Lewiston, Maine (April 16, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its eighteenth mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, “NEF XVIII: Made in America,” on Saturday, June 13, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine. Earlier today, the promotion announced that the first NEF MMA Amateur Lightweight Champion will be crowned that evening when undefeated Ricky Dexter (3-0), representing Marcus Davis’ Team Irish, will take on Josh Harvey (3-1) of cross-town rival Young’s MMA. The bout will be contested at the lightweight limit of 155-pounds.
Dexter and Harvey are regarded as two of the top prospects currently on the NEF MMA roster. Both athletes are undefeated in the promotion’s cage. On June 13, they will carry on a rivalry that has raged in NEF between the Young’s MMA and Team Irish gyms for several years.
“Both of these young athletes are a testament to their respective gyms, as well as to how far the sport has come in Maine,” said NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson. “They both came along after NEF was established in the state, and we have seen both of them grow over the past year. We in the NEF front office unanimously believe that Josh and Ricky have a bright future ahead of them in MMA and look forward to this highly competitive bout set to be contested in Lewiston on June 13th.”
Dexter, currently the top-nine-ranked amateur lightweight in New England, is coming off a first-round submission victory over Zenon Herrera (3-6) last Saturday at “NEF XVII.” Dexter has taken the promotion’s lightweight division by storm since debuting last November. He has stopped all three of his opponents in the first round to earn his shot at becoming the first NEF MMA Amateur Lightweight Champion.
“I’m honored to be fighting for the NEF Lightweight Amateur Title,” stated Dexter. “To me there’s a lot more on the line than just a belt. On June 13th you better believe I’m bringing it.”
When fans last saw Josh Harvey in the NEF cage, he had his arm raised in victory after mauling Caleb Hall (5-2) in the amateur opener of “NEF XVI” this past February. It took Harvey a mere 36-seconds to run through Hall, himself a two-time state wrestling champion for Dirigo High School in Dixfield, Maine. Many insiders believe this will be one of Harvey’s final amateur fights before turning professional.
“Two top fighters from two top schools, this is a match to be excited about,” stated Harvey when reached for comment. “I have all the respect in the world for Ricky, but there is no where this fight goes that I don’t win.”
NEF’s next MMA event, “NEF XVIII: Made in America” will originate from the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine on June 13, 2015. Tickets for “NEF XVIII” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisee 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.”
About New England Fights
New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.