Tūtohu Archives: Jessica Borga

Bellator, whakauru toi hōia, MMA, Showtime, Showtime mekemeke

BELLATOR 267: Lima VU. MVP 2 ADDS CO-MAIN EVENT FOR RETURN TO LONDON

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He pikitia kei roto te tuhinga, person, posing Description automatically generated
LONDON, UK – A women’s featherweight fight will serve as the co-main event for BELLATOR MMA 267: Lima vs. MVP 2 i runga i te Paraire, October 1 when No. 5 runga Leah McCourt (5-1) tutaki Jessica Borga (3-3) at The SSE Arena, Wembley in London.

The bout will sit atop the card alongside a must-see rematch between No. 1 runga Douglas “The Phenom” Lima (32-9) a No. 2 runga Michael whārangi "mana'o" (19-1) where the stylish striker from London will look to avenge the lone blemish on his record in front of his home crowd.

BELLATOR MMA 267: Lima vs. MVP 2 main card action will kick off at 9 p.m. BST/4 p.m. AND, while the preliminary card begins at 5:30 p.m. BST/12:30 p.m. AND. BELLATOR fans can watch the event live on SHOWTIME (US), BBC iPlayer (UK), as well as both Virgin Media Two and Virgin Media Sport (Ireland).

Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased online from axs.com/uk a BELLATOR.com.

Currently riding a four-fight win streak, Northern Ireland’s Leah McCourt returns to action following a stunning come-from-behind victory against Janay Harding during her last outing at BELLATOR 259 i roto i te Mei. Now sitting at No. 5 in BELLATOR’s featherweight rankings, a win at the expense of her opponent on Oct. 1 will go a long way in moving “The Curse” one step closer to a BELLATOR world title shot against incumbent champion, Cris Cyborg.

Making her third appearance for BELLATOR, Jessica Borga will be competing for the second time in 2021. Te nuinga tata, “The Black Widow” went 15 minutes with former title challenger Talita Nogueira, following up an impressive submission triumph over Amber Leibrock in her promotional debut.

Additional bouts have been added to the fight card, which can be found below.

Updated schedule of BELLATOR MMA events
Free. Aug. 20 // BELLATOR 265: Kongo vs. Kharitonov //Sanford Pentagon // Sioux Falls, SD
Ho. E whitu. 18 // BELLATOR 266: Davis vs. Romero //SAP Center // San Jose, Pērā i
Free. Oketopa. 1 // BELLATOR 267: Lima vs. MVP 2 //The SSE Arena, Wembley // London, Ingarangi
Ho. Oketopa. 16 // BELLATOR 268: Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Semifinals // Footprint Center // Phoenix, THE
Ho. Oketopa. 23 // BELLATOR 269: Fedor vs. Johnson // VTB Arena // Moscow, Russia

BELLATOR MMA 267 Lima vs. MVP 2 MainCard:
SHOWTIME (US) / BBC iPlayer (UK) / Virgin Media Two & Virgin Media Sport (IRELAND)
Rāmere, October 1 - 9 p.m. BST/4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT

Takahanga Main Welterweight: #1-Douglas Lima (32-9) vs. #2-Michael Whārangi (19-1)
Mā whitu a'ee: #5-Leah McCourt (5-1) vs. Jessica Borga (3-3)
Mā whitu a'ee: Robert Whiteford (16-4))vs. Andrew Fisher (18-8-1)
Kōmāmā a'ee: Yves Landu (16-8) vs. Tim Wilde (13-4)
Light taumahamaha a'ee: Luke Trainer (4-0) vs. Yannick Bahati (9-5)

Kāri hukihuki:
BELLATOR MMA YouTube hongere | SHOWTIME Sports hongere YouTube | Pouaka Pouaka Whakaata (US)
BBC iPlayer (UK) | Virgin Media Two & Virgin Media Sport (IRELAND)
5:30 p.m. BST/12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT

Welterweight a'ee: Lewis Long (18-6) vs. Uros Jurisic (11-1)
Kōmāmā a'ee: Kane Mousah (13-3) vs. Davy Gallon (18-7-2)
mā a'ee: Lucie Bertaud (3-2) vs. Elina Kallionidou (7-4)
Kōmāmā a'ee: Charlie Leary (17-11-1) vs. Gavin Hughes (10-2)
Mā whitu a'ee: Fabacary Diatta (7-0)vs. Nathan Rose (7-3)
Strawweight a'ee: Chiara Penco (5-3) vs. Katherina Dalisda (5-2)
Whā a'ee: Khurshed Kakhorov (7-0) vs. Mike Ekundayo (8-1)
Welterweight a'ee: Jack Grant (17-7) vs. Nathan Jones (13-10)

*Ka whakarerekehia te kaari

Haere ki Bellator.com no te tahi atu mau haamaramaramaraa.

whakauru toi hōia, MMA, New Ingarangi whawhai

NEF SELLS-OUT AGAIN IN BANGOR AS LOCAL FIGHTERS SHINE IN THE CAGE

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Bangor, Maine (August 6, 2017) –There was no place like home Rāhoroi night for C.J. Tiaka, Ryan Sanders and Fred Lear of Young’s MMA in Bangor.

