Lewiston, Maine (Tej zaum 8, 2015) - Tshiab England Fights (NEF), America lub xov tooj-ib regional sib ntaus qib, yuav tuav nws xyoo mixed martial--kawm (MMA) kev tshwm sim, “NEF XVIII: Made in America,” rau Saturday, Lub rau hli ntuj 13, 2015 nyob rau ntawm lub Androscoggin Bank Colisee nyob rau hauv Lewiston, Maine. Nyuam qhuav pib hnub no, the promotion announced the addition of a professional lightweight bout to the fight card. Jesse “Lub Viking” Erickson (4-4) yog teem kom tau raws li Zenon Herrera (0-0) in what will be Herrera’s professional debut.
Erickson is a mainstay of the NEF promotion. The native of Auburn, Maine made his amateur debut at NEF I in February 2012. All fourteen of his bouts have been hosted in the NEF cage except one which was part of an NEF co-promotion with Bellator.
Currently a coach at Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ) – a New England United (TSHIAB) affiliate – Erickson challenged unsuccessfully twice last fall for the NEF MMA Lightweight Title, dropping back-to-back losses to Bruce Boyington (10-8). Lub hli tas los, Erickson returned to the cage against Florida’s Mark DeFord (0-4). The Viking came out aggressive, not letting up with a barrage of lefts, rights and knees. It was a departure from Erickson’s trusted ground game, but it took less than two minutes for him to knock DeFord out cold. If Erickson was looking to make a statement, then that statement was received loud and clear by the raucous crowd of over 2,000.
“After back to back losses, I’ve really focused in on some of my weak points,” said Erickson. “Nyob rau hauv kuv lub xeem sib ntaus, I felt much more confident and relaxed, and I think it showed in my performance. I will continue to get better and show everyone the fighter I’ve always known I could be. I’ll never fight safe, try to eke out a decision, or have a boring fight. Come watch me fight and see something special. The Viking is back and he’s swinging Thor’s hammer now.”
Zenon Herrera, an independent fighter based out of Skowhegan, Maine, began his MMA amateur career in the fall of 2012. Having fought predominantly in Florida previously, he made his NEF debut last month at “NEF XVII” in a losing effort to a very tough Ricky Dexter (3-0). Herrera is a military veteran, having served four years in the United States Army and five years in the United States Marine Corps. He looks forward to making the transition from the amateur to professional ranks and the new challenges it will bring.
“I’m very much looking forward to this chance of taking myself to the next level of MMA,” hais tias Herrera. “Jesse Erickson is a tough dude and that will make this match all the better. I’m also looking forward to representing the NEF, Macho Fighter, Combatives Gear, and the USMC with all of the pride and honor that they deserve with everything I do in MMA from this point forward.”
NEF tus tom ntej MMA kev tshwm sim, “NEF XVIII: Made in America” will originate from the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine on June 13, 2015. Daim pib rau “NEF XVIII” pib ntawm cia li $25 thiab yog muag tam sim no nyob www.TheColisee.com los yog los ntawm kev hu mus rau lub chaw ua hauj lwm ntawm Colisee207.783.2009 x 525. Yog xav paub ntxiv nyob rau hauv cov kev tshwm sim thiab kev sib ntaus card tshiab, thov mus saib cov qib lub website ntawm www.NewEnglandFights.com. Nyob rau hauv tas li ntawd, koj yuav saib NEF yeeb yaj duab ntawm www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, ua raws li lawv nyob rau Twitternefights thiab koom nrog cov nom Facebook pab pawg neeg "New England Fights."
Hais txog Tshiab England Fights
Tshiab England Fights ("NEF") yog ib tug sib ntaus txheej xwm promotions lub tuam txhab. NEF lub hom phiaj yog los tsim lub siab tshaj plaws zoo txheej xwm rau Maine lub tua hluav taws thiab cov kiv cua zoo tib yam nkaus. NEF lub thawj pab neeg no muaj nws kim heev kev nyob rau hauv nqe ntaus rog kev ua si tswj, txheej xwm ntau lawm, xov xwm kev sib raug zoo, marketing, kev cai lij choj thiab advertising.