Lewiston, Maine (December 5, 2017) – No, you have not been transported back to the 9th century. There will be no longboats, no battleaxes, and no shield maidens present on February 3rd in Lewiston. Yet, the Androscoggin River is very likely to run red with blood that evening. A Viking and a Berserker will wage war in Central Maine when New England Fights (NEF) returns to Lewiston with the fight promotion’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 32: Super Saturday.” Wrestling and jiu-jitsu, rather than swords and Thor’s hammer, will be the weapons of choice as Jesse “The Viking” Erickson (8-7) faces Mike “The Mustache” Hansen (5-8) of Berserkers MMA in a featured professional welterweight bout.
The fight will be Erickson’s twentieth in the NEF cage, a record number for any one fighter in the promotion, but it will be a year since his last NEF appearance. He lost to Jon Lemke (7-8) in the semi-finals of the NEF Lightweight Title tournament last February at the Colisee. Erickson, an instructor with Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ), and a homegrown talent of Lewiston-Auburn, will be looking for a triumphant return after a recent loss in Canada.
“It will be a year since I’ve fought in Lewiston,” said Erickson. “The NEF cage is like home to me. I’m really looking forward to hearing my friends, family, and CMBJJ team as I enter the cage. But once the door shuts, all I hear is my corner and all I’m focused on is dismantling the man across from me. Odin’s Son is here to slay the great wolf. This is Ragnarok. Victory or Valhalla.”
Like his opponent, Mike Hansen is also in search of a much-needed win. Hansen lost all four of his fights in 2017, including back-to-back defeats this fall in Western Massachusetts. His last win came at “NEF 25” in 2016 when Hansen, a former state champion wrestler for Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, Maine, scored an impressive first-round submission of Matt Andrikut (2-1), defending the honor of Maine wrestling against the New York mat native.
“I’m super excited for this fight,” exclaimed Hansen of the upcoming meeting with Erickson. “It’s a great matchup for Maine MMA. Our schools are close to each other and we have competed against each other many times. It’s finally time for the coaches to get down and boogie. My pick for this fight is the fans for sure. Fans will not be upset.”
Hansen challenged Erickson to add a stipulation to the bout when they announced the fight publicly at “NEF 31” in Portland last month. Hansen would like the loser to receive a tattoo with the design chosen by the winner.
“I have nothing but respect for Jesse Erickson, but so still want our sponsor C+C O’Leary Tattoo in Lewiston to do his tattoo I pick for him when he loses. I will, ‘finish him,’ and ‘if he dies, he dies.‘ Time to start making your sacrifices Jesse, you will need the gods in your favor on February 3rd, because when war time comes the blood will flow.”
NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 32: Super Saturday,” will see the company make its return to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine. The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 3, 2018. Tickets are on-sale now online at www.TheColisee.com.
Matt Andrikut v Mike Hansen square off in MMA action from NEF 25.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Rumford, Maine (August 3, 2017) – New Mike Hansen’s dreams of becoming a mixed martial arts (MMA) champion were admittedly premature. Then they were derailed for nearly a decade by a combination of injuries, service to his country and fatherhood.
The teenage ambition that made Hansen believe he could conquer the world, or at least his little corner of it, never went away, though.
Twenty-nine months after resurrecting his career with New England Fights, Rumford’s Hansen (5-5) finally gets that coveted title shot. He will battle hometown favorite C.J. Ewer (2-0) at “NEF 30: Rumble in Bangor” this Saturday, August 5 at Cross Insurance Center for the organization’s vacant middleweight title. The card starts at 7 p.m.
Hansen, who turned 32 on July 21, says the opportunity fulfills an early goal while living and fighting in Massachusetts back in 2005.
“I was 19 years old and thought I had a great head on my shoulders, so I called out the (World Fighting League) champion at the time, who was John “Doomsday” Howard,” Hansen said. “I said that I wanted that belt and that I was coming after him. Knowing what I know now, he probably would have whipped the (crap) out of me.”
Howard went on to compete at the highest level with Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) and is now a veteran of 37 journeys into the cage. Hansen’s career path had many more stops, starts and detours.
He started with six amateur wins out of the gate and won his initial professional foray with ease. The title fight will take place on the eve of the 12th anniversary of that pro debut.
