Lewiston, Maine (Lub kaum hli ntuj 21, 2016) – Tshiab England Fights (NEF) presents its next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 26: SUPREMACY,” nyob rau hnub Saturday, Kaum Ib Hlis Ntuj 19 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.Nyuam qhuav pib hnub no, NEF executives announced the full fight card for the event which will be the fight promotion’s grand finale for 2016.
Nyob rau hauv lub ntsiab kev tshwm sim, “Lub” Ryan Sanders(10-8) yuav ua tau raws li Jon Lemke (5-6) in a professional lightweight bout. It will be Sanders’ first fight in Lewiston since November 2014. Much has been made of the fact that Sanders and Lemke are former teammates. The bout is considered a “dream match” by Maine fight fans, especially those from the Bangor-area familiar with the rivalry between Sanders’ camp Young’s MMA and Lemke’s camp Team Irish.
The co-main event of the evening will feature an interesting “coach vs. tsheb loj thauj neeg” sib ntaus sib tua. “Shatterproof 2.0” Derek Shorey (4-7), head of the Shatterproof Combat Club, is scheduled to face Ruthless MMA & Boxing founderJosh Parker (4-8) in a professional featherweight contest. Shorey is coming off a big win in Rhode Island earlier this fall, while Parker will be returning to the MMA cage after spending the last three years competing as a boxer.
Rounding out the professional portion of the card will be undefeated prospectAaron “Relentless” Lacey (3-0) thiab Taylor Trahan(6-6) nyob rau hauv ib tug featherweight bout. Lacey and Trahan both submitted their respective opponents at “NEF 25” lub hli tas los. Many local followers of the sport feel that Lacey is just a handful of wins away from getting the call to the major league of the sport. Trahan will be looking to play the role of spoiler while also avenging the loss of his Team Link teammate John Santos (3-5) to Lacey in Bangor this past August.
The amateur portion of the card will be headlined by a heavyweight title fight betweenNick “The Guardian” Gulliver (3-0) thiab Yorgan DeCastro(2-2). DeCastro stepped up to the plate to face Gulliver when no other heavyweight in the region would do so. Gulliver has been on a path of destruction, ripping through three opponents in a combined two minutes.
Two women’s fights are on tap for “NEF 26.” Jessica “The Black Widow” Borga (2-2) returns from Florida to meet Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black beltBrianne Genschel (0-0). Genschel’s First Class MMA teammate“Hollywood” Hannah Sparrell (1-1) will also be in action againstFernanda Araujo (4-4-2).
Jay Jack and Amanda Buckner’s The Academy in Portland, Maine will send two new fighters to the cage at “NEF 26.” Chad Pierce(0-0) will debut against Shatterproof’sLyman Curtis(0-0), thaum lub sij hawm Phil Chiasson(0-0) raws li Rik Seymour (0-0) of 3Ronin Athletics. Both bouts will take place in the 155-pound lightweight division.
The full “NEF 26” sib ntaus card (yuav hloov thiab pom zoo los ntawm lub Combat kev ua si Authority ntawm Maine):
KEV
155 Ryan Sanders 10-8 (Young’s) vs Jon Lemke 5-6 (Team Irish)
135 Fred Lear 3-2 (Young’s) vs Robby Fraser 1-1 (S. Tampa Jiu Jitsu/MMA)
The opening bell on Saturday, Kaum Ib Hlis Ntuj 19 yog teem rau 7 p.m. Daim pib pib thaum $25 thiab yog muaj nyob rau ntawm www.TheColisee.com los yog los ntawm kev hu mus rau lub chaw ua hauj lwm ntawm Colisee 207.783.2009, extension 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, follow them on Twitter@nefightsand join the official Facebook group “Tshiab England Fights."
Tam sim TSO TAWM: Lewiston, Maine (Lub kaum hli ntuj 10, 2016) – Tshiab England Fights (NEF) presents its next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 26: SUPREMACY,” nyob rau hnub Saturday, Kaum Ib Hlis Ntuj 19 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.Nyuam qhuav pib hnub no, NEF executives announced the addition of an amateur featherweight women’s bout to the fight card. “Hollywood” Hannah Sparrell (1-1) yog teem kom tau raws li “Ferocious” Fernanda Araujo (4-4-2) ntawm ib tug sib ntaus luj ntawm 145-phaus.
Hannah Sparrell made her NEF cage debut in September 2015 with a unanimous decision victory over Kira Innocenti (0-1). She returned to the cage last spring at “NEF 22” in a losing effort against Angela Young (1-2). Uas bout, a back and forth battle, has been one of the most memorable this year in NEF and could be in the running for “Sib ntaus ntawm lub xyoo” honors as well. Sparrell is a member of First Class MMA based out of Brunswick, Maine.
“I’m super excited to be stepping into the NEF cage once again onNovember 19th,” said Sparrell. “For months, I have had friends, supporters and fans asking me when my next bout will be. I am happy to have a solid answer for them. Though I lost my fight to Angela during NEF 22, I left there with my head held high, a newly recognized confidence, and a hunger to get in the cage once again.