Fighting in front of a sold-out ballroom a stone’s throw from their training headquarters, the three fighters atop the card at “NEF 30” Rumble in Bangor” all posted impressive victories at Cross Insurance Center.

Ewer defeated Mike “The Mustache” Hansen by submission at 1:46 of the first round to capture the vacant NEF pro middleweight title. Lear landed the NEF amateur bantamweight belt, while Sanders tightened his grip on New England’s pro lightweight scene in a non-title triumph.

It was the second consecutive August sellout in the Queen City, a tradition that began with “NEF Presents Dana White: Lookin’ For a Fight” last summer.

After his hard-fought win over the much-traveled Jay Ellis, NEF pro lightweight champion Sanders, runga No. 1 i roto i te rohe o, kept his comments short and sweet while calling out the aforementioned Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) peresideni.

“You took the wrong guy last year,” Sanders said. “Come get me now.”

Sanders (15-8) didn’t have an easy road against Ellis, a veteran of more than 80 pro bouts. Ellis had Sanders under control for most of the fight but left himself vulnerable to a triangle choke at 2:34 o te a tawhio tuatahi.

Ewer dispatched Hansen with a similarly swift maneuver.

“It’s a great feeling to win it in front of the home crowd,” Ewer said. “As hard as we worked (in training camp), I didn’t think anything could stop me.”

The sudden ending spoiled Hansen’s hopes of winning a title for the first time in his 13-year mixed martial arts career.

“This was by far the best training camp I ever had. We were just getting warmed up,” Hansen said. “I had a lot more to give, and I’m sure C.J. had a lot of more to give. But hey, we could do it again.”

Lear highlighted the amateur portion of the card with an authoritative second-round knockout of Walt Shea.

Only the bell saved Shea from Lear’s onslaught at the end of the opening chapter. Lear gained the advantage with a kick to the head midway through that round. After nearly locking in an arm bar that could have ended the fight, Lear bloodied the previously unbeaten Shea with a series of strikes.

The end appeared inevitable when Shea needed Lear’s help to find his corner between rounds, and another interrupted attack hastened the finish only 14 hēkona i muri mai.

An emotional Lear lauded his coach, Chris Young of Young’s MMA, before fastening the belt around the teacher’s waist.

“A lot of people around here know his name, but they don’t know the man,” Lear said. “He’s the first guy in the gym in the morning and the last one to leave at night. He’s the reason we’re all here. He’s the reason we’re successful. He’s the reason some of us aren’t in jail.”

In the first two fights of Josh Jones’ amateur MMA career, Jones dispatched his opponents by one-punch knockout in a total of 24 hēkona. It took Carlton Charles one fewer tick of the clock to take out Jones in the stunning conclusion to a touted tangle of former star collegiate athletes.

Charles, a product of the University of Maine football program taking his initial walk to the NEF cage, turned the tables on Jones (2-1) in a middleweight scrap. Jones again went for the early stoppage with a pair of looping shots, but Charles calmly ducked them before landing one of his own and taking the issue to the mat.

“I just love the competition,” Charles said. “You don’t get hit in the face like this on the football field.”

When the combatants regained their feet, Charles backed Jones against the cage and landed two right hands to the jaw. Jones dropped to one knee and absorbed a sharp left to the head. That persuaded the referee to step in and stop the fight, a verdict that left Jones and his First Class MMA camp visibly puzzled.

It was Charles’ second one-sided combat sports victory in a week’s time. He previously delivered a first-round TKO in the amateur boxing ring. Jones suffered his first defeat since making the transition from basketball, which he played professionally in Europe after starring at Bangor’s Husson University.

One look at Rāmere o official weigh-in suggested that the bout between Roger Ewer (251 pauna) and Dustin Freeman (220) might be the typical stand-up, slug-it-out heavyweight affair. Engari, it turned into a ground-and-pound showcase that was right in Ewer’s wheelhouse. C.J.’s older brother, making his debut in the NEF hexagon at 44 tau o te ao, hammered out the advantage throughout and earned a TKO via unanswered strikes at 2:31 of the second stanza.

Nate Boucher improved to 2-0 with a first-round stoppage of Jeremiah Barkac, who was making his cage debut. Barkac gained an early advantage in the bantamweight bout with a barrage of strikes, but Boucher cleverly gained leverage with his legs and locked in a triangle choke.

Riro ngaro ranei, Bangor’s Angela Young announced that her battle with Jessica “The Black Widow” Borga would be the final fight of her career. Borga (6-3) erased any hopes of a Hollywood ending with a decisive TKO at 2:16 o te kohao a huri noa. Young (2-3), wife of Chris, had never gone less than the distance in any of her prior wins or losses.

In a mutual NEF and MMA debut, Zach Faulkner delighted his home crowd with a second-round victory over David Hart via rear naked choke. Haere mai te mutunga i 1:42.