“Being 19 years old, I was kind of cocky. I remember telling my dad nobody could compete with my wrestling,” Hansen said. “Back then, MMA hadn’t really evolved. The wrestler had the advantage over the jiu-jitsu guy. You could just hold a guy down and snuggle and hug and sweat out a win.”
After his first knockout loss, Hansen promised his father he would quit the sport. But he had already caught the fever, and his confidence was sky high.
Hansen was training for a bout at Laconia, New Hampshire’s bike week when he suffered a broken ankle two weeks before the weigh-in. He recovered and was in training for another fight when he was stabbed and beaten with a baseball bat in what could have been a fatal case of mistaken identity.
He remarkably walked out of the hospital a day later and soon embarked on a more structured path as a combat engineer in the United States Army. While enlisted, Hansen suffered a serious shoulder injury. Even after retirement, a return to the MMA cage seemed unlikely.
Then came a fateful call from an old friend and neighbor, NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson, and the rest is history. Hansen has carved out a reputation as one who will take on any opponent in any weight class at any time, and perhaps there is no greater example than the Ewer matchup.
“The belts are vacant at 170, 185 and 205 (pounds). I can make weight for all those if I have enough time,” Hansen said. “I guess Peterson thought it made sense to kill two birds with one stone and put me in with Ewer at 185. Six weeks ago is when they called me, and at first they asked me about 170. I really liked the fight, but the weight didn’t make sense. I was sitting on the couch at 248.”
Hansen has spent most of his time in the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions. He was glaringly outweighed in his last bout, a February loss to Ras Hylton.
Only once previously has he downsized to the middleweight threshold, a February 2016 loss to Zach Elkins. In the case of Ewer, who has done most of his work at 170, meeting in the middle might play to Hansen’s advantage.
“We’re two different styles of fighters. He’s coming up in weight and I’m coming down,” Hansen said. “He’s never been in the cage against anybody with my kind of power. When I’m hitting somebody at 200 pounds, I’m hitting them with the force of somebody who’s 245. My opponents have told me they’ve never been hit harder by a guy my size. I feel like it’s my fight to lose, as long as I don’t make any mistakes and go in there with the stamina I need to have.”
Hansen is confident against Ewer, who had a 5-2 amateur record with notable wins over Ricky Dexter and Crowsneck Boutin before turning pro. He knows better, however, than to underestimate any fighter out of the Young’s MMA stable.
“I feel like I’m the more talented fighter and that I have more tools in my tool box. But I know Young’s MMA is a great camp and that he trains with a lot of great guys,” Hansen said. “Chris (Young) finds a way to set you up to fight the fight you need to win. Look at the Pat Kelly fight (against Rafael Velado). They prepared to turn that into a kickboxing fight, and then he went out and did just that.”
Hansen has seen his name rise into the New England top-five conversation. Most of the fighters ahead of him have experience with larger promotions.
He said a win over Ewer could inspire him to travel and continuing to pursue the dream. That’s consistent with the personality he has shown through this second act of his career.
“I’ve been fighting the top-level guys in NEF for about the past two-and-a-half years,” Hansen said, “I always told Peterson to set me up with a guy who’s in the top 10 or just above me. I wanted to work my way up.”
From his days as a high school state wrestling champion at Mountain Valley High School, Hansen flaunted a distaste for winning that served him well.
In those days, he wore a T-shirt that read, ‘Nobody remembers second place,’ with four gold medals beneath it. Hansen’s attitude remains, but the mainstay of Berserker’s MMA out of the Greater Rumford Community Center noted that it is never only about himself.
“I want to win the title for all the people who have supported me and trained with me in Rumford. I also want it for my gym. We’ve done this three times in the amateurs and now we’re going to do it with a pro,” he said. “(GRCC is) just a little on-profit that helps people pursue their dreams. I’d love to hang that belt on the wall. It shows people in the community what we’re capable of here, and hopefully it gets them interested and grows the gym. That’s my goal.”
Tickets for “NEF 30: Rumble in Bangor” are available at CrossInsuranceCenter.com. For more information on the fight card and event updates, please visit NewEnglandFights.com.
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.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Bangor, Maine (June 20, 2017) – New England Fights (NEF) returns to the Cross Insurance Center on Saturday night, August 5, 2017 with the fight promotion’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 30: Rumble in Bangor.” Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of a professional championship middleweight contest to the fight card. CJ Ewer (2-0) will take on Mike “The Mustache” Hansen (5-5) for the vacant NEF MMA Pro 185-pound championship.