“Fernanda has a solid, and well rounded MMA career. Her experience and comfort level in the cage gives me a determination to train hard, give her a good fight, and feel the sense of empowerment of having my hand raised after the hard fought rounds!”
Fernanda Araujo is also a veteran of the NEF cage. Nyob rau hauv 2012, she debuted in Lewiston against Maria Rios (2-3) in what turned out to be a bloody brawl. While she lost the bout via technical knockout in the second round, Araujo impressed the Maine crowd with her gutsy performance.
The opening bell on Saturday, Kaum Ib Hlis Ntuj 19 yog teem rau 7 p.m. Daim pib pib thaum $25 thiab yog muaj nyob rau ntawm www.TheColisee.com los yog los ntawm kev hu mus rau lub chaw ua hauj lwm ntawm Colisee 207.783.2009, extension 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, follow them on Twitter@nefightsand join the official Facebook group “Tshiab 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.
Lewiston, Maine (Lub peb hlis ntuj 31, 2016) - Tshiab England Fights (NEF), America lub xov tooj-ib regional sib ntaus qib, yuav tuav nws tom ntej no kev tshwm sim, “NEF 22: TAG NRHO txoj kev ua tau NTAWM NO” rau Saturday, Plaub Hlis Ntuj 23, 2016 nyob rau Androscoggin txhab nyiaj Colisée nyob rau hauv Lewiston, Maine. The fight card will feature a mix of mixed-martial-arts (MMA) and professional boxing bouts. Nyuam qhuav pib hnub no, NEF announced the full fight card for the event. The fight card is scheduled to feature three professional boxing matches, six professional MMA bouts, and twelve exciting amateur MMA contests.
On the professional boxing side of the card, Northeast Junior Welterweight Champion, and the pride of West Forks, Maine, Brandon “Lub Cannon” Berry(11-1, 7 Kos) returns to the ring for a six-rounder with Detroit, Michigan’s James Lester (10-9, 4 Kos). Berry, one of the most popular boxers to ever come out of Maine, will look for his fourth consecutive victory since returning from a shoulder injury last year.
That will prove easier said than done with Lester standing in the opposite corner. Lester is a product of the world-famous Kronk Gym in Detroit where world champions like Thomas “Hitman” Hearns (61-5-1, 48 Kos), Oscar tsib La Hoya (39-6, 30 Kos), Lennox Lewis (41-2-1, 32 Kos) and Wladimir Klitschko (64-4, 53 Kos) have trained under the late Emmanuel Steward. Lester was ranked number-two nationally as an amateur. He presents a dangerous threat to Berry, one that could very well play the role of “spoiler” rau “Lub Cannon” and his legion of fans.
After a bloody war of a professional boxing debut at “NEF 21” lub hli tas los, NEF MMA regular Crowsneck Boutin (0-0-1) will once again step into the boxing ring, this time facing Brandon Montella (3-0, 2 Kos). Montella, now a resident of Massachusetts, grew up in Maine and served in the United States Marine Corps.
Headlining the professional MMA portion of the fight card will be Jesse “Lub Viking” Erickson (6-4) thiab Devin Powell (5-1) in a lightweight contest. Both fighters are currently on a three-fight win streak.
“I try to focus on what is right in front of me,” said Erickson during a recent interview on The MMA Report Podcast. “I never looked past my opponents but I like to think what the reward is going to be when I beat this guy.”
Neither athlete can afford to overlook the other, but a win for either could very well mean a call from one of the national promotions. Erickson has been there before with Bellator. Powell is an all-around talent with some slick finishes to his credit.
“This is the type of MMA fight we absolutely love,” hais tias NEF co-tswv tsev thiab pab txhawb Nick DiSalvo. “You have two guys who match up so well. They’ve both been racking up the wins. They’ve faced some of the same opponents. They’re both solid on the mat and on their feet. I expect this to be yet another crazy, wild NEF MMA main event!”
“Crazy” thiab “wild” do not even begin to describe the grudge that has developed between Josh “Hook On” Harvey (0-0) thiab Matt “Ken menyuam roj hmab” Denning (2-1). The bitter rivals will meet at a fight weight of 150-pounds at “NEF 22” in an MMA bout. The bout will be Harvey’s professional debut after a stellar 5-1 amateur career that saw him capture the NEF MMA Amateur Lightweight Title, as well as the northeast regions number-one ranking. The well-publicized personal issues between Harvey and Denning will be settled in the cage on April 23rd.
The professional portion of the MMA card will also feature the pro debut of Harvey’s Young’s MMA teammate Aaron “Relentless” Lacey (0-0) as he takes on veteran “Shatterproof 2.0” Derek Shorey (3-5) nyob rau hauv ib tug featherweight bout. Lacey vacated the NEF MMA Amateur Featherweight Title in order to turn professional.
