Lewiston, Maine (January 11, 2017) -mo Ingarangi whawhai (Nef) returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee on February 11, 2017 with its next mixed-martial-arts event, “Nef 27: RESURGENCE.” I mua i teie mahana, the fight promotion announced the full card for the event. The night will feature both amateur and professional MMA bouts.

 

Headlining the evening will be the semi-finals of the tournament to crown a new professional lightweight champion. The title was vacated when previous champion Devin Powell (8-1) signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Ryan Sanders (12-8) Ka tangohia i runga i John Ortolani (8-10) ia Jon Lemke (5-7) kanohi Hehe Erickson (9-5) in a rematch from Bellator 93. The winners of those two bouts will meet in the finals tentatively scheduled for “NEF 28” later this year.

 

In a highly-anticipated heavyweight bout, Ras Hylton (0-0) ka meinga e tona tuatahi ngaio ki Mike Hansen (5-4). The 6’6″ Hylton, ranei “Rasquatch” as he is known amongst his fans, was voted the “2016 Ihupuku o te Tau” by NEF fans after going 3-0 hei runaruna. Hansen was a Maine state wrestling champion for Mountain Valley High School (MVHS), and he has developed quite a reputation for downing larger opponents on both the mats and the MMA cage. Hansen was the recipient of the “2016 Submission of the Year” tohu.

 

Speaking of 2016 tohu toa, te “Fighter o te Tau,” mā amanaki Arona Lacey (4-0), will look for his fifth consecutive victory in less than a year when he meets Florida’s Chris Jacobs (1-0). Jacobs put together an impressive 8-3 record hei runaruna, winning regional titles along the way.

 

The amateur card will feature a bout for the light-heavyweight strap as Ryan Glover (3-1) tohe ki Victor Irwin (2-0). Glover has held the title since last February. Both Glover and Irwin were Maine state wrestling champions – Glover with MVHS and Irwin with Brewer High School.

 

Also scheduled on the amateur card are no less than three women’s bouts. Angela Young (1-2), who put on multiple “Whawhai o te Po” performances in 2016, returns to face New Hampshire’s Christine Brothwell (0-2). Young’s teammate, Katie Baker (0-0), will make her in-cage debut against another tough competitor from the Granite State in the form of Alex Walker (2-1), ia Sarah Ziehm makes her debut against Nicole Burgess (0-1).

 

The full “Nef 27: RESURGENCE” kāri whawhai (kaupapa ki te huri i):

 

NGAIO

235 Mike Hansen 5-4 (Berserkers MMA) vs Ras Hylton 0-0 (Tuatahi Class MMA)

 

160 Matt Denning 3-5 (CMBJJ) vs Ricky Dexter 0-0 (Team Irish)

155 Ryan Sanders 12-8 (MMA o Young) vs John Ortolani 8-10 (South Tampa Jiu-Jitsu & MMA)

 

155 Hehe Erickson 9-5 (CMBJJ) vs Jon Lemke 5-7 (Team Irish)

 

145 Arona Lacey 4-0 (MMA o Young) vs Chris Jacobs 1-0 (Pete White Boxing & MMA)

 

145 Josh Harvey 2-0 (MMA o Young) vs Richie Collingham 3-3 (Lakes Region Vale Tudo)

 

135 Iraia Leland 2-2 (Ko te Academy) vs Nick Santos 0-4 (Team Fury)

AMATEUR

205*TITLE Ryan Glover 3-1 (Berserkers MMA) (c) vs Victor Irwin 2-0 (MMA o Young)

 

205 Zeal McGrew 1-1 (Redline) vs Pete Grinnel 0-0 (Lawton BJJ)

185 Jon Tefft 0-0 (Tuatahi Class MMA) vs Sean Worcester 0-1 (Independent)

 

155 Devin Corson 0-0 (Aro Club Shatterproof) vs Winston Cortez 0-0 (S. Tampa Jiu-Jitsu & MMA)

 

155 Ross Dannar 0-1 (Nostos) vs Phil Chason 0-0 (Ko te Academy)

 

155 Ken Dunn 0-4 (Independent) vs Corey Hinkley 2-4 (CMBJJ)

 

145 Jacob Deppmeyer 0-0 (Tuatahi Class MMA) vs Frank Johanson 1-2 (CMBJJ)

 

140 Henry Clark 3-1 (Choi Institute) vs Alex Clark 3-2 (MMA o Young)

 

135 Michael Crespo 3-2 (Tuatahi Class MMA) vs Fred Lear 4-2 (MMA o Young)

 

135 Walt Shea 1-0 (Tuatahi Class MMA) vs Alan Bustamante 0-0 (South Tampa Jiu-Jitsu & MMA)

 

125 Jeremiah Barkac 0-0 (Independent) vs James Ploss 0-0 (Kaze Dojo)

 

125 Ryan Burgess 2-1 (Berserkers MMA) vs Justin Witham 2-4 (Aro Club Shatterproof)

 

125 Angela Young 1-2 (MMA o Young) vs Christine Brothwell 0-2 (Bucket Brigade)

 

115 Nicole Burgess 0-1 (Berserkers MMA) vs Sarah Ziehm 0-0 (CMBJJ)

 

115 Katie Baker 0-0 (MMA o Young) vs Alex Walker 2-1 (Kaze Dojo)

 

 

NEF’s next event, “Nef 27: RESURGENCE” e wahi i runga i Rāhoroi, February 11, 2017 i 7 p.m. Tīmata Tickets i $25 a kei runga i te hoko i teie nei i www.TheColisee.com ranei i karanga i te tari pouaka Colisee i 207.783.2009, extension 525.

 

For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. I tua atu, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New Ingarangi whawhai."