CJ Ewer serves as a member of the United States Air Force security forces. When not defending the nation overseas, Ewer trains at Young’s MMA in Bangor. He is an accomplished wrestler, with two Maine state high school championships and a New England district championship to his credit. Ewer wrestled under legendary coach Ted Reese while attending the University of Southern Maine (USM). Upon joining the MMA circuit, he put together a 5-2 record as an amateur prior to turning pro. Ewer’s last fight was one year ago to the day in Bangor at “NEF PresentsDana White: Lookin’ for a Fight.” He dropped Ruben Redman (0-1) with a highlight reel knockout that brought White and his web series co-stars to their feet at ringside.
“Mike is a tough-as-nails opponent, and I look forward to testing myself against him,” said Ewer of the upcoming title fight with Hansen. “At the end of the fight, the most prepared fighter will win. Mike will not out work me in preparation, nor does he have training partners that I have. I look forward to bringing the 185-pound belt back to Young’s MMA on August 5th.”
Mike Hansen, like CJ Ewer, proudly served his country. Hansen was a combat engineer in the United States Army before retiring from the service. Also like Ewer, Hansen comes from a wrestling background with a Maine state title earned during his time with Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, Maine. A founding member of team Berserkers MMA, Hansen has a reputation for taking on all comers. He has never backed down from a challenge, sometimes battling behemoths two weight classes larger than himself.
“I’ve been working towards this moment for years now,” stated Hansen. “I busted into the Maine MMA scene just over two years ago and have been fighting top ranked fighters and the guys that everyone else runs from to prove that I can fight. CJ Ewer is a great competitor coming from the best camp in the state at Young’s MMA. I have nothing but respect for them up there, and I know he will come ready to fight. With that being said, I will be ready for war, and I’m coming home with the gold that night. He’s just another man locked in the cage with me, and anyone who has had that caged locked behind them across from me knows I’m not an easy win.”
“NEF 30: Rumble in Bangor” will be held at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine on Saturday, August 5, 2017. Tickets are on sale now at www.CrossInsuranceCenter.com.
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.
Lewiston, Maine (June 15, 2016) – Fighting anyone, anywhere, anytime and under any circumstances has become Mike Hansen’s calling card with New England Fights.
No surprise, then, that the 30-year-old father of three from Rumford, ME will gladly entertain the idea of a mixed martial arts contest … against an opponent about whom he admittedly knows precious little … on the eve of Father’s Day.
Hansen (4-4) will take on Robert Laroski in a heavyweight clash at “NEF 24: Promised Land” on Saturday, June 18 at Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston.
There is no fear of the unknown in a man who has carved out his reputation confronting substantially bigger foes since his days as a state champion wrestler at Mountain Valley High School. During his relatively short time in NEF, Hansen has fought as a middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight.
“When I took the fight (at NEF 23 in Massachusetts) against Brendan Battles, people were saying, ‘You’re crazy! He’s going to bust your head!’ I understand why the weight classes exist, and I respect that it’s about safety and all that, but I’ve always felt that a fighter should be ready to fight anybody, no matter what,” Hansen said. “In high school, I would drink two gallons of water and put lead in my uniform just so I could get to the minimum weight for the unlimited class.”
That’s the attitude of a fighter whose skill and talent level far exceed his current record as a professional.
Hansen’s docket includes a stoppage win over former NEF “Fighter of the Year” Crowsneck Boutin. His record also includes TKO losses to Battles and Cody Anderson and a choke-out at the hands of Zach Elkins.
When he reflects upon his unique life story, Hansen, who fought twice for the World Fighting League as a 20-year-old college student, marvels that he ever got back into the cage at all.
“I started the winter of 2004-05. I started training because I had gone from 187 to 242 pounds in a few months. I was seeing stretch marks,” Hansen recalled. “I was pretty upset with myself for allowing that to happen. I started doing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu two nights a week to get in shape. Then I went home for the summer and ended up with my first fight in August. My friends got me the fight without my coaches knowing about it. They told me it was a good thing I won, or they would have kicked my butt.”
Hansen kept a promise to his father to quit the sport after a knockout loss to Alexander Chianurashvili in 2006. He was studying at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, with intentions to enter the medical field.
