Tag Archives: Maine

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

EX-TEAMMATES TO FIGHT IN MAIN EVENT OF NEF 26

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Lewiston, Maine (October 3, 2016) – Earlier today, New England Fights (NEF) executives announced the main event of “NEF 26: SUPREMACY.”  “The” Ryan Sanders (11-8) will face Jon Lemke (5-6) in a lightweight bout at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston on Saturday, November 19.

 

At one time, Sanders and Lemke were teammates at Marcus Davis’s Team Irish gym in Brewer, Maine.  That all changed when Sanders left and joined cross-town rival Young’s MMA in Bangor.

 

“I’m very happy to be fighting back in Lewiston,” said Sanders. “I’m thankful that Jon took this fight seeing how several top-ten lightweights turned it down. But that’s why I like Jon, he’s a fighter’s fighter and he never backs down from a tough fight. With that being said, I look forward to developing a game plan that’ll shut down his strengths and have my hand raised at the end of the night.”

 

The bout will be Sanders’ second since returning to the NEF fold.  Sanders defeated Derrick Kennington (11-8) last August at “NEF Presents Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight.”  He recently inked a multi-fight developmental deal with NEF.

 

“Ryan Sanders and NEF go way back,” stated Sanders’ coach Chris Young when asked about Sanders’ recent signing of an NEF developmental deal. “Ryan fought on several NEF shows, including headlining ‘NEF I.’ So, it’s only fitting that Ryan has finally found his way home. A hard working athlete deserves a hard working promotion and I believe NEF is the perfect vehicle to give Ryan that last push into the next level.”

 

Lemke will be coming into the fight hungry for a win.  His last victory in the NEF cage will have been almost a year to the day when he defeated Matt Denning (3-4) in Lewiston at “NEF XX.”  Lemke is coming off a loss to NEF MMA Pro Lightweight Champion Devin Powell (8-1) this past August in Bangor.

 

“What a great opportunity I have been presented by New England Fights to fight Ryan Sanders,” said Lemke. “Ryan has been in, and done well, with the very best of New England. He is a well-rounded fighter and will challenge me in all areas. I very much look forward to this challenge and know that there will be fireworks for sure in this fight.”

 

The opening bell on Saturday, November 19 is set for 7 p.m.  Tickets start at $25 and are available 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 @nefightsand join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

 

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

FLYWEIGHT CHAMPION RETURNS TO THE CAGE ON NOVEMBER 4

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Lewiston, Maine (September 28, 2016) – He is the reigning NEF Amateur MMA Flyweight Champion, and on Friday, November 4,  Ryan Burgess (2-1) will make his return to the cage following his first taste of defeat.

 

Burgess will compete at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee on the “CES vs. NEF: Supremacy” MMA super-show.  The televised portion of the fight card, “CES 39,” will air live on AXS TV.  Burgess will appear on the non-televised portion of the card, “NEF 26,” where he will take on Tim Flores (3-2).

 

Burgess, a three-time Maine State wrestling champion for Mountain Valley High School, won the flyweight title last November from Dustin Veinott (5-4) in a split-decision.  The two met in a rematch in June.  Veinott would miss weight, resulting in the bout becoming a non-title affair.  Veinott went on to submit Burgess in the second round.  Burgess is confident that his coaches at Berserkers MMA will have him prepared to bounce back from the loss.

 

“Flores seems like a tough dude and I’m expecting a gritty opponent,” said Burgess. “Coming off a loss, I am eager to jump back in the cage for NEF and capture another victory. With new coaches in my corner, I will be a new fighter come November 4th, and he will be in for a rough night.”

 

Tim Flores may be a newcomer to the NEF cage, but he is certainly no stranger to the New England MMA community.  The Connecticut native was a fixture on Massachusetts fight cards from 2012 to 2014.  In the fall of 2013, Flores sent shockwaves through the region with a vicious 18-second knockout of Dan Krall (1-3).  Like Burgess, Flores will be looking to rebound from a loss in his last fight, but in doing so he will have to shake off some ring rust as Flores has not competed since the spring of 2014.  He now represents Fighting Arts Academy (FAA) of Springfield, Massachusetts.