That title will not stay vacant very long as Caleb Hall (6-3) thiab Erik Nelson (2-2) face off to determine a new champion at the top of the amateur MMA card. Hall is coming off a first-round submission win at “NEF XX” kawg lub caij nplooj zeeg, while Nelson recently picked up a unanimous decision victory at “NEF 21.”
The amateur MMA card will also feature a women’s fight between Angela Hluas(0-1) thiab “Hollywood” Hannah Sparrell (1-0). Young and Sparrell made their respective debuts last year at “NEF XIX.”
The full “NEF 22” sib ntaus card (yuav hloov thiab pom zoo los ntawm lub Combat kev ua si Authority ntawm Maine):
KEV COB QHA COV BOXING
175 Crowsneck Boutin 0-0-1 (Choi) vs Brandon Montella 3-0 (The Way)
140 Brandon Berry 11-1 (West Tib Rab Diav Rawg) vs James Lester 10-9 (Kronk)
Lewiston, Maine (Lub peb hlis ntuj 8, 2016) - Tshiab England Fights (NEF), America lub xov tooj-ib regional sib ntaus qib, yuav tuav nws tom ntej no kev tshwm sim, “NEF 22: TAG NRHO txoj kev ua tau NTAWM NO” rau Saturday, Plaub Hlis Ntuj 23, 2016 nyob rau Androscoggin txhab nyiaj Colisée nyob rau hauv Lewiston, Maine. The fight card will feature a mix of mixed-martial-arts (MMA) and professional boxing bouts. Nyuam qhuav pib hnub no, NEF announced the addition of an amateur women’s featherweight contest to the MMA portion of the “NEF 22” sib ntaus card. “Hollywood” Hannah Sparrell (1-0) yuav sib ntaus sib tua Angela Hluas (0-1) at a fight weight of 140-pounds.
Hannah Sparrell was introduced to the sport when she began taking her daughter to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) classes. Sparrell soon found herself training at John Raio’s First Class MMA in Brunswick, Maine. She made her in-cage debut last fall against Young’s teammate Kira Innocenti (0-1) ntawm “NEF XIX” nyob rau hauv Lewiston. Sparrell was victorious that evening, scoring a unanimous decision from the judges after an exhausting three-round fight. She looks forward to representing First Class MMA for a second time at “NEF 22.”
“I’m excited to be entering the NEF cage again, rau April 23rd, against Angela Young,” said Sparrell. “Angela, coming from the school recently named New England’s ‘team of the year,’ has proven to be a heavy hitter, as we saw in her blood-shedding battle at ‘NEF XIX.’ Hais tias, First Class has been putting its name on the map, displaying our skilled training, coaches and leadership, and I couldn’t be more thrilled about going head-to-head against Young’s MMA once again. I learned a lot from the experience from my last fight and have used it as a catalyst in my focused training this winter. I will be entering the NEFXXII cage confidently and ready for a good solid fight.”
Angela Young is the wife of Young’s MMA founder and head coach Chris Young. Like Sparrell, Young made her debut in the NEF cage last fall at “NEF XIX.” In a wild, “fight of the night” performance, Young battled back and forth with Rachel Reinheimer (2-0) of Team Sityodtong. Reinheimer would win the decision on the judges’ scorecards, but Young would win the respect of the entire New England MMA community with her valiant effort. Rau April 23rd, Young vows to chalk up the first win on her record.
“I am beyond ecstatic for the opportunity to fight for NEF again,” hais Hluas. “Especially against an opponent as respectful and professional as Hannah. I’ve put the work in, I’ve improved my game and I’m aiming for another ‘fight of the night.’ Lub sij hawm no, Txawm li cas los, my hand will be raised.”
Tshiab hais Fights 'tom ntej no cov kev tshwm sim, "NEF 22: TAG NRHO txoj kev ua tau NTAWM NO,"Yuav siv sij hawm qhov chaw Saturday, Plaub Hlis Ntuj 23, 2016 nyob rau Androscoggin txhab nyiaj Colisée nyob rau hauv Lewiston, Maine. Tickets for “NEF 22” start at just $25 thiab yog muag tam sim no nyob www.TheColisee.com los yog los ntawm hu rau Colisée chaw ua hauj lwm ntawm 207.783.2009 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.
Lewiston, Maine (Cuaj hlis 3, 2015) - Tshiab England Fights (NEF), America lub xov tooj-ib regional sib ntaus qib, yuav tuav nws puas tawm mixed martial--kawm (MMA) kev tshwm sim, “NEF XIX,” nyob rau hnub Saturday, Cuaj hlis 12, 2015 nyob rau Androscoggin txhab nyiaj Colisée nyob rau hauv Lewiston, Maine. The fight card will feature three members of First Class MMA in action that night. Hannah Sparrell (0-0), Rafael Velado (0-0) thiab Nick Shea (1-0) los ntawm lub Brunswick, Maine-based gym. Tsis ntev los no, Thawj chav kawm ntawv MMA tsim thiab lub taub hau cob qhia John “Thawj cov hoob kawm” Ray koom NEF co-tswv thiab matchmaker Matt Peterson li cov qhua nyob rau hauv lub NEF Podcast.