He was stabbed and attacked with a baseball bat by three men in a case of mistaken identity not long thereafter. “I walked out of the hospital the next day, and all three of them were still in there from the beating I gave them in self-defense,” Hansen said proudly.
That dogged determination served Hansen well in the United States Army, where he studied in the elite Combatives program.
“They ask you ‘Who wins the fight?’ and the answer is, ‘Whoever’s buddy gets there first to help him clean up.’ That’s what Combatives taught me: How to survive that extra 30 to 60 seconds,” Hansen said. “Work ethic is what it taught me. It helped me grow and do things I might have questioned mentally whether or not I could do. Not many people find that extra little motivation. The Army taught me how to find it and utilize it.”
A few years later, Hansen found that inner fire again. Even as he returned to coaching wrestlers in his hometown, his own physical fitness suffered as work and fatherhood took precedence.
Hansen vividly describes sitting in a bean bag chair, eating snack food, watching TV at 2:11 a.m. when his phone rang. He assumed it was a friend in trouble.
“It was (NEF co-owner) Matt Peterson. Our families grew up maybe 200 yards apart. My high school wrestling coach had called him, unbeknownst to me, to tell him he needed to get me back in the cage,” Hansen said.
Three weeks later and 20 pounds lighter, Hansen dispatched super heavyweight fixture Artie Mullen at “NEF 16: New Blood Rising,” and the comeback was on.
In the 15 months that have followed, Hansen has been instrumental in launching Berserkers MMA and building his reputation as both a fighter and an instructor.
Life is blossoming at home, also. Hansen is the father of two girls, ages 5 and 2, and a boy of four months. His older daughter, Kaydn, often accompanies Dad to the gym at Greater Rumford Community Center. He returns the favor by chaperoning field trips for her kindergarten class.
“She and her friends will be on the playground practicing boxing stances and stuff,” Hansen said. “Her teacher says it’s adorable. Hopefully she is learning to take care of herself so I don’t have to.”
Kaydn’s parents are making plans to take her to her first live NEF show after she turns 6. For now, she is content to watch her Dad’s fights on YouTube.
“If we’re watching TV together,” Hansen said, “we have a thing where I get two shows and then she gets two shows. If I put in a fight tape, she’ll say, ‘Daddy, I know this doesn’t count as one of your shows, because this is your work.’”
The opening bell on June 18 is set for 7 p.m. Tickets for “NEF 24: Promised Land” start at $25 and are available at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisee box office at 207.783.2009, extension 525.
For more information on the events 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.”
Lewiston, Maine (May 27, 2016) – One of the past year’s most intense rivalries is about to be reignited. On June 18, 2016, when New England Fights (NEF) presents “NEF 24: PROMISED LAND” at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, former amateur mixed-martial-arts (MMA) flyweight champion Dustin Veinott (4-4) will have his chance to recapture the strap from Ryan Burgess (2-0). Burgess took the title from Veinott last fall at “NEF XX” in a very close split decision. The outcome on the judges’ scorecards has been a topic of heavy debate amongst NEF fans ever since.
“I have wanted this rematch since right after he took the title,” said Veinott. “I know I wasn’t at 100% when I fought him last time. Best believe I will have no distractions this time around. I also feel he disrespected the whole weight division. I will teach him to respect this division. I am here to prove that us 125ers might be small, but we are all tough guys that know how to fight!”
“Last time me and Dustin met in the cage, we went to war,” recalled Burgess. “Expect nothing less than that in our rematch. Many people considered it a close split decision fight, and although I wasn’t able to utilize my ground striking as I had hoped, I don’t see how you can call it a close match when I was able to impose my will on him throughout the entire three rounds. I believe that he does deserve this rematch, though, as he made the trip to Hyannis, Mass for the last event and was unfortunately not able to compete due to his opponent not making weight. Opponents in my weight class are hard to come by in this region and I believe of all the guys who are consistent with their weight cuts, Dustin deserves another shot.”
The Hyannis, Massachusetts bout that Burgess refers to was to take place earlier this month between Veinott and Ryan “Razzle Dazzle” Kane (4-3). The match was cancelled at weigh-ins when Kane did not make the agreed-to catchweight.