 

“I have been out of competition for some time, but have been working while gone,” Flores stated. “I’m looking forward to testing my new skills and bettering myself as a fighter.”

 

“He is a great athlete with explosive power for a flyweight,” remarked Flores’ coach Nick Newell.  “His skills have gone to the next level since joining FAA.”

 

Tickets for “CES vs. NEF: Supremacy” start at $25 and are available now  atwww.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 visitwww.CESMMA.com and www.NewEnglandFights.com.

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

HEAVYWEIGHTS WILL BATTLE FOR SUPREMACY ON NOVEMBER 4 IN LEWISTON

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Lewiston, Maine (September 27, 2016) – OnFriday, November 4, 2016 at the historic Androscoggin Bank Colisee, New England Fights (NEF) and Classic Entertainment & Sports (CES) will team up for a joint super-show featuring the stars of New England’s two most prestigious mixed-martial-arts promotions.

 

The televised portion of the fight card, “CES 39,” will air live on AXS TV.  Earlier today, NEF executives announced the first fight scheduled for the non-televised portion of the card, “NEF 26.”  Maine heavyweights Ras Hylton (2-0) and Kevin Smith (3-2) will collide in a battle of two of the region’s largest mixed-martial-artists.

 

Standing in at a towering 6’6,” and holding a black belt in Taekwondo, undefeated Ras Hylton, has become a quick fan-favorite during his short time in NEF.  “Ras-squath,” as he has become known amongst his many fans, made his NEF cage debut in February of this year, downing Zak Bergeron (0-1) just over a minute into the first round of their “NEF 21” bout.  Hylton would follow up that performance with a highlight-reel head-kick knockout of Matt Glover (1-1) which will undoubtedly be in the running for “KO of the Year” honors.  He is currently a member of First Class MMA based in Brunswick, Maine.

 

“I am looking forward to fighting Kevin Smith November 4th,” said Hylton when reached for comment.  “Young’s puts out great fighters and I’m sure he will live up to their reputation.  The more wins you get, the tougher your opponents are.  He will be my strongest challenge in the cage so far.”

 

It has been over two years since Kevin Smith stepped into an MMA cage to compete.  Prior to that time, Smith had been undefeated on NEF events.  All three of his victories with the promotion were finishes – two by way of submission and one knockout.  Like Hylton, Smith has never had to rely on the judges’ scorecards.  He is a member of Young’s MMA of Bangor, Maine.  During his time off from active cage competition, Smith took stock of his life goals and decided to make a career of mixed-martial-arts.

 

“I knew deep down that fighting is what I was made to do, and I won’t be happy doing a regular job,” shared Smith, “so I put everything aside to focus on this full time and my ultimate goal is to make it to the big show and fight in Bellator or the UFC.”

 

Tickets for “CES vs. NEF: Supremacy” start at $25 and are available now  atwww.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 visitwww.CESMMA.com and www.NewEnglandFights.com.

boxing, mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

VELADO CAPTURES GOLD, HALL RETAINS AT NEF 25

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Lewiston, Maine (September 10, 2016) – New England Fights (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) defeated 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.  Likewise, 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).  Caleb Hall (8-3) retained the amateur featherweight title, and in doing so handed bantamweight champion Johnny Crafts (4-1) the first loss of his career, in a very close split decision on the judges’ scorecards.

 

Aaron 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) handed Matt Andrikut (2-1) the first loss of his career in the co-main event, while Jesse Erickson (8-5) submitted 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” on November 4 in Lewiston at the Colisee.