Jesse Hutchinson also enjoyed a triumphant debut in the amateur ranks. He stopped Anthony LaPointe at 2:43 of the first round in a welterweight skirmish.

NEF also announced that the promotion’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “Nef 31: The Old Port,” will see the company make its long-awaited debut in Portland, Maine at the brand new, state-of-the-art venue Aura. The event is scheduled to take place on Rāmere, Whiringa 3, 2017. Tickets will go on sale this Wednesday, August 9 i www.auramaine.com.

Mō New Ingarangi whawhai

New Ingarangi whawhai ("Nef") Ko te whawhai whakatairanga ngā kaupapa kamupene. Misioni a nef ko ki te waihanga i te mau ohipa kounga teitei mō ngā whawhai, me pā o Maine rite tahi. Whānui wheako i roto i te whakahaere hākinakina whawhai he kapa whakahaere o nef, production ngā kaupapa, whanaungatanga pāpāho, marketing, ture me te pānuitanga.

whakauru toi hōia, MMA, New Ingarangi whawhai

RUMBLE IN BANGOR FIGHT CARD FILLED WITH MAINE FAN-FAVORITES

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Kia tukuna tonutia atu: Bangor, Maine (Hōngongoi 21, 2017) - New Ingarangi whawhai (Nef) returns to the Cross Insurance Center i runga i Rāhoroi po, August 5, 2017 ki hui whakauru-hōia-toi i muri o te whakatairanga whawhai, “Nef 30: Rumble in Bangor.” I mua i teie mahana, NEF announced the full fight card for the event.

I roto i te hui matua o te ahiahi, Bangor’s own CJ tiaka (2-0) ka tutaki Mike Hansen (5-5) of Rumford, Maine in a five-round contest to crown a new NEF MMA Pro Middleweight Champion. Ewer is a member of local gym Young’s MMA while Hansen represents Berserkers MMA based in the River Valley region of the state. Ewer had a highlight-reel knockout over Ruben Redman (0-1) in his last bout at the Cross – exactly one year to the day he will meet Hansen.

The co-main event of the evening will see Ewer’s Young’s teammate, undefeated Bangor prospect Arona Lacey (4-0) take on Bellator veteran Bryan Goldsby (17-16). Goldsby will represent Lacey’s most-seasoned challenge to date. Lacey has been nothing short of “He whakangungu” – his nickname – mai tahuri pro. He has submitted three of his four opponents in the first round. Only John Santos (3-5) was able to survive three full rounds with Lacey last summer in Bangor. Lacey won that fight via split decision in a rugged, back-and-forth, “fight of the night” performance.

Rounding out the pro card will be another Young’s cornerstone, “Te” Ryan Sanders (14-8), who will meet Milwaukee, Wisconsin veteran Jay Ellis (14-68) i roto i te whakataetae Welterweight. Sanders is the reigning NEF MMA Pro Lightweight Champion, having defeated Jon Lemke (6-8) in a tournament final last April to claim the title. The bout with Ellis will be a non-title affair. Sanders is riding a four-fight win streak which began one year ago to the day at the Cross.

Headlining the amateur portion of the fight card will be an NEF MMA Amateur Bantamweight Title fight. Fred Lear (5-2) of Bangor will do battle with Jefferson, Maine o Walt Shea (2-0) for the vacant 135-pound championship. Lear and Shea will continue a competitive rivalry that has developed in the amateur ranks in recent years between Lear’s camp Young’s MMA and Shea’s team of First Class MMA based in Brunswick, Maine.

Opening the night will be a women’s fight between Angela Young (2-2), wife of Young’s MMA founder and head coach Chris Young, and Florida’s Jessica “The Black Widow” Borga (5-2). The scrap is expected to be an exciting one. Young, a Registered Nurse at Eastern Maine Medical Center (EMMC), has put on several “fight of the night” performances that have sent audiences into a frenzy. Borga will make her third trip to Maine in the past year to compete in the NEF cage.

The full “NEF 30” kāri whawhai (kaupapa ki te huri i):

NGAIO MMA

185*TITLE C.J. Tiaka 2-0 (MMA o Young) vs Mike Hansen 5-5 (Berserkers MMA)

170 Ryan Sanders 14-8 (MMA o Young) vs Jay Ellis 14-68 (Team Knockout)

145 Arona Lacey 4-0 (MMA o Young) vs Bryan Goldsby 17-16 (Jorge Gurgel)

AMATEUR MMA

135*TITLE Fred Lear 5-2 (MMA o Young) vs Walt Shea 2-0 (Tuatahi Class MMA)

265 Roger Ewer 0-0 (MMA o Young) vs Dustin Freeman 0-0 (Independent)

185 Josh Jones 2-0 (Tuatahi Class MMA) vs Carlton Charles 0-0 (Charles Family Fighting/Fire&Iron Athletics)

170 Anthony Lapointe 0-1 (Titan Athletics) vs Jesse Hutchinson 0-0 (CMBJJ)

160 Zachary Faulkner 0-0 (Titan Athletics) vs David Hart 0-0 (Kenney’s MMA)

145 Robbie Kiah 1-0 (MMA o Young) vs Robert H. Norris III (Independent)

135 Nate Boucher 1-0 (CMBJJ) vs Jeremiah Barkac 0-0 (Independent)

135 Angela Young 2-2 (MMA o Young) vs Jessica Borga 5-3 (Champions MMA)

"NEF 30: Rumble in Bangor” will be held at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine on Saturday, August 5, 2017. He tīkiti i runga i te hoko inaianei iwww.CrossInsuranceCenter.com.