“I was very frustrated about Razzle Dazzle not making weight,” stated Veinott. “Especially after I gave him the extra four pounds that he asked for. However, he disrespected me by not showing up on weight – that is why I didn’t take the fight.”
Burgess, a member of Berserkers MMA in Rumford, Maine, is clear that he plans to finish the rematch with Veinott and not leave any room for controversy with another decision. He is not out to simply retain his title, but to also prove a point – that he is the undisputed top amateur flyweight in Maine. And to do that, Burgess knows he has to put Veinott away definitively.
“All I have to say to Dustin is ‘congrats, you got your rematch that you’ve been asking for.’ I hope you don’t expect the same fighter you got last time – your fans may be disappointed at the end of the night. Come June 18th, I will solidify myself as the top flyweight for NEF, as well as make a statement of the improvements I have been making outside of the cage. There will be no ‘fan controversy’ after I finish this fight in the first or second round.”
Veinott contends that he will be more focused this time around. A member of Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Veinott is confident in his ability to submit Burgess should Burgess, a three-time state wrestling champion out of Mountain Valley High School with 150 wins to his credit, take the fight to the mat.
“The difference that I will make going into this fight is to have no distractions,” said Veinott. “I will make sure I am the most mentally prepared I have ever been. I feel I already have all the tools to beat him. I caught him in several submissions our last fight, and I know for a fact he doesn’t want to stand with me. He will be going for another wrestling match and I am fully prepared for that.”
And while the coveted NEF MMA Amateur Flyweight Title may be on the line on June 18, both Veinott and Burgess are looking to finish their rivalry once and for all.
“Find your seats early folks ’cause this one will be a quick thriller,” said Burgess in closing. “Our last bout I had a game plan to grind out a decision victory. A finish will go in the books after this fight.”
“The one thing Ryan should know is not to think this fight will be the same as the first one,” Veinott stated emphatically. “I will leave everything in the cage. You will see a different fighter, and I will come out victorious. It is time to release the beast!”
NEF returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine on June 18, 2016 with “NEF 24: PROMISED LAND.” Tickets for “NEF 24” 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 events 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.
Hyannis, Massachusetts (May 15, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, held its most recent event, “NEF 23: CAGE THE CAPE” on Saturday night at the Hyannis Youth & Community Center (HYCC) in Hyannis, Massachusetts. The HYCC was at capacity for the first sanctioned mixed-martial-arts (MMA) show ever held on Cape Cod. The venue opened the upstairs walking track to give standing-room-only fans more elbow room. The crowd was electric all night for the eight-fight card presented by NEF.
Team Juniko, based out of Hyannis and Hanover, Massachusetts, was a perfect 5-0 on the night. Fabian Miranda (3-0), Thomas Lee Davis, Jr. (2-0), Ed Forlenza (1-0), and Kylie O’Hearn (1-0) all picked up wins for the team on the amateur portion of the card.
It was O’Hearn’s bout with Angela Young (1-2) of Young’s MMA in Bangor, Maine that will be remembered for years to come by all in attendance. The two women battled back and forth for three grueling rounds before O’Hearn was declared the winner by unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards. The fight will be a serious contender for “Fight of the Year” in the northeast by the time 2016 comes to an end.
Team Juniko member Brendan Battles (1-0) was victorious in the main event of the evening via technical knockout over Mike Hansen (4-4). The bout was the pro debut for the native of Eastham, Massachusetts and standout wrestler from Nauset Regional High School. Battles rebounded from an early flurry by Hansen to get the referee stoppage at 1:46 of the first round.
The full results of “NEF 23”:
PROFESSIONAL FIGHTS
Brendan Battles def. Mike Hansen via TKO, round 1
Matt Denning def. Derek Shorey via heel hook, round 1
Crowsneck Boutin def. Ruben Redman via TKO, round 1
AMATEUR FIGHTS
Kylie O’Hearn def. Angela Young via unanimous decision
Ed Forlenza def. Frank Johanson via doctor stoppage, round 3
Victor Irwin def. Tracey Schryba via KO, round 1
Thomas Lee Davis, Jr. def. Anthony Spires via KO, round 1
Fabian Miranda def. Steve Bang via armbar, round 2
NEF returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine on June 18, 2016 with “NEF 24: PROMISED LAND.” Tickets for “NEF 24” 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 events 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.
