Tag Archives: Jay Jack

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT ANNOUNCED FOR APRIL 14 FIGHT CARD IN PORTLAND

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Portland, Maine (April 4, 2018) – New England Fights (NEF) returns to Aura in Portland on April 14, 2018 with the fight promotion’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 33: Riptide.”  Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of an amateur middleweight bout to the card.  Mark “Pockets” Gardner (1-0) will meet Brandon Schwink (0-0) at a fight weight of 185-pounds.

 

 

Mark Gardner impressed many in attendance at his debut fight last November in Portland.  Gardner took on top middleweight prospect Carlton Charles (2-1) at Aura.  He absorbed everything Charles threw at him in the first round, eventually scoring a technical knockout victory in the second.  Gardner is a member of The Academy of Mixed Martial Arts based in Westbrook, Maine where he trains under early MMA pioneer Jay Jack.  Gardner will return to the cage after a setback earlier this year when an opponent pulled out on him prior to a scheduled bout at “NEF 32.”

 

 

“I’m pumped to get back into the cage in April for this next fight,” said Gardner. “I’ve been training hard, and I can’t wait. It should be a really fun fight.”

 

 

Gardner’s opponent, Brandon Schwinck, is a 43-year-old, lifelong martial artist from Windham, Maine.  He has been a regular contestant in grappling, karate and kickboxing tournaments across the state over the years.  Schwinck has trained with several different gyms, including The Academy where he worked with Gardner on the mats.  The bout on April 14 will be his first regulated MMA fight, a moment that Schwinck says he has waited years to realize.

 

 

“I’m familiar with the MMA fighter and grappler, Mark Gardner,” said Schwinck when reached for comment. “We used to train together at the Academy of MMA a few years ago. I respect Mr. Gardner’s strengths and abilities on the ground, and he has an amazing team to prepare him for this fight. I recall me and Mark being fairly well-matched on the ground. We’ve submitted each other on the mats. However, he’s a tough, hungry, young buck with lots of weapons at his disposal, so I won’t take him lightly. I know Mark’s surely stepped-up his striking game and stand-up over the last few years, but I’ve been a fighter all my life and feel the bout will be competitive. I believe my NEF debut will be far from a cake walk, though I’m always prepared to put up an exciting fight in any venue I enter. I have no intentions of letting Mark walk over me and I’ll do my best to stop him. Neither of us will achieve a victory easily. I’m looking forward to competing against this dangerous, talented fighter, be it on the ground or standing. I think it will be a great match-up. I’m totally psyched about being part of NEF 33, and in the end, may the best man win.”

 

 

NEF returns to Portland, Maine, at Aura on Saturday, April 14, 2018. Tickets are on sale now at www.AuraMaine.com.  For more information on the event, please visit www.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 fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

MMA ATHLETIX PROSPECT TO MEET RETURNING FAN FAVORITE AT NEF XVIII

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Lewiston, Maine (April 28, 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 the addition of an amateur lightweight bout to the fight card.  That bout will feature Jason “Second Chance” Lachance (1-1) taking on the returning “Dangerous” Dom “Hands of Stone” Cofone (5-5) at a fight weight of 155-pounds.

 

Jason Lachance of Brunswick, Maine made his MMA debut in May of 2014 at “NEF XIII.”  He dropped a decision that night, but Lachance impressed many with his performance against the more-experienced Jarrod Tyler (3-1).  He would return to the NEF cage this past February with a victory over Steve Bang, Jr. (3-3) via unanimous decision.  Lachance is a product of Ryan Cowette’s (2-2) MMA Athletix gym and Victory Church ministry, both located in Bath, Maine.

 

“God has blessed me with another opportunity to step inside the NEF cage and do what I love to do,” said Lachance.  “An opportunity I am truly grateful for.  I am focused on the task at hand and on June 13th, I will be ready for whatever comes my way.”

 

A true veteran of the NEF amateur ranks, Dom Cofone has produced many memorable moments in the promotion’s cage over the years.  Cofone won a Class A State Championship in 2001 wrestling for Westbrook High School in Westbrook, Maine.  He put together a stellar record of 117-28 during his high school wrestling career.  Cofone has taken the last few months off from MMA competition to concentrate on coaching the Westbrook youth wrestling team.  With his previous gym, Balanced Ground MMA, on hiatus, Cofone has recently begun training at Jay Jack (12-7) and Amanda Buckner’s (11-5) Academy of MMA in Portland, Maine.

 

“I took some time off to help coach my son’s youth wrestling team – shout out to all the Westbrook Wolfpack kids,” said Cofone.  “I also needed to heal up a bit from a very active two years in and out of the cage.  I’m feeling rejuvenated.  I just started training back at the Academy and am super excited to learn as much as I can from such a great team.  I’ve met Jason before – he seems like a really great guy.  I was at both of his fights, so I know he’s going to be a tough-as-nails, game opponent.  I was in the stands for the last NEF event and it just didn’t seem right without ‘Dominick The Donkey’ ringing out of the speakers.  This is a great match-up for the fans and I hope to see the Androscoggin Bank Colisee packed.  Thank you to everyone who comes out to support local MMA.”

 

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 at207.783.2009 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.