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."

Mō New Ingarangi whawhai

New Ingarangi whawhai ("Nef") Ko te whawhai whakatairanga ngā kaupapa kamupene. Misioni a nef ko ki te waihanga i te mau ohipa kounga teitei mō ngā whawhai, me pā o Maine rite tahi. Whānui wheako i roto i te whakahaere hākinakina whawhai he kapa whakahaere o nef, production ngā kaupapa, whanaungatanga pāpāho, marketing, ture me te pānuitanga.

whakauru toi hōia, MMA, New Ingarangi whawhai

WOMEN’S FIGHT AT RUMBLE IN BANGOR WILL PROVIDE THE FIREWORKS

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Kia tukuna tonutia atu: Bangor, Maine (Hōngongoi 3, 2017) - New Ingarangi whawhai (Nef) returns to the Cross Insurance Center i runga i Rāhoroi po, August 5, 2017 ki hui whakauru-hōia-toi i muri o te whakatairanga whawhai, “Nef 30: Rumble in Bangor.” I mua i teie mahana, NEF announced the addition of a female amateur bantamweight bout to the fight card. Angela Young (2-2) ka tutaki Jessica “The Black Widow” Borga (5-3) i te taimaha o te 135, pauna whawhai.

If there is anyone who knows about putting on exciting fights, it is Angela Young. The wife of Young’s MMA founder Chris Young, he whaea, and a full-time nurse, she has brought the heat in all four of her previous contests for NEF, earning several “Whawhai o te Po” honors. Young had the crowd on the edge of its seat for her thrilling encounter with Christine Brothwell earlier this year – a fight she won via unanimous decision. She has never backed down, even when on the losing end of a slugfest like the one she had with Kylie O’Hearn on Cape Cod last year, and it has made her one of the most popular fighters with the NEF audience. Based on their styles, Young predicts yet another strike-fest full of fireworks when she meets Borga on August 5th.

“I’m beyond excited for the match up with Borga for NEF in Bangor,” ka mea Young. “I respect her as a fighter and even more so for traveling to Maine once again take a fight. Neither one of us are afraid to stand and bang, making this a fight people aren’t going to want to miss.”

Jessica Borga of Florida will make the trip north to compete in Maine for the third time in less than a year. She made her NEF debut last September and quickly became a favorite of Pine Tree State fight fans. Last November, Borga put on a dominant performance in Lewiston, winning a unanimous decision over black belt Brianne Genschel. She has captured multiple regional titles in the southeast portion of the country. Borga looks forward to returning to fight in front of her Maine fans once again.

“I can’t wait to be back at NEF for 2017,” exclaimed Borga when reached for comment. “I’ve been waiting to come back and show what I’ve learned. I appreciate Angela Young stepping up to put on a show for everyone. I’ll be ready and can’t wait to show my improvements.”

"NEF 30: Rumble in Bangor” will be held at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine on Saturday, August 5, 2017. He tīkiti i runga i te hoko inaianei i www.CrossInsuranceCenter.com.

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."

Mō New Ingarangi whawhai

New Ingarangi whawhai ("Nef") Ko te whawhai whakatairanga ngā kaupapa kamupene. Misioni a nef ko ki te waihanga i te mau ohipa kounga teitei mō ngā whawhai, me pā o Maine rite tahi. Whānui wheako i roto i te whakahaere hākinakina whawhai he kapa whakahaere o nef, production ngā kaupapa, whanaungatanga pāpāho, marketing, ture me te pānuitanga.

whakauru toi hōia, MMA, New Ingarangi whawhai, MMA wahine o

FIRST WOMEN’S MMA TITLE FIGHT IN MAINE AT NEF 28

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Lewiston, Maine (March 17, 2017) – New Ingarangi whawhai (Nef) presents its next mixed-martial-arts event “Nef 28: INVINCIBLE” i runga i Rāhoroi, April 29, 2017 i te Androscoggin Bank Colisee i Lewiston, Maine. I mua i teie mahana, the fight promotion announced the addition of an amateur women’s title fight to the card. Jessica “The Black Widow” Borga (5-2) returns to take on “Scary” Kerri Kenneson (4-1) to crown a new NEF MMA Amateur Women’s Bantamweight Champion.

 

The bout is historic in that it will not only determine the first NEF women’s champion, but the fight will represent the first female MMA title matchup ever held on Maine soil.

 

“Our women’s division has grown so much in the past couple of years,” said NEF co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo. “It was time to add a title picture to the mix. This is the first of what we hope to be many female title fights between superior athletes in the NEF cage.”