Hyannis, Massachusetts (May 11, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its next event, “NEF 23: CAGE THE CAPE” this Saturday, May 14, 2016 at the Hyannis Youth & Community Center in Hyannis, Massachusetts. The event will be the first sanctioned mixed-martial-arts (MMA) show ever held on Cape Cod. Earlier today, the promotion announced that it would conduct the event weigh-in this Friday, May 13, 2016, at 5:00 pm EDT at Red Face Jack’s Pub. Red Face Jack’s Pub is located at 585 Main Street in West Yarmouth, Massachusetts.
Weigh-ins are open to the public. All of the fighters competing on Saturday night will be at the weigh-in, including headliners Brendan “Lock Down” Battles (0-0) and Mike “The Mustache” Hansen. Fans and press are encouraged to attend. Fighters and NEF executives will be available for interviews at the request of press.
The “NEF 23” fight card (subject to change):
PROFESSIONAL FIGHTS
MIDDLEWEIGHT: Crowsneck Boutin vs Ruben Redman HEAVYWEIGHT: Brendan Battles vs Mike Hansen LIGHTWEIGHT: Derek Shorey vs Matt Denning
AMATEUR FIGHTS LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT: Tracey Schryba vs Victor Irwin
BANTAMWEIGHT: Kylie O’Hearn vs Angela Young CATCHWEIGHT: Thomas Lee Davis, Jr. vs Anthony Spires CATCHWEIGHT: Fabian Miranda vs Steve Bang CATCHWEIGHT: Ed Forlenza vs Frank Johanson
CATCHWEIGHT: Razzle Dazzle vs Dustin Veinott
“NEF 23: CAGE THE CAPE,” takes place this Saturday, May 14, 2016 at the Hyannis Youth & Community Center in Hyannis, Massachusetts. Tickets for “NEF 23” are $40 for general admission and $60 for cageside. They are on sale now at www.NewEnglandFights.com/Tickets
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 the promotion 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 New England’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.
Hyannis, Massachusetts (May 6, 2016) – It will be no day at the beach, but they might just leave some blood on the sand. New England Fights (NEF) plans to storm Cape Cod on Saturday, May 14, 2016 with the first-ever mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event to be held on the popular tourist destination. The northeast’s top regional fight promotion will pack up its cage in one week and make the 200-mile trek south from NEF’s base of operations in Lewiston, Maine to the Hyannis Youth & Community Center (HYCC).
The attention the event has received has been staggering. “The Cape Cod community has welcomed us with open arms,” said NEF co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo. “The HYCC is a great venue with an awesome staff. Patti Lloyd at the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce has been a huge help in making this event happen as well. And we have some fantastic new sponsors on the Cape like Bodystrong Fitness who have helped us spread the word.”
Indeed, the word has spread and ticket sales have been so strong, and demand so overwhelming, that the promotion had to order more chairs and tickets when cageside inventory sold out last week. “The fans were asking us to add some more cageside seats, so we happily accommodated them,” noted DiSalvo.
And fight fans in attendance will be treated to a night filled with wild cage action. The card is stacked with world class wrestlers and martial artists from Maine, Cape Cod and Massachusetts’ South Shore. Hyannis-based Team Juniko will be prominently featured in no less than six of the evening’s bouts.
Brendan “Lock Down” Battles (0-0) of Juniko is scheduled to make his professional MMA debut in the heavyweight main event, locking horns with Mike “The Mustache” Hansen (4-3). Battles was a three-time All American wrestler out of nearby Nauset Regional High School where he won two state championships and three New England championships. He was 2-0 as an amateur MMA fighter. Hansen has a wrestling pedigree of his own, having captured a state title for Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, Maine. Hansen is a ten-year-plus veteran of the MMA cage.
The co-main event of the evening will feature a rematch from “NEF 15” in November 2014. “Shatterproof 2.0”Derek Shorey (3-6) will look to avenge a loss to Matt “Ken Doll” Denning (2-2). Shorey’s supporters have claimed for the past year-and-a-half that Denning’s submission victory was a fluke and that Denning would not be able to defeat Shorey a second time should the pair ever meet again. Those claims will be put to the test in Hyannis in this lightweight rematch.
“It was a short notice fight that NEF asked for, and I know Derek wanted a rematch,” said Denning. “After I beat him again, I’ll prove it wasn’t a fluke. I wanted this fight so I could get some new fans in Massachusetts and show my skills. I have had two losses in a row to great guys and want to get back in the win column.”
