לעוויסטאָן, מיין (דעצעמבער 5, 2017) – No, you have not been transported back to the 9th century. There will be no longboats, no battleaxes, and no shield maidens present on February 3rd אין לעוויסטאָן. נאָך, the Androscoggin River is very likely to run red with blood that evening. A Viking and a Berserker will wage war in Central Maine when New England Fights (נעף) returns to Lewiston with the fight promotion’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “נעף 32: יבער שבת.” Wrestling and jiu-jitsu, rather than swords and Thor’s hammer, will be the weapons of choice as דזשעסי “די וויקינג” עריקסאַן (8-7) פנימער מייק “די מוסטאַטשע” האַנסען (5-8) of Berserkers MMA in a featured professional welterweight bout.
The fight will be Erickson’s twentieth in the NEF cage, a record number for any one fighter in the promotion, but it will be a year since his last NEF appearance. He lost to Jon Lemke (7-8) in the semi-finals of the NEF Lightweight Title tournament last February at the Colisee. עריקסאַן, an instructor with Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (קמבדזשדזש), and a homegrown talent of Lewiston-Auburn, will be looking for a triumphant return after a recent loss in Canada.
“It will be a year since I’ve fought in Lewiston,” said Erickson. “The NEF cage is like home to me. I’m really looking forward to hearing my friends, מישפּאָכע, and CMBJJ team as I enter the cage. But once the door shuts, all I hear is my corner and all I’m focused on is dismantling the man across from me. Odin’s Son is here to slay the great wolf. This is Ragnarok. Victory or Valhalla.”
Like his opponent, Mike Hansen is also in search of a much-needed win. Hansen lost all four of his fights in 2017, including back-to-back defeats this fall in Western Massachusetts. His last win came at “NEF 25” אין 2016 when Hansen, a former state champion wrestler for Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, מיין, scored an impressive first-round submission of Matt Andrikut (2-1), defending the honor of Maine wrestling against the New York mat native.
“I’m super excited for this fight,” exclaimed Hansen of the upcoming meeting with Erickson. “It’s a great matchup for Maine MMA. Our schools are close to each other and we have competed against each other many times. It’s finally time for the coaches to get down and boogie. My pick for this fight is the fans for sure. Fans will not be upset.”
Hansen challenged Erickson to add a stipulation to the bout when they announced the fight publicly at “NEF 31” in Portland last month. Hansen would like the loser to receive a tattoo with the design chosen by the winner.
“I have nothing but respect for Jesse Erickson, but so still want our sponsor C+C O’Leary Tattoo in Lewiston to do his tattoo I pick for him when he loses. איך וועל, ‘finish him,’ און ‘if he dies, he dies.‘ Time to start making your sacrifices Jesse, you will need the gods in your favor on February 3rd, because when war time comes the blood will flow.”
נעף ס ווייַטער געמישט-מאַרשאַל-קונסט געשעעניש, “נעף 32: יבער שבת,” וועט זען די פירמע מאַכן זייַן צוריקקומען צו די Androscoggin באַנק קאָליסעע אין Lewiston, מיין. The event is scheduled to take place on שבת, פעברואַר 3, 2018. Tickets are on-sale now online at www.TheColisee.com.