 

Jessica Borga, a Florida resident, will be making her third appearance in the NEF cage in less than a year. She dropped a hard-fought decision to Rachael Joyce (3-0) last September at “NEF 25.” Borga returned to Maine a few weeks later to win a decision over Brianne Genschel (0-1), delivering an impressive, dominant performance against the black belt. Borga trains out of Champions MMA in Lakeland, Florida and is currently on a three-fight win streak. She is the holder of two regional titles won in her home state, and she is looking to add a third belt to her collection on April 29.

 

“I’m so honored and excited to be back in the NEF cage not only to fight for such a great promotion, but to fight for their first-ever women’s title against a great opponent,” said Borga. “I can’t wait to put on a show for everyone, and I promise I won’t disappoint!”

 

A native of Bow, New Hampshire, Kerri Kenneson trains with Team Link in Hooksett. She has won her last four in a row, including a victory over NEF veteran Kylie O’Hearn (1-2) last summer. Kenneson’s sole loss came in her MMA debut two years ago this April. Coming off a win on a fight card last month in New York State, Kenneson is confident that she will defeat Borga and claim the NEF bantamweight title at “NEF 28.”

 

“If I haven’t already done so, this fight will solidify that I am the best in the Northeast, and I’ll be coming for the rest,” Kenneson declared. “She’s all for show. She’s about to feel what I’m capable of and she’s not going to like it.”

New England Fights returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine with its next mixed-martial-arts event, “Nef 28: INVINCIBLE,” i runga i Rāhoroi, April 29, 2017. Tickets are on sale now at the Colisee box office 207-783-2009 x 525 a online i www.TheColisee.com.

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 the promotion on Twitter and Instagram @nefights, and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

Amateur MMA, whakauru toi hōia, MMA, New Ingarangi whawhai

Nef 26 MMA CARD FEATURES WOMEN’S FIGHTS, TITLE FIGHTS, RETURNS, DEBUTS AND MORE

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Lewiston, Maine (October 21, 2016) – New Ingarangi whawhai (Nef) presents its next mixed-martial-arts event, “Nef 26: SUPREMACY,” i runga i Rāhoroi, Whiringa 19 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee. I mua i teie mahana, NEF executives announced the full fight card for the event which will be the fight promotion’s grand finale for 2016.

 

I roto i te hui matua, “Te” Ryan Sanders (10-8) ka tutaki 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. kaiako” whawhai. “Shatterproof 2.0” Derek Shorey (4-7), head of the Shatterproof Combat Club, is scheduled to face Ruthless MMA & Boxing founder Josh 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 prospect Arona “He whakangungu” Lacey (3-0) a Taylor Trahan (6-6) i roto i te a'ee mā. Lacey and Trahan both submitted their respective opponents at “NEF 25” whakamutunga marama. 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 between Nick “The Guardian” Gulliver (3-0) a 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 belt Brianne Genschel (0-0). Genschel’s First Class MMA teammate “Hollywood” Hana Sparrell (1-1) will also be in action against Fernanda 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’s Lyman Curtis (0-0), ia Phil Chiasson (0-0) tutaki Rik Seymour (0-0) of 3Ronin Athletics. Both bouts will take place in the 155-pound lightweight division.

 

The full “NEF 26” kāri whawhai (kaupapa ki te huri i me te whakaaetanga o te aro Hākinakina Mana o Maine):

 

 

NGAIO

 

155 Ryan Sanders 10-8 (Young’s) vs Jon Lemke 5-6 (Team Irish)

 

145 Josh Parker 4-8 (Nanakia) vs Derek Shorey 4-7 (Shatterproof)

 

145 Arona Lacey 3-0 (Young’s) vs Taylor Trahan 6-6 (Hono Team)

 

AMATEUR

265*TITLE Nick Gulliver 3-0 (Class Tuatahi) vs Yorgan DeCastro 2-2 (SSSF)

265 Kevin Smith 3-2 (Young’s) vs Ras Hylton 2-0 (Class Tuatahi)

 

210 Mike Swan 0-0 (Choi) vs Joe Krech 0-2 (Independent)

 

185 Nash Roy 2-2 (Young’s) vs Chris Smith 1-0 (Berserkers)

 

170 Darren Ducharme 0-0 (CMBJJ) vs Tom Burgess 2-0 (Berserkers)

 

155 Ken Dunn 0-3 (Independent) vs Angelo Rizitello 0-1 (Shatterproof)

 

155 Chad Pierce 0-0 (Academy) vs Lyman Curtis 0-0 (Shatterproof)

 

155 Phil Chiasson 0-0 (Academy) vs Rik Seymour 0-0 (3Ronin Athletics)

 

145 Alex Clark 3-1 (Young’s) vs Shawn Lunghi 1-0 (S. Tampa Jiu Jitsu/MMA)

 

145 Hannah Sparell 1-1 (Class Tuatahi) vs Fernanda Araujo 4-4-2 (Tapa ārai)

 

135 Brianne Genschel 0-0 (First Class/Foundry) vs Jessica Borga 2-2 (Toa)

 

135 Fred Lear 3-2 (Young’s) vs Robby Fraser 1-1 (S. Tampa Jiu Jitsu/MMA)

 

The opening bell on Saturday, Whiringa 19 Kei te whakaturia hoki 7 p.m. Tīmata Tickets i $25 a e wātea ana 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 @nefightsand join the official Facebook group “New Ingarangi whawhai."

