunity present itself.

 

“I can’t wait to step into the NEF cage against Jon,” said Erickson.  “I have a lot of respect for him.  He is a talented well rounded fighter and always puts on a show. He beat me in my pro debut, but that was years ago and I’m very excited to show everyone how far I’ve come. I’m not the same fighter I was then and now that I’ve recovered from injury, I look forward to competing against him. Most people expect me to look for the takedown to utilize my jiu jitsu, but I love to strike and want to show him and everyone else that I’ve got Thor’s hammer in these hands. If he thinks the outcome will be the same and he will walk through me, it’ll be a rough night for him. Victory or Valhalla.”

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS,” takes place on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets 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.”

IT WILL BE CHAMPION VS. CHAMPION ON SEPTEMBER 10 IN LEWISTON

Lewiston, Maine (August 9, 2016) – In a rare occurrence, two champions from two different weight divisions will square off onSeptember 10, 2016 when New England Fights presents “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS” in Lewiston.  Reigning NEF MMA Amateur Bantamweight Champion Johnny Crafts (4-0) will come up in weight to challenge Caleb Hall (7-3) for Hall’s NEF MMA Amateur Featherweight Title.

 

Caleb Hall was a two-time Maine state champion wrestling for Dirigo High School in Dixfield.  He would go on to wrestle for Plymouth State University in New Hampshire, as well as the University of Southern Maine.  At “NEF 22” this past spring, Hall captured the vacant featherweight title by submitting Erik Nelson (2-3) in the second round.  In the upcoming bout with Crafts, Hall will be looking to not only retain his title, but to also gain a measure of revenge against Crafts who defeated Hall’s teammate Henry Clark (3-2) last fall.

 

“Johnny’s making a big mistake coming up in weight trying to take my belt,” said Hall.  “I will avenge my teammate, Henry Clark, and put him away early.”

 

Johnny Crafts is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt with Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ).  As mentioned, Crafts defeated Henry Clark of the Choi Institute last fall to claim the amateur bantamweight title.  On September 10, Crafts hopes to make history by becoming the first competitor to simultaneously hold two championships in two different weight divisions.

 

“I’m honestly just excited to get in there and have a brutal, fun fight,” said Crafts. “It’s going to be a guaranteed war versus Caleb. It’s less focus on cutting weight at 145 for me and more on the training camp. I’m going to be the most technical and strong I have ever been for this fight.”

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS,” takes place on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets 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.  Tickets will also be available at the door the night of the event.

 

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.”

 

NEW ENGLAND FIGHTS SELLS OUT IN BANGOR

Bangor, Maine (August 6, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF) held its most recent event, “NEF Presents Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight,Friday night at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.  The event sold out moments before doors opened to the public.  Over 1200 fans in attendance witnessed a wild night of eight professional bouts.  The crowd included UFC President Dana White who was in attendance to film a future episode of his web series.

 

Fight of the night went to Aaron Lacey (2-0) and John Santos (3-4).  The two featherweights battled back and forth for a grueling, and bloody, 15-minutes.  Lacey was declared the winner by split decision on the judges’ scorecards.

 

In a rematch from 2014, NEF MMA Professional Lightweight Champion Devin Powell (8-1) took on Jon Lemke (5-6) in a non-title catchweight contest.  In a repeat of the first bout, Powell scored the win over Lemke with a first round submission.

 

Ryan Sanders (11-8) and Derrick Kennington (11-8) were the third fight of the evening to go the distance with Sanders picking up the victory via unanimous decision.

 

In the bantamweight main event, Brazilian prospect Ricardo Lucas Ramos (9-1) submitted Glendale, California’s Alfred Khashakyan (7-3) in the second round.

 

The results from Bangor, Maine:

 

Ricardo Lucas Ramos def. Alfred Khashakyan via rear-naked choke, round 2

Ryan Sanders def. Derrick Kennington via unanimous decision
Devin Powell def.  Jon Lemke via rear-naked choke submission, round 1

Aaron Lacey def.  John Santos via split decision

David Mundell def. Jarod Lawton via unanimous decision

CJ Ewer def. Ruben Redman via KO, round 1

Derrick Brown def. Brendan Battles via TKO, round 2

Josh Harvey def. Zenon Herrera via TKO, round 1

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS,” takes place on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets 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.  Tickets will also be available at the door the night of the event.

 

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.”