“I thought I could beat him the first time, and he caught me with an armbar,” Shorey admitted. “This time I will leave that cage the victor.”
“It’s one of those fights we always get asked whether there will be a rematch,” stated NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson. “This will finally prove, once and for all, whether Matt Denning got lucky coming up with that armbar that night. Whatever you do, don’t blink! These two guys are finishers. Whatever the outcome, it’s not going to the judges. Someone’s getting knocked out or submitted in this one.”
In another pro fight, longtime NEF mainstay Crowsneck Boutin (1-2) will take on another promotion regular in the form of Ruben Redman (0-0). The bout will be Redman’s professional debut after six amateur fights with NEF in Maine. Boutin is a prolific striker based out of the Choi Institute in Portland. The fight will take place at the middleweight limit of 185-pounds.
The amateur headliner will see Dustin Veinott (4-4) in a flyweight showdown with Ryan “Razzle Dazzle” Kane (4-3). Veinott is the former NEF MMA Amateur Flyweight Champion. He dropped the title in a very close split decision loss to Ryan Burgess (2-0) last November. Kane, from Plymouth, Massachusetts, is a member of Team Juniko and an accomplished competitor in the ancient Greek martial art of Pankration.
A women’s fight will be prominently featured on the amateur card. Angela Young (1-1) is scheduled to face Kylie O’Hearn (0-0). Young is coming off a big win just two weeks ago against Hannah Sparrell (1-1) at “NEF 22” in Lewiston. O’Hearn, another product of Plymouth, Massachusetts and Team Juniko, will be making her amateur MMA debut. The fight will take place at the bantamweight limit of 135-pounds.
Young’s teammate Victor Irwin (1-0) will make the five-hour road trip along with her from Bangor, Maine to compete in Hyannis. Irwin will square off with newcomer Tracey Schryba (0-0) in the amateur light-heavyweight division.
Brewster’s Ed Forlenza (0-0) makes his amateur debut against Frank Johanson (0-1) in a 160-pound catchweight bout. Forlenza is a 2004 graduate of Nauset Regional High School where he was a standout on the wrestling team. Johanson’s opponent pulled out of their bout on fight day two weeks ago at “NEF 22.” Not one to let a good fight camp go to waste, Johanson agreed to take the fight with Forlenza in Hyannis.
In another 160-pound catchweight bout, Steve Bang (3-4) takes on Fabian Miranda (2-0). Bang is a member of the famous father-sons fighting family of Auburn, Maine. Miranda represents Team Juniko and will look to add to his undefeated record in the fight with Bang.
Rounding out the fight card is a 190-pound catchweight bout featuring Anthony Spires (0-1) and Thomas Lee Davis (1-0). Spires, an independent fighter from Maine, hopes to rebound from a loss in his debut last fall at “NEF XX.” Davis is a member of Team Juniko.
“NEF 23: CAGE THE CAPE,” takes place Saturday, May 14, 2016 at the Hyannis Youth & Community Center in Hyannis, Massachusetts. Tickets for “NEF 23” are $40 for general admission and $60 for cageside. They are on sale now at www.NewEnglandFights.com/Tickets
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.”
Hyannis, Massachusetts (May 3, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF) America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its next event, “NEF 23: CAGE THE CAPE” on Saturday, May 14, 2016 at the Hyannis Youth and Community Center in Hyannis, Massachusetts. Earlier today, NEF announced the main event of the fight card. Brendan “Lock Down” Battles (0-0) has signed to face Mike “The Mustache” Hansen (4-3) in a professional bout at a fight weight of 265-pounds.
Brendan Battles is a native of Eastham, Massachusetts on Cape Cod. There, he was a three-time All American wrestler for Nauset Regional High School. During his high school career, Battles captured a total of two state championships and three New England championships with an amazing 161 wins to his credit prior to graduating in 2012. A multi-sport athlete, he later played defensive end and tackle for the University of Connecticut. Battles made his NEF debut earlier this year at “NEF 21: THE IMMORTALS” when he efficiently dispatched of Mike Hansen’s Berserkers teammate, Dave Smith (2-2) in the first round via TKO ref stoppage. Battles trains out of Gracie Fitness and is a member of Team Juniko based out of Hyannis.