 

Amateur MMA, whakauru toi hōia, MMA, New Ingarangi whawhai, MMA wahine o

THE BLACK WIDOW AND THE BLACK BELT; FIRST WOMEN’S FIGHT ANNOUNCED FOR NEF 26

Waiho he tākupu

Lewiston, Maine (October 6, 2016) – New Ingarangi whawhai (Nef) presents its next mixed-martial-arts event, “Nef 26: SUPREMACY,” i runga i Rāhoroi, Whiringa 19 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee. I mua i teie mahana, NEF executives announced the addition of an amateur bantamweight women’s bout to the fight card. Jessica “The Black Widow” Borga (2-2) returns to Maine to take on Brianne Genschel (0-0) i te taimaha o te 135, pauna whawhai.

 

Borga made her NEF cage debut last month against Rachael Joyce (2-0). She traveled more than 1500 miles from Lakeland, Florida for the fight. While Borga was on the losing end of a unanimous decision to Joyce, she realizes that the most important part of her amateur career is gaining experience through taking tough fights.

 

“I’m not slowing down anytime soon,” said Borga, “and love to take on any challenges and get better each fight. The more experience the better! So thankful for the girls that are stepping up to fight! I’m ready to put on an amazing show.”

 

Brianne Genschel, while making her in-cage debut at “NEF 26,” is a longtime practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) in which she holds a black belt. She is a BJJ instructor at The Foundry in Farmington, Maine. Genschel also trains with, and will represent, First Class MMA based in Brunswick, Maine. Like her opponent, she promises an exciting fight for the fans on Whiringa 19.

 

“I’m really looking forward to stepping into the cage for my first fight with NEF, and especially against such an established opponent,” said Genschel. “I can’t wait to represent my teams- Foundry BJJ and First Class MMA. I have been training hard for this opportunity, and promise to put on a good show and leave it all in the cage!”

 

The opening bell on Saturday, Whiringa 19 Kei te whakaturia hoki 7 p.m. Tīmata Tickets i $25 a e wātea ana 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."

 

Mō New Ingarangi whawhai

New Ingarangi whawhai ("Nef") Ko te whawhai whakatairanga ngā kaupapa kamupene. Misioni a nef ko ki te waihanga i te mau ohipa kounga teitei mō ngā whawhai, me pā o Maine rite tahi. Whānui wheako i roto i te whakahaere hākinakina whawhai he kapa whakahaere o nef, production ngā kaupapa, whanaungatanga pāpāho, marketing, ture me te pānuitanga.

mekemeke, whakauru toi hōia, MMA, New Ingarangi whawhai

VELADO CAPTURES GOLD, HALL RETAINS AT NEF 25

Waiho he tākupu

Lewiston, Maine (Mahuru 10, 2016) - New Ingarangi whawhai (Nef) held its most-recent event, “Nef 25: HEROES & VILLAINS” Saturday night at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. The event featured both mixed-martial-arts and professional boxing bouts.

 

On the boxing portion of the card, John Webster (9-7-1) patua Zenon Herrera (0-3) via unanimous decision on the eve of Webster’s 48th birthday. Webster’s last boxing victory came back in 2004, also in Lewiston, prior to his taking off a decade from active competition.

 

Also in the boxing ring, Casey Kramlich (5-0-1) remained undefeated as he stopped John Ortolani (0-1) in the fourth round via technical knockout. Waihoki, Brandon Montella (5-0) kept his pro record perfect with a second-round stoppage of Tollison Lewis (2-2).

 

Rachael Joyce (2-0) won a unanimous decision over Jessica Borga (2-2) in a highly-anticipated women’s amateur bout. Rafael Velado (4-0) captured the amateur lightweight title with a first-round submission of Jimmy Jackson (3-3). Karepe Hall (8-3) retained the amateur featherweight title, and in doing so handed bantamweight champion Johnny Crafts (4-1) te mate tuatahi o tona mahi, in a very close split decision on the judges’ scorecards.

 

Arona Lacey (3-0) kept his unbeaten streak alive with a first-round submission of Cory Trial (0-1) on the professional MMA portion of the card. Mike Hansen (5-4) ringa Matt Andrikut (2-1) the first loss of his career in the co-main event, ia Hehe Erickson (8-5) tuku Crowsneck Boutin (2-3) in the main event of the evening.

 

NEF also announced that it would co-promote its next event with Classic Entertainment & Sports (CES). The two largest fight promotions in New England will present a joint card titled “Supremacy” i runga i Whiringa 4 in Lewiston at the Colisee.

