Tag Archives: Katie Baker

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights, women's MMA

FEMALE STRAWWEIGHT BOUT RESCHEDULED TO NEF 28

March 18, 2017 FNU47 Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Lewiston, Maine (March 16, 2017) – New England Fights (NEF) presents its next mixed-martial-arts event “NEF 28: INVINCIBLE” on Saturday, April 29, 2017 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine. Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the addition an amateur women’s bout to the card. Alex Walker (2-1) will meet Katie Baker (0-0) at the strawweight limit of 115-pounds.

Walker and Baker were originally scheduled to face each other last month at “NEF 27.” Unfortunately, a medical issue forced Walker to withdraw from the contest just days before the fight. Now fully healed, Walker is back training regularly at the Kaze Dojo in Lancaster, New Hampshire in preparation for “NEF 28.”

“Injuries have plagued me and my team for the last two years, but I am healthy now, so watch out,” exclaimed Walker. “I am going on a run and nothing will stop me!”

Losing her opponent so close to the event was definitely a disappointment for Baker and her many fans. Training in the martial arts from an early age, the eighteen-year-old had waited years to compete in the MMA cage. Baker is a member of Young’s MMA in Bangor, Maine. She made her amateur boxing debut last year.

“I was really bummed when Alex withdrew from our fight,” said Baker. “You make the sacrifices it takes to train and diet, not to mention the disappointment of those who purchased tickets. But I knew, and our fans knew, Alex is a warrior and would not back out unless something was wrong. I’m looking forward to finally meeting her in the cage on April 29th.”

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

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 and Instagram @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, regulatory affairs and advertising.

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

STACKED FIGHT CARD OPENS THE YEAR FOR NEF IN LEWISTON

January 12, 2017 FNU47 Leave a comment

Lewiston, Maine (January 11, 2017) –New England Fights (NEF) returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee on February 11, 2017 with its next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 27: RESURGENCE.” Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the full card for the event. The night will feature both amateur and professional MMA bouts.

Headlining the evening will be the semi-finals of the tournament to crown a new professional lightweight champion. The title was vacated when previous champion Devin Powell (8-1) signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Ryan Sanders (12-8) will take on John Ortolani (8-10) while Jon Lemke (5-7) faces Jesse Erickson (9-5) in a rematch from Bellator 93. The winners of those two bouts will meet in the finals tentatively scheduled for “NEF 28” later this year.

In a highly-anticipated heavyweight bout, Ras Hylton (0-0) will make his professional debut against Mike Hansen (5-4). The 6’6″ Hylton, or “Rasquatch” as he is known amongst his fans, was voted the “2016 Rookie of the Year” by NEF fans after going 3-0 as an amateur. Hansen was a Maine state wrestling champion for Mountain Valley High School (MVHS), and he has developed quite a reputation for downing larger opponents on both the mats and the MMA cage. Hansen was the recipient of the “2016 Submission of the Year” award.

Speaking of 2016 award winners, the “Fighter of the Year,” featherweight prospect Aaron Lacey (4-0), will look for his fifth consecutive victory in less than a year when he meets Florida’s Chris Jacobs (1-0). Jacobs put together an impressive 8-3 record as an amateur, winning regional titles along the way.

The amateur card will feature a bout for the light-heavyweight strap as Ryan Glover (3-1) defends against Victor Irwin (2-0). Glover has held the title since last February. Both Glover and Irwin were Maine state wrestling champions – Glover with MVHS and Irwin with Brewer High School.

Also scheduled on the amateur card are no less than three women’s bouts. Angela Young (1-2), who put on multiple “Fight of the Night” performances in 2016, returns to face New Hampshire’s Christine Brothwell (0-2). Young’s teammate, Katie Baker (0-0), will make her in-cage debut against another tough competitor from the Granite State in the form of Alex Walker (2-1), while Sarah Ziehm makes her debut against Nicole Burgess (0-1).