 

The results from Lewiston, Maine:

PROFESSIONAL MMA

 

Jesse Erickson def. Crowsneck Boutin via rear-naked choke, round 1

Mike Hansen def. Matt Andrikut via armbar, round 1

Taylor Trahan def. Matt Denning via armbar, round 1

Aaron Lacey def. Cory Trial via rear-naked choke, round 1

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

 

AMATEUR MMA

 

Caleb Hall (c) def. Johnny Crafts via split decision (145 Title)

Rafael Velado def. Jimmy Jackson via Kimura, round 1 (155 Title)

Frank Johanson def. Caleb Swoveland via armbar, round 1

Rachael Joyce def. Jessica Borga via unanimous decision

Walt Shea def. The Slenderman via unanimous decision

 

PROFESSIONAL BOXING

Casey Kramlich def. John Ortolani via TKO, round 4

Brandon Montella def. Tollison Lewis via TKO, round 2

John Webster def. Zenon Herrera via unanimous decision

 

NEF and CES present “SUPREMACY,” a night of mixed-martial-arts cagefights, on November 4, 2016 in Lewiston, Maine. Tickets start at $25 and are available at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisee box office at 207.783.2009, extension 525.

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

HALL AND CRAFTS PREPARE FOR ONE LAST AMATEUR SCRAP BEFORE THE PROS

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By: Kalle Oakes

It is hard to believe that Caleb Hall and Johnny Crafts’ paths have not crossed in the New England Fights mixed martial arts hexagon before now.

Separated by only two years in age and only a handful of pounds on the scale, the two former high school athletes made the transition to the cage from other combat pursuits at around the same time. Hall was a champion wrestler, while Crafts was a decorated grappler in the jiu-jitsu realm.

They are even considering a jump to the professional ranks at the same time … after one final stop to stand toe-to-toe with one another in a clash of amateur champions at “NEF 25: Heroes and Villains.”

NEF amateur featherweight champion Hall (7-3) of Portland by way of Dixfield will collide with NEF amateur bantamweight titleholder Crafts (4-0) of Lisbon this Saturday, September 10.

“I’d say my days in the amateur ranks are numbered,” Hall said. “I feel at this point, as tough as the fights are getting, I might as well be a pro. I just didn’t want to do it too early. I wanted to be a legitimate pro athlete.”

Hall took a measured approach to his ascent through the ranks. Not many fighters stick around for a double-digit number of amateur bouts before either taking prize money or returning to the safety of spectator-hood.

Then again, not many debut in the sport as early as Hall. He remembers getting his first recruiting call from NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson while helping a friend, Josh Thornton, train for an NEF appearance.

“He called me out of nowhere and tried to get me a fight on short notice. Then he saw me filling out the information sheet and noticed that I was still only 17,” Hall said, noting that the rules prohibit minors from entering the fray. “So I ended up fighting in September, a month after my 18th birthday. I was hooked from the first time I watched it. I knew it was something I wanted to do.”

Hall won his first three fights, largely on the strength of his wrestling acumen, while bouncing between his hometown in the Western mountains of Maine and Plymouth State University in New Hampshire.

While sparring at First Class MMA in Topsham, Hall heard NEF mainstay John Raio rave about the merits of the Choi Institute in Portland. Hall took the advice and quickly discovered a place where his boxing and striking skills improved exponentially.

“Most of my training has been stand-up. I’ve tried to improve on it,” Hall said. “I figure that I’ve wrestled so long that I can kind of put it down when it comes to training and put more effort in the areas where I need to improve my skills.”

Hall carries a two-fight winning streak. The latter victory was a second-round submission over Erik Nelson for the vacant 145-pound strap in April.

He has stayed busy, rarely skipping back-to-back NEF cards during his time with the organization. By contrast, Crafts had been out of the cage for a year prior to his third-round TKO of Henry Clark for the 135-pound title in February.

“Injuries are what have screwed me over. I should have a lot more fights for as long as I’ve been at it,” Crafts said. “If I’m healthy, win or lose, I think this is probably my last fight as an amateur. I’m 24. I don’t want to drag it on too long.”

Crafts agreed with Hall’s assessment that whichever of the two fighters is able to step out of his comfort zone on the mat will gain the upper hand.