Qhov no yav dhau los rau hli ntuj, 38-year-old Raio retired after competing in the NEF cage for some three-and-a-half years. Raio now concentrates on training the members of his First Class MMA gym, xws li npaj Sparrell, Velado thiab Shea rau lawv tom ntej bouts.
“Kuv twv yuav raug hu yuav muab tso rau ib tug ntau ntau lub sij hawm mus rau hauv kuv tua hluav taws raws li zoo raws li kuv tsev neeg,” Hais Ray. “Lub tua hluav taws, I can put a lot more time into them because it’s not all about me. When you’re fighting, thaum koj nyob nraum cob rau ib tug sib ntaus, tsis muaj teeb meem ntau npaum li cas koj sim ua kom pom tseeb rau ntawm Nick Shea los yog Nick Gully los yog Hannah Sparrell los yog Rafael los yog ib yam ntawm peb tua hluav taws, koj yuav tsis tshua muab tso rau 100% effort into a fighter when you really focus on your own fight. It’s tough splitting between their fight and your fight and your job, koj tsev neeg thiab koj cov me nyuam.”
Txij thaum yug tus me nyuam ntawm NEF nyob rau hauv thaum ntxov 2012, thiab lub tom ntej tawg ntawm lub ua si nawv lub koob meej nyob rau hauv lub xeev, ntau yam tshiab gyms tau tuaj mus nyob rau hauv xyoo tsis ntev los, including First Class MMA. Raio enjoys, ntau tshaj lwm yam, lub kaw ntom nti ua-ntos, tsev neeg-xws li chaw uas tau tsim ntawm lub chaw txij li thaum nws qhib lub gym.
“Qhov loj tshaj plaws uas kuv nyiam txog peb cov gym, Kuv yeej zoo siab mus thiab yog ib feem ntawm, yog muaj ib tug heev txo hwj chim pab pawg neeg ntawm cov tub ntxhais kawm thiab instructors,” noted Raio. “Everyone who teaches in there is about the fighters. It’s about the students. They’re not about themselves. They’re more about trying to help people get better. Whether they’re a fighter or a teacher, we have a few teachers who go there and we have several women students and several children and adults. It’s a real good mix and very much a family atmosphere. We rarely lose a student.”
Lub “Thawj cov hoob kawm” moniker is not merely a nickname given to Raio because of his past job with the postal service. Early on in his MMA career, Raio khwv tau lub koob npe nrov ntawm ib tug kev sib fwm, classy, kev, likeable neeg, hence the pun in his nickname. Those same qualities have carried over to the students of First Class MMA.
“Kuv sim mus kho txhua leej txhua tus sib npaug,” Hais Ray. “I try to treat everyone respectfully. I think a lot of those guys (ntawm lub gym), nyob rau hauv lem, treat each other respectfully. If I ever have an issue with a student, yog hais tias lawv nyob nraum tsis sawv kev sib fwm rau cov xib hwb los yog tus me nyuam kawm ntawv lwm yam, I’ll pull them aside and if they have to leave then they have to leave. That’s part of life… Peb gym attracts, rau ib co yog vim li cas, cov neeg uas yog cov cia li zoo neeg.”
Muaj ntau thiab ntau dua tshiab cov tub ntxhais kawm los ntawm nws lub qhov rooj gym, Raio has definitely kept busy since his retirement from active competition. Like a proud father, Raio has a real passion for the success of his students. The ultimate reward for him is seeing his protégées do well in the cage.
“Tom qab qhov kawg yeeb (NEF XVIII), thaum kuv pom Nick (Gulliver, 1-0) tau nws sab caj npab tsa thiab Rob (Robinson, 1-0), Kuv zoo siab heev rau cov hais mav,” recalled Raio. “I’m so happy to see these two guys win. As much as I didn’t come away with a win against Bruce (Boyington, 10-8), Kuv hais tias 'yog hais tias peb mus 2-1, I’d rather be the one that didn’t pull off the victory.’ I’ve never been as happy for my own win than I was for Nick and Rob that night.”
Kira İNNOCENTİ (l) thiab Angela Hluas (r), yees duab courtesy of Tracey McCue
Lewiston, Maine (Lub yim hli ntuj 31, 2015) - Tshiab England Fights (NEF), America lub xov tooj-ib regional sib ntaus qib, yuav tuav nws puas tawm mixed martial--kawm (MMA) kev tshwm sim, “NEF XIX,” nyob rau hnub Saturday, Cuaj hlis 12, 2015 nyob rau Androscoggin txhab nyiaj Colisée nyob rau hauv Lewiston, Maine. The fight card will feature two amateur women’s bouts. Angela Hluas (0-0) ntawm Young MMA nyob rau hauv Bangor yog teem mus ua nws debut tiv thaiv Rachel Reinheimer (1-0) from team Sityodtong. Young’s teammateKira İNNOCENTİ (0-0) yog tseem teem tseg yuav ua rau nws debut tiv thaiv Hannah Sparrell (0-0) los ntawm Thawj chav kawm ntawv MMA nyob rau hauv Brunswick.
