Tag Archives: New England Fights

mixed martial arts, New England Fights

FIRST AMATEUR BOUT ANNOUNCED FOR NEF XIX PROMISES FIREWORKS

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Lewiston, Maine (July 2, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its nineteenth mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, “NEF XIX,” on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.  Earlier today, the promotion announced the first amateur bout on the fight card.  Fred Lear (3-1) is scheduled to meet Henry Clark (2-1) at a catchweight of 140-pounds.

 

Lear made his amateur debut with NEF in the summer of 2013.  He has accumulated a perfect record of 3-0 in the NEF cage, his only amateur loss coming outside the promotion on a fight card in New Hampshire this past spring.  Two of Lear’s three victories in NEF have come by strikes while in mount position.  He has exhibited one of the most effective ground-and-pound offenses of any amateur currently on the NEF roster.  Lear is a member of Young’s MMA in Bangor, Maine.

 

“In preparation for Clark, we will be looking to get 1% better every day,” said Lear of his fight camp at Young’s.  “As per usual, this will be a team effort and I recognize and respect the challenge ahead of us.  Henry is dangerous and versatile.”

 

Lear is correct in his conclusion.  Henry Clark represents the Choi Institute in Portland, Maine, and he has shown a wide array of abilities in his first three bouts both on his feet and on the mat.  In his debut fight at “NEF XV” last fall, Clark was sharp with his striking in the first round against Sheldon Bang (2-2) prior to submitting Bang off his back in the second with a triangle choke. Clark recognizes that Lear is especially deadly in top position, but is confident that he can come away with the win on September 12 in Lewiston.

 

“I’m absolutely crazy about this fight,” exclaimed Clark.  “This is the exact fight I want as a growing martial artist.  Fred is super tough and a nightmare once he gets on top of you.  That said, I feel as though I have the skill and ability to ruin Fred’s night on September 12th.  I’m hungry for this challenge.”

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF XIX,” takes place on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets for “NEF XIX” 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.”

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

POPULAR FIGHTER TO MAKE LONG-AWAITED RETURN AT NEF XIX

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Lewiston, Maine (July 1, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its nineteenth mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, “NEF XIX,” on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.  Earlier today, the promotion announced the addition of a professional lightweight bout to the fight card.  Matt “Ken Doll” Denning (1-0) will return after a lengthy absence to face Zenon “Kabar” Herrera (0-1) at a fight weight of 155-pounds.

 

Denning last appeared for NEF in November 2014.  After a 4-1 career in NEF as an amateur, Denning debuted in the professional ranks that evening against Derek Shorey (2-2).  He would win the fight by first-round submission.  Denning will make the move up to 155-pounds from 145-pounds for this fight.  He is a member of Lewiston’s Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ).

 

“After taking some time off, it feels good to be back for NEF,” said Denning.  “It’s going to be a tough fight-Zenon has had over ten ammy fights and made his pro debut against my coach, who is a really tough opponent. The only loss I’ve had for NEF was at 155 and it’s going to be a test for me to come back and see how I do. I’m a small 155er and I’m ready to show skills win over size. This will probably be the longest dog fight I’ve had, but I’m ready for it.”

 

Zenon Herrera is hungry for a win after dropping his last two fights in a row.  Herrera made his professional debut at “NEF XVIII” last month in a losing effort to CMBJJ coach Jesse Erickson (5-4). He is an independent fighter out of Skowhegan, Maine.  Herrera is a veteran of both the United States Army and Marine Corps, having served a combined nine years between the two military branches.

 

“My biggest goal, aside from getting a win, is providing the MMA fans with a fight that they enjoy and hope to see again and again,” said Herrera.  “Last time, I honestly feel that I let those fans down.  I know that I am able to do much more than what I showcased the last time I was in the NEF cage.  This upcoming match with Matt Denning, I honestly believe that everyone will see a new and very different Zenon ‘Kabar’ Herrera.  I have all of the respect in the world for Matt Denning -I do for everyone I face in this sport.  But this time, I not only have to prove to the fans what I can do – I have to prove it to myself as well.”

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF XIX,” takes place on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets for “NEF XIX” 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.

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

NEW ENGLAND FIGHTS HAS STRONG FIRST HALF OF 2015

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Lewiston, Maine (June 30, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, held its eighteenth mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, “NEF XVIII: MADE IN AMERICA,” a little over two weeks ago at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.  The event was the third held by the fight promotion at the venue in just a four-month stretch, and it capped the most successful half-year period in the promotion’s history.

 

NEF is the brainchild of Massachusetts attorney Nick DiSalvo and Maine State Representative Matt Peterson (D-Rumford).  The pair met in the fall of 2011 and formed a business partnership with the intent of promoting MMA events.  Both being avid, lifelong fans of combat sports, DiSalvo and Peterson decided to setup shop in Lewiston, Maine, the famed home of the Muhammad Ali-Sonny Liston world heavyweight championship rematch of 1965.  NEF’s first event in Lewiston, held in February 2012, outdrew Ali-Liston II by more than 800 fans with over 3200 in attendance.