“Caleb is a really good wrestler. I never wrestled in high school, just jiu-jitsu. But with jiu-jitsu, you learn how to wrestle,” Crafts said. “I think people are going to be surprised by my wrestling, and I think everybody’s going to be impressed with my boxing. I feel more confident. I think he’s going to be surprised when I punch him in the face.”

Hall has fought all but two of his fights at 145 pounds and said that he considers that weight class “home.” Crafts dismissed any disadvantage in having to step up, noting that his walking-around weight is in the 160s.

“This is my first time fighting at 145. I’m really excited about it. Getting down to 135 is a really big cut for me. I felt it in the last fight. I could just tell. I really shouldn’t have been as tired as I was,” Crafts said. “And Henry was a good opponent. I was working on things, using more of my stand-up. That kind of prolonged it.

“He’s definitely the best at 145 in my opinion,” Crafts added in reference to Hall. “He’s one of the most experienced amateurs out there. He’s definitely the best guy for me to fight.”

The opening bell this Saturday, September 10 is set for 7 p.m. The current docket for “NEF 25: Heroes and Villains” includes three professional boxing matches, five pro mixed martial arts bouts and six amateur MMA scraps. Tickets start at $25 and are available 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.”

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.

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

TRAHAN AND DENNING IN SEARCH OF A MUCH-NEEDED WIN IN THE MMA CAGE

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Lewiston, Maine (September 5, 2016) – Taylor Trahan is a statistical oddity.

A native of Littleton, New Hampshire, now living in East Concord, Vermont, the 25-year-old pursued mixed martial arts seven years ago, soon as he was legally old enough to do so. He has entered the cage a total of 20 times in professional and amateur competition.

All that experience in this neck of the woods, yet his featherweight bout against Matt Denning at “NEF 25: Heroes and Villains” on Saturday, Sept. 10 at Androscoggin Bank Colisee will be his debut with New England Fights.

Trahan (5-6) is not buying the underdog or bad-guy label, even though he will walk into the historic arena in a city that Denning (3-3) calls home.

“This is only a two-hour trip (each way) for most of my fans,” Trahan said. “Most of them are used to traveling four hours or more to watch me fight. They’re like, ‘Oh, sweet.’”

Both fighters hope the matchup will reverse their recent career fortunes. Trahan has lost five consecutive fights since a red-hot start to his pro docket, while Denning has dropped three of his last four contests.

Denning is quick to point out that the results are deceiving on both sides.

“He fought a guy named Joe Pingitore. Beat him the first time with a rear naked choke and then lost to him in the rematch,” Denning said. “That’s a guy who is one of the best 145-pounders in New England.”

If anyone has the right to consider himself an expert in ranking those middle weight classes, it’s Denning.

The local favorite known as “Ken Doll” has never shied away from fighting the best that NEF has to offer fighters in the neighborhood of 145. Denning twice defeated Derek Shorey. He inched upward in weight, unsuccessfully, against Jon Lemke at 150 and Josh Harvey at 155. Most recently, Brandon Bushaw beat him by submission at “NEF 24: Promised Land” in June.

“You think about Lemke and Harvey, and I train with Jesse Erickson (at Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu),” Denning said.  “The only one really missing is Devin Powell. I feel like I’ve fought and trained with the best group of guys around.”

Jiu-jitsu is the go-to for both fighters. Trahan is a brown belt, while Denning is a purple belt.

In other areas, their styles clash. Three of Trahan’s pro wins have come by decision. Denning, meanwhile, has never gone the distance as a pro. He only went to the cards once as an amateur – a loss to Dom Cofone in his cage debut.

Trahan stopped short of a prediction but said that he expects to prevail by submission.

“I see it being a slow first round for at least the first couple minutes,” he said. “Then once I get my timing down and start doing the things I want to do, I don’t see it going into the third round.”

Denning has prepared for a lengthy encounter. He confessed that he smoked through most of his career but has quit.

Couple that with a renewed commitment to road work and Denning forecasts that his fans will be pleased with his readiness for the relatively unknown foe.