Angela Hluas yog tus poj niam ntawm Chris Hluas – owner and founder of Young’s MMA. She views her debut fight as a way of testing herself.
“It’s important for me to test myself,” hais tias cov hluas, “tsis yog nyob rau hauv lub tawb tuajCuaj hlis 12th, but also through the fight that’s happened the last eight weeks leading up to the NEF event. I feel the fight is essentially a showcase and representation of the grueling training sessions and endless hours in the gym that took place prior to fight night. Living the MMA lifestyle to me meant more than diet modifications and strict training schedules. Athletically, nws yog ntau txog kev los ntawm lub obstacles thiab thawb kuv txwv raws li ib tug competitor nyob rau hauv ib txoj kev uas tsis tau raug kuaj. Nws yog hais txog qhov tseeb tiag rau kuv tus kheej, kuv coaches thiab kuv teammates tias kuv khwv tau kuv txoj kev mus rau kauj ruam nyob rau hauv lub tawb.”
Qhov twg nyob rau hauv lub dhau los lawm poj niam muaj tau relegated mus rau lub sideshow thiab novelty feem ntawm kev sib ntaus los kev ua si cov txheej xwm, zoo li boxing, cov poj niam lub MMA tsis tau tsuas yog sawv rov los mus sib npaug zos raws li txoj cai nrog txiv neej MMA, nws muaj, nyob rau hauv ib txhia txoj kev, surpassed it. One has to look only to the highest level of the sport to see this trend. Women’s fights are now routinely present on the main cards of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The promotion’s top star, thiab nws siab tshaj plaws them ua kis las, yog nws poj niam tus bantamweight zus Ronda Rousey (12-0). The women competing on the September 12 card yuav yuav nyob rau hauv lub forefront ntawm ib zog los nthuav txuj rau cov poj niam nyob rau hauv cheeb tsam theem.
“MMA rau cov poj niam yog tsis hugely txawv dua li nws yog rau cov txiv neej,” hais Hluas. “Obviously, MMA yog ib tug txiv neej feem ntau ua si nawv, but successful women in the MMA world are on the rise. Los ntawm no kev sib ntaus yeej rog kuv tau grappled, sparred thiab pw nrog lub Young MMA sib ntaus pab neeg thiab lawv tau unrelentingly pab txhawb. Ua ib tug ntawm cov thawj poj niam tua hluav taws tawm ntawm Young yeej muaj nws cov pressures (raws li tau zoo raws li tau sib yuav rau koj. Hluas) but it’s also a spotlight I’m hoping will inspire other women who otherwise wouldn’t have pursued MMA. I would bet the women’s fights on September 12th won’t be unlike the others we’ve seen at prior NEF events. Kuv cia siab tias cov poj niam mus muab rau ib tug zoo qhia vim hais tias peb tsis muaj ib yam dab tsi los ua pov thawj. Kuv tau muab tso rau cov ntshav, tawm hws thiab kua muag mus rau hauv txoj kev kawm thiab koj zoo dua ntseeg tias kuv tabtom piv txwv tias kuv tw ua ib yam. Hais tias, cov poj niam no yuav tuaj tom qab nws mus cog lawv cov ceg txheem ntseeg nyob rau hauv lub NEF tawb.”
Ob leeg Young teammate, Kira İNNOCENTİ, raws li zoo muaj nws tus nrog sib ntaus ntawm “NEF XIX,” Rachel Reinheimer, zoo li concur nrog Young views on kev loj hlob sai ntawm cov poj niam lub MMA.
“Poj niam lub MMA yog nyob rau hauv sawv,” hais tias İNNOCENTİ. “Txhua qhuab qhia qhia ib tug poj niam ib yam dab tsi nws tsis paub txog nws tus kheej. Kuv tau pom nws muaj peev xwm nyob rau hauv kuv tus kheej thiab ntau lwm tus neeg. Qhov ntau cov poj niam nyob rau hauv cov mats, zoo. Fans can expect my teammate, Angie, thiab kuv tus kheej muab nws peb tag nrho thiab mus ua tsov ua rog ib yam li cov txiv neej warriors nyob hauv Young MMA ua. Peb tau ua hauj lwm nyuaj los sawv cev rau peb cov gym. Peb yuav sib ntaus sib tua uas muaj nuj nqis, mob siab rau, thiab nrog rau cov muaj zog fab nrhiav tawm rau peb. Kuv yeej paub tseeb tias koj hais tias cov poj niam uas tus bouts yuav unforgettable.”