 

Ko te hua i Lewiston, Maine:

NGAIO MMA

 

Hehe Erickson def. Crowsneck Boutin via rear-naked choke, tawhio 1

Mike Hansen def. Matt Andrikut via armbar, tawhio 1

Taylor Trahan def. Matt Denning via armbar, tawhio 1

Arona Lacey DEF. Cory Trial via rear-naked choke, tawhio 1

Walter Smith-Cotito def. Elias Leland via D’arce Choke, tawhio 2

 

AMATEUR MMA

 

Karepe Hall (c) DEF. Johnny Crafts via split decision (145 Taitara)

Rafael Velado def. Jimmy Jackson via Kimura, tawhio 1 (155 Taitara)

Frank Johanson def. Caleb Swoveland via armbar, tawhio 1

Rachael Joyce def. Jessica Borga via unanimous decision

Walt Shea def. The Slenderman via unanimous decision

 

NGAIO BOXING

Casey Kramlich def. John Ortolani via TKO, tawhio 4

Brandon Montella def. Tollison Lewis via TKO, tawhio 2

John Webster def. Zenon Herrera via unanimous decision

 

NEF and CES present “SUPREMACY,” a night of mixed-martial-arts cagefights, i runga i Whiringa 4, 2016 i roto i te Lewiston, Maine. Tīmata Tickets i $25 a e wātea ana i www.TheColisee.com ranei i karanga i te tari pouaka Colisee i 207.783.2009, extension 525.

Amateur MMA, whakauru toi hōia, MMA, New Ingarangi whawhai, MMA wahine o

FROM MAINE TO FLORIDA, FINDING FIGHTS IS THE CHALLENGE FOR FEMALE MMA ATHLETES

Waiho he tākupu

 

Kia tukuna tonutia atu: Lewiston, Maine (Mahuru 4, 2016) – Rachael Joyce has her civil engineering degree from the University of Maine. Jessica Borga is a veterinary technician from Lakeland, Florida.

Read those one-line biographies of the two women and they probably do not fit whatever is your personal profile of a mixed-martial-artist. And perhaps that presumption, and maybe a lingering societal bias against female fighters, is the reason Joyce and Borga have struggled mightily to find opponents in their corners of the country.

Each woman will end what is almost a one-year hiatus from the cage when Joyce (1-0) welcomes Borga (2-1) to Maine in a bantamweight bout at “NEF 25: Heroes and Villains.” New England Fights returns to its hub venue, Androscoggin Bank Colisee, i runga i Rāhoroi, Mahuru 10.

“I’ve had one fight, October whakamutunga. I’ve found it really hard to find fights. It’s just tough. Maine doesn’t have the population density for it. It’s just hard to find that pool of fighters,” Joyce said. “Early in your career you want to build that experience close to home. It’s the best thing for your whole team, given the commitment that is involved.”

Joyce, who lives in the Penobscot County village of Veazie, splits her training time between Bangor, Portland and Boston.

The competitive grass is no greener for Borga, who is known to her fans as “The Black Widow” and is coached by Ross Kellin.

“My coach has scheduled fights for me that have fallen through. I was supposed to fight eight times this year, and this will be my first one.

Borga was beaten badly in her previous bout, a November 2015 clash against Caitlin Sammons for which she weighed in at 126.5 pauna, just above the flyweight limit.

She said that women feel added pressure to make drastic weight cuts due to the lack of available fight opportunities, and in her case it was especially dangerous.

“I learned that I will never fight at 125 ano,” Borga said “It was my own fault. I lost 25 pauna in two weeks. I was sick in camp, and I fought sick.”

Before the episode was over, Borga was hospitalized twice with strep throat, a kidney infection and a bladder infection.

“I do believe (the weight cut) was part of it,” she said. “You’re putting that strain on your body and your mind. My mental game struggled with what I had to put myself through. I think it’s harder for women, also. I won’t ever do that again. I learned that it’s better to withdraw than to take a loss.”

Borga has experienced no such issues in this camp. She said her energy level is way up and that she can train harder for longer periods of time.

She also is eager to visit from the Sunshine State, an eagerness that isn’t lost on her opponent.

“When an opponent is flying up from Florida, that’s exciting,” Joyce said. “It shows that she’s really committed to it. It is hard to find opponents who are as committed as you are.”

Both women are BJJ blue belts. Joyce has trained in the discipline for more than two years.

It is an extension of her childhood, when she played three varsity sports in each year of high school. She joked that she strongly considered a fourth.

“I was always the girl who tried to convince my parents to let me play football,” Joyce said. “They would not hear any of it. I’m sure they’re thrilled that their 20-something-year-old daughter is now a fighter. Kaua e, they’re supportive, but now it’s my decision.”

Joyce never tried individual sports before the combat realm, but she quickly developed into a fan of women’s MMA as it exploded in popularity at the UFC level.

“Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey were coming up, a ka (UFC president) Dana White had his famous line that ‘there will never be women in UFC,” Joyce said. “I saw what they were doing and I said, ‘I can do that. I’m going to do that.’”

Now the women wait for a spike in female participation that has not appeared to follow the success of those international role models.

