NEF RETURNS TO MAINE WITH STACKED FIGHT CARD FEATURING FOUR TITLE FIGHTS

Tam sim TSO TAWM: Portland, Maine (Lub kaum hli ntuj 22, 2021) – When the bell rings at 7 pm EST to start the show on Friday, Kaum Ib Hlis Ntuj 5, it will be the first time New England Fights (NEF) has presented a mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event in its home state of Maine in 21 months. Shortly after the venerable fight promotion held “NEF 42” at Merrill Auditorium in Portland on February 8, 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic gripped the state and the nation. The resulting shutdown forced the indefinite postponement of “NEF 43” which was scheduled to take place in Orono, Maine later that spring. With the state not fully opening for combat sports events until well into 2021, NEF decided to turn to neighboring New Hampshire to hold “NEF 44” last summer. “NEF 45: Uprising” on November 5 will see the fight promotion make its long-awaited return to action in Maine, as well as close out its first decade of business. The event will originate from Aura in Portland.

Nyuam qhuav pib hnub no, NEF announced the full fight card for “NEF 45.” It is scheduled to feature a total of 21 bouts with four championships to be decided.

Nyob rau hauv lub ntsiab kev tshwm sim ntawm yav tsaus ntuj, Josh “Hook On” Harvey(7-1-1) will defend the NEF Professional Featherweight Title against the challenge ofAguilando Brandao(9-8).  Harvey has held the championship since February 2019. Brandao is a tough veteran with more than 15 years of cage experience.

The co-main event will seeMark “Pockets” Gardner(1-2)noj nyob rau hauvNick Alley (7-4) in a professional welterweight contest. Both competitors are veterans of global promotion Bellator’s cage. Both will be looking to bounce back from losses in their respective previous bouts.

Zac “Rocky” Richard (0-0) yuav ua kom nws kev debut tiv thaivCarl Langston(0-5) after a successful amateur career that saw Richard capture the NEF 155-pound title. Langston seeks his first win as a professional fighter.

In other pro bouts, Matt “Ken Doll” Denning(5-10) meets former University of Southern Maine wrestling standoutJon Deupree (0-0) in Deupree’s pro debut, while former NEF Professional Middleweight ChampionCJ Ewer(3-3) battlesShaun Ray (2-1) in the welterweight division.

The amateur portion of the fight card will be headlined by three title fights: Caleb Austin(5-0) ntsej muagTyler Smythe (2-1) for the vacant flyweight belt; Felipe Günter(3-0) is scheduled to square off withTeddy Politis (2-0) for the vacant bantamweight championship; thiabNathaniel Grimard(4-0) will defend his newly-won featherweight strap againstBilly Wilson(6-1).

The sole women’s fight of the evening will also take place on the amateur card asBJ Garceau(1-1) meets the debutingHayley Martin (0-0) in a strawweight bout. Garceau last appeared in the NEF cage three years earlier at “NEF 36.”

“It feels like forever since we had a fight in Maine—and what a card to come back with,"Hais tias NEF co-tswv thiab matchmaker Matt Peterson.  “So many prospects in this lineup, so many undefeated fighters putting their perfect records on the line, so much at stake for so many impressive athletes putting themselves to the test on November 5th. Four title fights. For headliner Josh Harvey, his next fight could be the last chance to see him compete before he gets the call to the UFC —he’s that close. Leading up to the main event we have several undefeated amateur athletes that are on the cusp of turning pro and trying to follow in Harvey’s footsteps. AURA is the place to be November 5th!"

The full “NEF 45” fight card (yuav hloov):

KEV COB QHA COV MMA

145 POUND TITLE: Josh Harvey (c) vs. Aguilando Brandao

170 Phaus: Nick huas vs. Mark Gardner

140 Phaus: Carl Langston vs. Zac Richard

170 Phaus: Jon Deupree vs. Matt Denning

160 Phaus: Jay Ellis vs. Rodrigo Almeida

170 Phaus: CJ Ewer vs. Shaun Ray

Pib xyaum ua MMA

125 POUND TITLE: Caleb Austin vs. Tyler Smythe

145 POUND TITLE: Billy Wilson vs. Nathaniel Grimard (c)

135 POUND TITLE: Felipe Günter vs. Teddy Politis

115 Phaus: BJ Garceau vs. Hayley Martin

200 Phaus: David McCarthy vs. Danny Dray

170 Phaus: Brian Cosco vs. Tyler Kingsbury

265 Phaus: Tucker Olinsky vs. George Pissimissis

170 Phaus: Curtis Ouellette vs. Derek Lambert

185 Phaus: Bryant Wade vs. Brandon Oldenberg

185 Phaus: Brett Martin vs. Justin Philbrook

155 Phaus: Jonas Ryerson vs. RJ Janeczek

165 Phaus: Austin Hamilton vs. David Hart

115 Phaus: Julian Menjivar vs. Matt Miles

155 Phaus: Jacob Routon vs. Emmett Huber

135 Phaus: Tyler Parent vs. Randall Hathorn

"NEF 45: Uprising” takes place on Friday, Kaum Ib Hlis Ntuj 5, 2021, at Aura in Portland, Maine. Doors open at 6 pm with first fight at 7 pm. Tickets are on sale now atwww.Ticketmaster.com.  The event will also be live streamed on pay-per-view for the price of $29.99 ntawmwww.CombatSportsNow.com.

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