The full “NEF 27: RESURGENCE” fight card (subject to change):

PROFESSIONAL

235 Mike Hansen 5-4 (Berserkers MMA) vs Ras Hylton 0-0 (First Class MMA)

160 Matt Denning 3-5 (CMBJJ) vs Ricky Dexter 0-0 (Team Irish)

155 Ryan Sanders 12-8 (Young’s MMA) vs John Ortolani 8-10 (South Tampa Jiu-Jitsu & MMA)

155 Jesse Erickson 9-5 (CMBJJ) vs Jon Lemke 5-7 (Team Irish)

145 Aaron Lacey 4-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Chris Jacobs 1-0 (Pete White Boxing & MMA)

145 Josh Harvey 2-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Richie Collingham 3-3 (Lakes Region Vale Tudo)

135 Elias Leland 2-2 (The Academy) vs Nick Santos 0-4 (Team Fury)

AMATEUR

205*TITLE Ryan Glover 3-1 (Berserkers MMA) (c) vs Victor Irwin 2-0 (Young’s MMA)

205 Zeal McGrew 1-1 (Redline) vs Pete Grinnel 0-0 (Lawton BJJ)

185 Jon Tefft 0-0 (First Class MMA) vs Sean Worcester 0-1 (Independent)

155 Devin Corson 0-0 (Shatterproof Combat Club) vs Winston Cortez 0-0 (S. Tampa Jiu-Jitsu & MMA)

155 Ross Dannar 0-1 (Nostos) vs Phil Chason 0-0 (The Academy)

155 Ken Dunn 0-4 (Independent) vs Corey Hinkley 2-4 (CMBJJ)

145 Jacob Deppmeyer 0-0 (First Class MMA) vs Frank Johanson 1-2 (CMBJJ)

140 Henry Clark 3-1 (Choi Institute) vs Alex Clark 3-2 (Young’s MMA)

135 Michael Crespo 3-2 (First Class MMA) vs Fred Lear 4-2 (Young’s MMA)

135 Walt Shea 1-0 (First Class MMA) vs Alan Bustamante 0-0 (South Tampa Jiu-Jitsu & MMA)

125 Jeremiah Barkac 0-0 (Independent) vs James Ploss 0-0 (Kaze Dojo)

125 Ryan Burgess 2-1 (Berserkers MMA) vs Justin Witham 2-4 (Shatterproof Combat Club)

125 Angela Young 1-2 (Young’s MMA) vs Christine Brothwell 0-2 (Bucket Brigade)

115 Nicole Burgess 0-1 (Berserkers MMA) vs Sarah Ziehm 0-0 (CMBJJ)

115 Katie Baker 0-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Alex Walker 2-1 (Kaze Dojo)

NEF’s next event, “NEF 27: RESURGENCE” takes place on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisee box office at 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. 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.”

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights, women's MMA

YOUNG FEMALE ATHLETES LOOK TO MAKE THEIR MARK AT NEF 27

December 15, 2016 FNU47 Leave a comment

Lewiston, Maine (December 14, 2016) –New England Fights (NEF) returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee on February 11, 2017 with its next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 27: RESURGENCE.” Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the addition of an amateur women’s bout to the card. Alex Walker (2-1) makes her return to Lewiston to take on the debuting Katie Baker (0-0) in a strawweight matchup.

24-year-old Alex Walker has appeared twice previously in the NEF cage. Walker debuted in the spring of 2015 at “NEF 17” against Randi Beth Boyington (1-3). She returned earlier this year to defeat Nicole Burgess (0-1) with a third-round armbar. This past summer, she captured her first regional title on a fight card in Vermont. Walker is a member of Team Kaze based in Lancaster, New Hampshire.

“I can’t wait to get back to work in the NEF cage,” exclaimed Walker. “2017 is going to be a good year and I am looking forward to entertaining the great fans in Maine! I can’t think of a better way to start the year. The two times I have fought in Maine, they were both FOTN, looking to Threepeat!”

Katie Baker, an 18-year-old from Gardiner, Maine, might be new to the NEF cage, but she is well-known within martial arts circles in the Pine Tree State. Baker began training in combat sports at the age of five. She won the Isshinryu World Karate Championship in 2009 and 2013, and has been a practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for seven years, regularly taking part in local tournaments. Earlier this year, Baker began competing in amateur boxing. She currently trains with Young’s MMA in Bangor, Maine.

“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to square off against Alex Walker at ‘NEF 27,'” said Baker. “I have a high level of respect for Alex and her accomplishments. We’re not taking her lightly, and this is going to be a hell of a fight for my debut.”