Joyce said she received invitations to fight in New Jersey earlier this year but that those, also, would have required an uncomfortable cut to a same-day weigh-in of 125 or even 115 pauna.

So she retreated into a game of train-and-wait. Thanks to the like-minded, equally fight-challenged Borga, the wait is almost over.

“I’ve always loved MMA, always loved fighting. I guess I was known for that as a kid. Everybody who knows me always pushed me to get into this,” Borga said. “I tried eight years ago and found out right away that I was pregnant, so that put a stop to it. When my son turned five, Na ka mea ahau, ‘It’s now or never.’ I started training and developed really fast. My coaches said I had a knack for it.”

Ko te pere whakatuwheratanga i runga i Mahuru 10 Kei te whakaturia hoki 7 p.m. The current docket for “NEF 25: Heroes and Villains” includes four professional boxing matches, six pro mixed martial arts bouts and five amateur MMA scraps. Tīmata Tickets i $25 a e wātea ana 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, te whai ia ratou i runga i Twitternefights, me te uru atu ki te rōpū Facebook whaimana "New Ingarangi whawhai."

mekemeke, whakauru toi hōia, MMA, New Ingarangi whawhai

THREE WOMEN’S FIGHTS, TWO TITLE FIGHTS AND NEW FACES FIND A HOME ON NEF 25 CARD

Waiho he tākupu

 

Lewiston, Maine (August 19, 2016) -mo Ingarangi whawhai (Nef) today announced the full fight card for the promotion’s next event, “Nef 25: HEROES & VILLAINS.” It is scheduled to take place onRāhoroi, Mahuru 10, 2016 i roto i te Lewiston. The dynamic card will feature professional boxing bouts, as well as both professional and amateur mixed-martial-arts (MMA) whakataetae.

 

On the boxing portion of the card, Brandon Montella (4-0) ka tutaki Tollison Lewis (2-1) i roto i te wha-a tawhio noa whakataetae marama-taumahamaha, while longtime Maine middleweight John “Rumble” Webster (8-7-1) returns on the eve of his 48th birthday to battle Zenon “K-Bar” Herrera (0-2). Rounding out the pro boxing portion of the card will be Casey “Buzzsaw” Kramlich (4-0-1) a Connor Barry (0-1) in a four-round bout.

 

The professional side of the MMA card will feature a total of three Bellator and one Invicta veterans. Hehe “Ko te Viking” Erickson (7-5) a Jon Lemke(5-6) will rematch their previous bout won by Lemke at Bellator 93 i roto i te 2013. Bellator 144 competitor Walter Smith Cotito (3-4) returns to Maine after a three-year absence to meet Iraia “Danger Kiore” Leland (2-1), ia Valerie “Valociraptor” Aspaas (0-0) herself returns to Maine after three years to make her pro debut against Invicta 16 hōia Sarah “SwitchKick” Pāwhiritia (0-1).

 

The amateur MMA card will be headlined by two title fights. Rafael “Deez Nuts” Velado (3-0) e i runga i Jimmy Jackson (3-2) for the vacant amateur lightweight title. Amateur bantamweight champion Johnny Crafts (4-0) steps up in weight to challenge Karepe Hall (7-3) for Hall’s featherweight crown.

 

The amateur card will also feature two women’s bantamweight bouts with Brianne Genschell (0-0) a Melissa Trahan (0-0) making their respective cage debut against one another, ia Jessica “The Black Widow” Borga(2-1) Kei te whakaritea ki te whakatau Rachael Joyce (1-0).

 

The full “NEF 25” kāri whawhai (kaupapa ki te huri i):

 

NGAIO BOXING

 

175 Pauna: Brandon Montella vs. Tollison Lewis

160 Pauna: John Webster vs. Zenon Herrera

155 Pauna: Casey Kramlich vs. Connor Barry

NGAIO MMA

 

205 Pauna: Mike Hansen vs. Matt Andrikut

155 Pauna: Jesse Erickson vs. Jon Lemke

145 Pauna: Matt Denning vs. Taylor Trahan

135 Pauna: Elias Leland vs. Walter Smith Cotito

125 Pauna: Sarah Click vs. Valerie Aspaas

AMATEUR MMA

155 POUND*TITLE: Rafael Velado vs. Jimmy Jackson

145 POUND*TITLE: Karepe Hall (c) vs. Johnny Crafts

155 Pauna: Caleb Swoveland vs. Frank Johanson

135 Pauna: Walt Shea vs. Joel Downing

135 Pauna: Brianne Genschell vs. Melissa Trahan

135 Pauna: Jessica Borga vs. Rachael Joyce

 

hui i muri mai New England whawhai ', "NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS,” takes place on Rāhoroi, Mahuru 10, 2016 i te Androscoggin Bank Colisée i Lewiston, Maine. Ka tiimata nga tiikiti i te wa tika $25 a kei runga i te hoko i teie nei i www.TheColisee.com ranei na roto i te te karanga i te tari pouaka Colisée i 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. I tua atu, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, te whai ia ratou i runga i Twitternefights, me te uru atu ki te rōpū Facebook whaimana "New Ingarangi whawhai."