“Poj niam lub MMA yog ib tug ua si nawv cia li nyiam lwm yam,” hais Reinheimer ntawm Everett, Massachusetts. “Nws tsis yog ib tug ua yeeb yam nyob qhov twg cov hero sau tawm mus rau hauv lub hav zoov rau peb hnub los qhia nrog ib tug martial arts tswv thiab xwb ces ib tug tag nrho pab tub rog. Nws tsis yog ib tug bar brawl. Nws tsis yog ib tug rov qab txoj kev tos kev tua. Cov poj niam no yeej loj heev ncaws pob uas qhia kev rau siab xyoo siv qhov zoo tshaj plaws txoj kev kawm, cov khoom thiab cov kev pab muaj nyob rau. Cov poj niam uas lwv nyob rau hauv nqe ntaus rog kev ua si siv txhiab tus teev ntawm cov ntshav, tawm hws thiab kua muag zoo kawg nkaus lawv ua si nawv. Lawv ua sacrifices. Tsis tas li ntawd, muaj kev cai coj thiab lub sij hawm muaj kev txwv thiab kev nyab xeeb yuav tau ceev faj. Thaum ib tug neeg yog txawv nrog rau lub tswv yim ntawm cov poj niam lub MMA, Kuv muab los piv rau boxing los yog fencing, something else that people are more familiar with. The pool of women fighters in New England is deepening fast and the fact that there are more women’s bouts on fight cards reflects that. Kuv nrog sib ntaus thiab kuv muaj ob leeg los ntawm loj, thiv camps. Peb muaj ob niam thiab nws yuav siv sij hawm ib tug ntau heev ntawm kev txiav txim thiab tsav ua li no kev ua si nawv thaum juggling ua hauj lwm thiab cov me nyuam. Kuv tau ua hauj lwm tas li kuv pab vim kuv kawg sib ntaus los txhim kho kuv kev ua si nyob rau hauv txhua txhua nam. Kuv thiaj xav thov ua tsaug rau lub amazing kev kawm thiab cov hauv pawg football ntawm Sityodtong uas thawb kuv thiaj nyuaj. Nyob rau lub Cuaj Hli Ntuj 12, koj yeej yuav tau txais ib tug tsov rog.”
Feem ntau cov neeg, cov txiv neej thiab cov poj niam, who join MMA gyms do not do so initially intending to become an active cage fighter. On any given day, one can walk into any MMA gym and find a diverse population of trainees. Men and women, cov laus cov hluas, xiav dab tshos thiab dawb dab tshos, all train side by side. Most will never step foot in a cage in front of thousands of screaming fans. Most are there to get in shape or learn self-defense. Some, Txawm li cas los, yog tom los ntawm cov kev sib tw kab.
“Kuv twb qhia rau cov MMA ntiaj teb tom qab kos npe rau kuv tus ntxhais mus rau Jiu Jitsu cov chav kawm ntawv xav nws yuav zoo rau nws rau nws tus kheej tiv thaiv nam muab kev koom tes nyob rau hauv kev ua si nawv,” recalled Hanna Sparrell. “Kuv saib raws li nws poob rau hauv kev hlub nrog qhov kev ua si, nkag mus rau hauv lub dag lub zog thiab cog qoob loo, and was quick to decide that it was something I needed to be doing too. It didn’t take long before I fell in love with Jiu Jitsu myself, thiab ces thaum kawg xav mus tshawb cov lwm yam ntawm lub ntiaj teb no MMA. Ua nyob rau hauv lub gym tau los ua ib tug thib ob lub tsev rau kuv thiab kuv tus ntxhais, kuv kawm cov neeg koom tes, a second family. Every day I walk through the doors of the gym is a test, nws yog ib txoj kev kuaj ntawm athleticism, raws li tau zoo raws li ib tug xeem ntawm kev puas hlwb thiab kev xav tsav. Txij thaum tau qhia mus rau mixed martial arts ntiaj teb no kuv tau muab tso rau kuv lub cev, lub plawv, thiab tus ntsuj plig mus rau hauv kev kawm, thiab sib tw nyob rau hauv no bout yog ib qho tseem ceeb rau kuv yog vim li cas muaj ntau yam, tsis tsuas sawv cev rau kuv tus kheej thiab kuv zog ua hauj lwm, tab sis kuj yuav sawv cev rau tag nrho cov zog ua hauj lwm, txoj kev mob siab, thiab kev txhawb zog kuv tau txais los ntawm kuv cov phooj ywg, instructors, kev kawm nrog ib tug neeg, and fellow fighters along the way. I think MMA training for woman is a great outlet for many reasons, nws cev yog ib tug zoo workout, thiab kuj yog ib tug zoo daim ntawv ntawm "txoj kev kho" qhov kawg ntawm ib tug tejzaum ntxhov siab hnub. Kuv muaj ntau yam cov poj niam kuv qhia nrog, tsis yog txhua txhua ntawm lawv yog npaj rau sib ntaus sib tua, tab sis cov kev pab cuam ntawm lub ua si nawv yeej tseem muaj, thiab lawv hlub nws yog tib yam.”