“I look forward to Mike coming down to my backyard for my first professional fight,” said Battles. “I know he is a tough fighter, but I look forward to showcasing the skills I have acquired thus far as I continue my journey to become a well-rounded MMA fighter.”
Mike Hansen is the founding member of Berserkers MMA based out of Rumford, Maine. He won a Maine state championship in wrestling as a heavyweight in 2004. Hansen made his MMA debut shortly after graduating from high school, only to step away from the sport for a decade in order to serve his country as a combat engineer in the United States Army. He returned to the MMA cage in 2015 as a member of the NEF roster. Hansen has become known for taking tough fights against opponents that he is generally undersized next to. Less than two weeks ago, he defeated former top-tanked amateur light heavyweight Jesse “The Barbarian” Baughman (0-2) via first round submission at “NEF 22: ALL ROADS LEAD HERE.” Always up for a challenge, Hansen requested the opportunity to face Battles in his highly anticipated professional debut.
“I like this fight because I get to fight in Massachusetts again,” stated Hansen. “I made my pro debut at Club Lido at the ‘Wonderland’ Blue Line stop just over a decade ago. I rode the ‘T’ from Fenway to Wonderland on August 6th, 2005 to make my debut against Eric Brown who I beat by rear naked choke at 1:27 in the first round. Jumping up two weight classes sucks, but I’ve competed at this weight many times. Battles is a very accomplished athlete with a stacked resume. With only three minutes of cage time, I think it’s time Battles was in the cage with someone ready to fight. I will gladly welcome Battles to the professional ranks and see how he stacks up. I’m going to stand right in front of him and make him beat me up and, if he can, he’s a good fighter. If he can’t, it is because I didn’t want him to. On May 14th, we will have a fight my friend!”
“NEF 23: CAGE THE CAPE,” takes place Saturday, May 14, 2016 at the Hyannis Youth & Community Center in Hyannis, Massachusetts. Tickets for “NEF 23” are $40 for general admission and $60 for cageside. They are on sale now at www.NewEnglandFights.com/Tickets
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 New England’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.
Lewiston, Maine (March 17, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its next event, “NEF 22: ALL ROADS LEAD HERE” on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. The fight card will feature a mix of mixed-martial-arts (MMA) and professional boxing bouts. Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of a professional light-heavyweight bout to the MMA portion of the “NEF 22” fight card. Mike “The Mustache” Hansen (3-3) has signed to face Jesse “The Barbarian” Baughman (0-1) at a fight weight of 205-pounds.
Mike Hansen is the founding member of Berserkers MMA based out of Rumford, Maine. He is an alumni of Mountain Valley High School (MVHS) where he won a state championship wrestling as a heavyweight in 2004. Hansen made his MMA debut shortly after graduating from high school, only to step away from the sport for a decade in order to serve his country as a combat engineer in the United States Army. He returned to the MMA cage in 2015 as a member of the NEF roster. After restarting his career with a record of 2-1, Hansen dropped his first bout of 2016 to Zach Elkins (1-1) last month. He will look to rebound from that loss on April 23.
“I’m looking forward to getting back in the cage fast coming off this loss,” said Hansen. “I wasn’t mentally in that fight, so this time around with Baughman, I’m going to be mentally focused. Jesse is a big guy and a tough fighter – and he seems like a guy I could get along with. So, when we are done smashing each other up, hopefully we can get a drink.”
Like Hansen, Baughman is a United States military veteran, where he served in a recon unit of the special forces and earned a level-three certification in Army combatives. He is currently a member of Team Link based out of Hooksett, New Hampshire. As an amateur MMA fighter, Baughman put together a perfect record of 5-0 and was the number-one ranked light-heavyweight in the northeast region prior to turning professional. Baughman made his pro debut last November at “NEF 20” against Matt Andrikut (2-0).
“On April 23rd, I’m looking forward to getting back in there and putting on a show,” said Baughman. “My fans from New Hampshire want to see a war – and best believe they will! Mike Hansen is a worthy opponent. He knows going in, this will be a bloody battle till the end. I have the best guys around preparing me for this matchup. Big thanks to Taylor Trahan, Kevin Haley, Brett Trahan and Rob Belliveau.”
New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 22: ALL ROADS LEAD HERE,” takes place Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. Tickets for “NEF 22” 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.”