“I believe the longest fight I’ve had was two minutes left in the third round,” Denning said. “I feel good conditioning-wise. I’m a shorter guy, so I’ve got to stay at 145.”

He said that sparring against Erickson has prepared him for the taller Trahan.

Denning believes that his striking and wrestling are superior to Trahan’s repertoire, but he complemented his rival by adding that he considers him another in a line of rugged opponents.

“I wanted to pick someone hard to fight. This is my fourth fight in six months,” Denning said. “Before that I took a year off. The last time I won in Lewiston was September of last year. I’m hoping the hometown advantage will help a little bit this time.”

Given the unpredictable nature of MMA, pro fighters must have short memories while applying the hard lessons they learn from losses. Trahan, like Denning, thinks he has achieved that.

“I’ve learned that I have to stick to what I know, and don’t do what’s not me,” Trahan said. “I think that in order for me to win, I have to take it to the ground. I favor the ground style. He’s excellent on the ground, don’t get me wrong, but I’ve seen some things I think I can exploit.”

The opening bell this Saturday, September 10 is set for 7 p.m. The current docket for “NEF 25: Heroes and Villains” includes three professional boxing matches, five pro mixed martial arts bouts and five amateur MMA scraps. Tickets start at $25 and are available atwww.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.”

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

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Lewiston, Maine (September 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, on Saturday, September 10.

“I’ve had one fight, last October. 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 pounds, 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 again,” Borga said “It was my own fault. I lost 25 pounds 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. No, 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, and then (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 pounds.

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, I said, ‘It’s now or never.’ I started training and developed really fast. My coaches said I had a knack for it.”

The opening bell on September 10 is set for 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. Tickets start at $25 and are available 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

MAJOR CHANGE TO NEF 25 MMA CARD

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Lewiston, Maine (August 30, 2016) – The weight cut is regarded by many fighters as the most difficult part of preparing for a fight.  For Jesse “The Viking” Erickson (7-5),  his weight cut was cut short Monday night in preparation for his upcoming bout at “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS” next week.  Erickson was initially scheduled to take on Jon Lemke (5-6) in a rematch of their bout from Bellator 93.  The fight would have been at the lightweight limit of 155-pounds.  NEF executives, however, were informedMonday afternoon that Lemke had been injured in training and was out of the fight.

 

Enter Crowsneck Boutin (2-2).  The middleweight from the Choi Institute in Portland, Maine stepped in to fill the void left by Lemke’s departure.  Boutin will take on Erickson at a catchweight of 180-pounds on September 10th.  For Erickson, the heavier limit means not just the end of his weight cut, but a chance to finally face Boutin in a showdown that has been some time in the making.

 

“It seems the stars have aligned for me and Crow to finally fight in the NEF cage,” said Erickson.  “I’m thankful he took the fight and look forward to going to battle with him September 10th. Victory or Valhalla”

 

“Well, my buddy, Jim Bass, he’s a workin’ pumpin gas and he makes two-fifty for an hour,” sang Boutin when reached for comment. “He’s got rhythm in his hands as he’s tappin’ on the cans. Sings rock and roll in the shower.”

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS,” takes place on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at 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.  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

PROFESSIONAL FEATHERWEIGHT BOUT ADDED TO NEF MMA CARD

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Lewiston, Maine (August 26, 2016) –New England Fights (NEF) today announced the addition of a professional featherweight mixed-martial-arts (MMA) bout to the fight promotion’s next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS.”  Aaron “Relentless” Lacey (2-0) has signed to face Cory Trial (0-0) at the featherweight limit of 145-pounds.

 

Lacey, the former NEF MMA Amateur Featherweight Champion, recently signed a multi-fight developmental deal with the fight promotion.  He amassed an amateur record of 6-1 prior to turning professional.  Since entering the pro ranks, Lacey is undefeated.  His pro debut saw him submit veteran Derek Shorey (3-7) in the first round last April.  Earlier this month, Lacey waged, and won, a war with John Santos (3-4) before UFC President Dana White in Bangor at the “NEF Presents Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight” taping.  Many observers agree that Lacey, a product of Young’s MMA, is but a few victories away from fighting permanently in front of White.