İNNOCENTİ, zoo li ntau, los ua kev koom tes nyob rau hauv kev sib ntaus kev ua si ua ib txoj kev tau txais nyob rau hauv, thiab nyob twj ywm nyob rau hauv, shape. Little did she know when her journey started some two years ago that it would take her into an MMA cage with thousands watching her compete.
“Kev qhia txog kuv tus kheej nyob rau hauv ib tug mixed martial arts bout yog ib qho tseem ceeb rau kuv nyob rau hauv ntau regards. Ob xyoos dhau los, Kuv yog nyhav dhau heev lawm thiab tawm tsam kom nrhiav tau ib tug noj qab nyob zoo, ua kom txaus siab txoj kev. Muaj ib hnub, Kuv sawv thiab coj lub neej los ntawm lub reigns thiab nyob rau hauv ib nrab ib xyoo, poob rau caum phaus ntawm kuv tus kheej. Kuv zoo siab txais tos tias kev sib tw, ua tau zoo, thiab xav lwm. Aaron “Relentless” Lacey hais rau kuv hais txog Young MMA thiab kuv twb yuam mus xyuas. Tom qab stepping los ntawm lub qhov rooj, sim tawm tag nrho cov kev kawm, thiab lub rooj sib tham tsev neeg uas ua rau nws ntawd, tshwj xeeb, Kuv twb hooked. Kuv ua nws ib lub hom phiaj yuav tsum yog ib tug ntawm cov thawj poj niam tua hluav taws nyob rau hauv cov arguably ntau hom kev sib ntaus pab neeg hauv New England. Kuv muaj ib txwm tau ib tug competitor. Kuv yeej zoo siab thiab nyuaj rau cov kuv tus kheej thiab thawb txwv yog xav tau tsis yooj yim sua kom ua tau. Nyob rau hauv lub mixed martial arts txoj kev ua neej yog tawv. Nws yuav tsum tau ntau txoj kev mob siab tshaj kuv puas xav tau. Nws lov koj ua thiab koj rov qab mus txog rau hauv tus neeg uas koj tiag tiag yog. Qhov no sib ntaus yog ib qho tseem ceeb vim hais tias kuv tau puas nrog ib tug amazing pab neeg los ntawm kuv sab hais tias yog qhia los ntawm cov feem ntau motivating thiab txhawb coaches. Kuv txiav txim siab yuav ua rau lawv zoo siab thiab ua tsaug rau lawv nrog kuv txhais tes tsa tau.”
“Mixed Martial Arts yog lub qhov kawg kev xeem ntawm tib neeg ntsuj plig rau txhua txhua theem: lub cev, hlwb, thiab sab kev xav,” hais tias Reinheimer. “Kuv muaj ib tug burning lub siab xav paub npaum li cas deb kuv yuav mus. I like exceeding expectations and pushing my limits and that’s MMA in a nutshell. Since I started training in martial arts, kuv lub neej tau los ua ciam-tsawg. Kuv lub neej nyob rau lub lev tau zoo kuv lub neej thiab lev tawm lub lwm versa. Nws yog stripped deb tag nrho cov ruaj nrhoo thiab distilled kuv lub neej cia rau qhov tseem ceeb, nyob rau hauv thiab tawm ntawm lub nplhaib. Kuv xav tias zoo li nws pab kuv ua ntau los ze zog rau kuv tus kheej tseeb. Nws yog qhov zoo tshaj plaws ntawm ancient martial arts thiab lub neej niaj hnub.”
Ntawm lub plaub poj niam sib ntaus sib tua nyob rau “NEF XIX” card, only Reinheimer has actively competed in the past. She dominated her opponent this past spring on her way to a unanimous decision victory in her debut. All of the women fighting on September 12 nyob rau hauv Lewiston muaj siab rau lub sij hawm.
“NEF yog ib tug khoom qib muaj ib tug yawm koob npe nrov,” hais tias Reinheimer. “I was a spectator at their very first fight card back in 2012. I love Maine and the crowd is awesome there. Kuv tsis tau tos!”
“Kuv xav tias tus kiv cua yuav tau txais ib tug zoo qhia tseeb,” qw hais tias Sparrell. “Ntau zaus tshaj tsis yog tus poj niam txoj kev sib ntaus muaj pov thawj yuav tsis tshua muaj kev lom zem, peb ntawm cov hoob kawm xav los ua pov thawj rau peb tus kheej tsim nyog nyob rau hauv no prominently txiv neej-yeej ua si nawv. Qhov no yog lub debut rau peb ntawm plaub ntawm cov poj niam nyob rau hauv no daim ntawv, li ntawd kuv thiaj paub tias muaj yuav los ua ib tug ntau ntawm lub plawv thiab kev txiav txim ces muab pov tseg rau hauv cov fights. Kuv paub, tus kheej, Kuv pog heev los sawv cev rau! I couldn’t be more excited to be making my MMA debut in the NEF cage; Kuv tau saib kom muaj ntau lub tua hluav taws kuv thiab hwm saib rau nyob rau hauv no kev ua si nawv los ntawm cov sawv ntawm lub Androscoggin Bank Colisée, muaj lub sij hawm tam sim no yuav tawm muaj nrog rau lawv tiag tiag yog ib tug yeej muaj tseeb yawm.”