 

“I’m very happy to be signing with NEF,” said Lacey.  “It’s a big step forward in my career and it shows that they have the utmost confidence in my ability! My last fight was an absolute war, but I was fortunate enough to get out of it without any serious injuries. If I’m healthy, I’m fighting–it’s my passion! I’m anxious to welcome Cory to the pro ranks. He has a dangerous skill set that has to be acknowledged and respected. That being said, so do I! I like to be the guy who comes in and puts on a fight that fans don’t forget and that is exactly what I will do September 10.”

 

Cory Trial makes his professional debut after a memorable amateur career with NEF.  In June 2015, Trial scored the fastest knockout in NEF history when he rocked Corey Hinkley (2-4) a mere seven-seconds into the first round.  In his final amateur performance, the 41-year-old Trial defeated Angelo Rizzitello (0-1) via split decision this past spring.  He is a member of the tough, gritty team of Ruthless MMA & Boxing based out of Benton, Maine.

 

“I wanna thank NEF for giving me the opportunity to take the next step in my career,” said Trial.  “My coach and I have been talking and it’s time. We’ve been putting the work in and I’m ready to take the next step. This fight will really tell me where I’m at. Aaron is a well rounded fighter that likes to push the pace and I’ll be right there looking to do the same! Don’t miss it – it’s going to be fireworks!”

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS,” takes place on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at 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.  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

BARRY OUT, ORTOLANI RETURNS TO NEW ENGLAND TO FIGHT KRAMLICH

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Lewiston, Maine (August 26, 2016) – He has one of the largest and most passionate fanbases of any New England fighter, and now John Ortolani (0-0 boxing, 8-10 MMA) will return to New England Fights (NEF) after a two-and-a-half year absence at “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS” on September 10 in Lewiston.  Ortolani, however, will not be competing in the NEF MMA cage.  He will make his professional boxing debut that evening, stepping in to replace Connor Barry (0-1) against Casey “Buzzsaw” Kramlich (4-0-1, 2 KOs) in a four-round middleweight contest.

 

John Ortolani has been a fixture of the New England MMA scene since 2009.  It is well-documented that Ortolani is a two-sport athlete.  In addition to fighting MMA, he is a midfielder in Major League Lacrosse (MLL) where he has played for the Boston Cannons, Rochester Rattlers and Florida Launch.  Recent years have seen Ortolani take up residence in Tampa, Florida where he has continued competing in MMA out of South Tampa Jiu-Jitsu & MMA.  A native of Billerica, Massachusetts, he looks forward to making the trip north to New England where he will have the opportunity to once again fight closer to home in front of his friends and family.

 

“I am excited to be fighting back in Maine again,” said Ortolani.  “I’d like to thank (NEF owners) Matt (Peterson) and Nick (DiSalvo) for having me back. This will be my first time stepping in the ring and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve wanted to test myself in a boxing match for years and now is my chance. Casey is a great opponent and I’m happy I could fill in and give him a good fight. I am a true martial artist and can’t wait to test my hands. It’s been almost three years since fighting for NEF. Get ready for an exciting fight.”

 

At the other end of the spectrum, Casey Kramlich has made a second home of the boxing ring.  Training out of the Portland Boxing Club in Portland, Maine, Kramlich had an extensive amateur boxing career prior to turning professional in 2014.  This past spring he gave Jason Kelly (5-1, 3 KOs) his first taste of defeat in the ring.  Kramlich followed up that win with a dominant technical knockout victory over Zenon Herrera (0-2) in the third round of Kramlich’s NEF debut at “NEF 24.”

 

“I’m looking forward to fighting on an NEF card again,” said Kramlich.  “I’ve been training hard and ready to put my talent on display. My opponent has a little weight advantage on me, but I plan on using my speed and angles to pick him apart.”

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS,” takes place on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at 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.  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.”