“Raws li lub Cuaj Hli Ntuj 12 sai txuas, Kuv tabtom ua zoo siab thiab npaj txhij mus tau rau hauv lub tawb,” hais tias cov hluas. “Qhov no tau heev ib txoj kev taug thiab Kuv zoo siab heev rau lub sij hawm ntawm ua rau kuv pib xyaum ua MMA debut nrog NEF.”
“Kuv yog npaum lintawd yuav ua rau kuv MMA debut nrog NEF rau Cuaj hlis 12,” hais tias İNNOCENTİ. “Kuv tau ua hauj lwm txhawm rau tau txais lub sij hawm no thiab kuv pog hais tias cov sij hawm tau tuaj.”
Tshiab England Fights’ tom ntej no cov kev tshwm sim, “NEF XIX,” yuav siv sij hawm qhov chaw rau hnub Saturday, Cuaj hlis 12, 2015 nyob rau Androscoggin txhab nyiaj Colisée nyob rau hauv Lewiston, Maine. Daim pib rau “NEF XIX” pib ntawm cia li $25 thiab yog muag tam sim no nyob www.TheColisee.com los yog los ntawm hu rau Colisée chaw ua hauj lwm ntawm 207.783.2009 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.
Cov kev tshwm sim yog aptly hu ua “Homecoming” as it will feature the returns of several athletes who have either been recently inactive or competing outside the NEF umbrella. One such return will featureDarrius Heyliger (5-2) los ntawm Ithaca, New York. Maine and the NEF cage became a home-away-from-home for Heyliger and several of his Bombsquad teammates during the early days of the promotion. Heyliger competed regularly for NEF in 2012 and early 2013. His last appearance in the cage was in May 2013 tiv thaiv Marcus “Lub Irish txhais tes Grenade” Davis (22-11) nyob rau hauv lub ntsiab kev tshwm sim ntawm “NEF VII.” Heyliger will make his return onCuaj hlis 12 tiv thaiv Brandon Chagnon (5-4) ntawm Sityodtong.
Cov kev sab ntawm daim card yuav feature Ntseeg ntawm Matt “Ken menyuam roj hmab” Denning (1-0) after a 10-month extended layoff from action. Denning made his professional debut last November with a win over Derek Shorey (2-2). He will return in front of his hometown crowd againstZenon “Ka-bar” Herrera(0-1).
Hais txog hometown neeg tua hluav taws, Jesse “Lub Viking” Erickson (5-4), ib tug neeg uas nyob sib ze Auburn, Maine, yuav saib kom ntev nws yeej-streak mus rau peb thaum nws ntsej muag Ricky “Savage” Sylvester (2-1). Sylvester’s previous appearance in NEF ended in controversy when many felt he held an armbar a little too long on Tollison Lewis (0-4).
Nyob rau hauv lub pib xyaum ua sab ntawm lub card, Josh Harvey (4-1) is scheduled to headline in the first defense of his NEF MMA Amateur Lightweight Title. Harvey will meet the stiff challenge ofRyan Dibartolomeo (4-2) los ntawm John Fain lub Team Triumph / Boston BJJ ntawm Nashua, New Hampshire. Harvey won the vacant title this past June with a first-round submission of Ricky Dexter (3-1).
Cov kev pib xyaum ua feem ntawm daim card tseem yuav feature tsis yog ib, but two women’s contests. Young’s MMA of Bangor, Maine will be represented in both bouts withAngela Hluas (0-0) thiab Kira İNNOCENTİ (0-0) making their respective debuts. Angela is the wife of Young’s MMA founder and head coach Chris Young. She will meetRachel Reinheimer (1-0) los ntawm Sityodtong thaum İNNOCENTİ yuav square tawm tiv thaiv Hannah Sparrell ntawm Thawj Hoob MMA.
Cov tag nrho cov kev sib ntaus card (yuav hloov thiab pom zoo los ntawm lub Combat kev ua si Authority ntawm Maine):
KEV
265 Matt Andrikut 0-0 (Txoj kev ntseeg Martial Arts) vs Artie Mullen 1-14 (Yav qab teb Maine MMA)
205 Michael Hansen 2-2 (Berserkers MMA) vs Crowsneck Boutin 1-0 (Choi lub koom haum)
170 Darrius Heyliger 5-2 (Bombsquad) vs Brandon Chagnon 5-4 (Sityodtong)