 

Since that time, and in a marketplace where competitors have floundered, NEF has continued to draw huge crowds to its events. The promotion has hosted fights of many UFC veterans, including former two-time world heavyweight champion Tim “The Maine-iac” Sylvia (31-10).  In 2013, NEF co-promoted an event in Lewiston with national promotion Bellator.  That event was broadcast live on Spike TV.  Additionally, NEF’s videos on Youtube have millions of views worldwide, and the promotion’s event highlights can often be seen on AXS TV’s Inside MMA program.

 

In the first half of 2015, more than 6,000 people have been drawn to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee for three NEF events.  It is the largest attendance number the promotion has accumulated in such a brief period of time – a mere 18 weeks from “NEF XVI” onFebruary 7 to “NEF XVIII” on June 13.  It is also another example of NEF thriving in a time when other regional fight promotions struggle.

 

“It’s really just the result of a lot of hard work and business experience,” said DiSalvo, a 1999 graduate summa cum laude of Merrimack College in North Andover, MA, where he was a Presidential Scholar, and later a graduate of Suffolk University Law School in Boston, MA.  “NEF succeeds because Matt and I have a real passion for fight promotion, and we’re willing to do the not-so-glamorous grunt work that others shy away from.  You need to understand your audience.  You need to know your way around a spreadsheet, a check register, and have a good grasp on finance and budgeting.  It’s a business like any other.”

 

Due to the growth of the business, DiSalvo and Peterson decided to add a third executive to the mix earlier this year.  They hired longtime Bellator Vice President of Talent Relations Sam Caplan to serve as NEF’s Director of National Business Development.

 

“At a time of great contraction and consolidation when it comes to the regional MMA space, NEF has gone in the exact opposite direction and actually increased their overall business,” stated Caplan when reached for comment.  “To say the level of growth that NEF has been experiencing lately is rare would be an understatement. The promotion’s growth is a testament to the professionalism and business discipline of its chief proprietors, Nick DiSalvo and Matt Peterson.”

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF XIX,” takes place on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets for “NEF XIX” 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.

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

PRO LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT ANNOUNCED FOR NEF XIX

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Lewiston, Maine (June 29, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its nineteenth mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, “NEF XIX,” on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.  Earlier today, the promotion announced the addition of a professional lightweight bout to the fight card.  Jesse “The Viking” Erickson (5-4) is scheduled to meet Ricky “Savage” Sylvester (2-1) at a fight weight of 155-pounds.

 

Erickson, after challenging unsuccessfully twice for the NEF MMA Professional Lightweight Championship last fall, is undefeated in 2015.  Erickson downed Mark DeFord (0-4) in April in under two minutes with an impressive knockout.  He followed up that performance with yet another first-round victory over Zenon Herrera (0-1).  Erickson will look to make it three victories in a row on September 12 in Lewiston.  He is a coach at Lewiston’s Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ).

 

“I’m looking forward to the challenges Ricky presents,” said Erickson of his opponent Ricky Sylvester.  “He is a talented athlete with power behind his strikes.  I have worked hard to develop my striking game and look forward to putting it on display against him in September.  Bring your A-game Ricky because I’ll be ready for a war!”

 

Ricky Sylvester last appeared in the NEF cage in September 2014. That night, he shocked the NEF universe with an arm bar submission win over promotion regular Tollison Lewis (0-4).  A native of Lowell, Massachusetts, Sylvester relocated to Orlando, Florida where he put in time training with the world renown American Top Team (ATT). Back home in New England, Sylvester seeks to bounce back after a loss last November in New Hampshire in his previous bout.

 

“I’m with Team Flo now and training in the same facility as the Doughboy Wrestling Club,” Sylvester stated. “They’re taking good care of my ground game. Not to say I’m ignoring my striking, I just know that’s what I’m known for, but I want to mix it up and put some emphasis on what others might think I’m lacking and really show the double threat. Jesse Erickson is a great grappler—I would be shocked to see him just trying to stand up with me and battle hands. That being said, I know what to expect. As always, expect a great show and a hard fought fight from a savage. Live fast, die young, take chances and live reckless.”

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF XIX,” takes place on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets for “NEF XIX” 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.

 

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

NEW ENGLAND FIGHTS ANNOUNCES THE RESULTS OF NEF XVIII

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Lewiston, Maine (June 14, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, held its eighteenth mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, “NEF XVIII: MADE IN AMERICA,” on Saturday night at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.  A crowd of 2,000 was on hand to see Crowsneck Boutin (1-0) win his professional debut over Ryan “The Junkyard Dog” Cowette (2-3) and Bruce “Pretty Boy” Boyington (11-8) gain a measure of revenge by defeating John “First Class” Raio (2-8) in their long-awaited rematch.

 

NEF crowned its first three amateur champions in the fight promotion’s history with Billy “Bigfoot” Leahy (3-1) taking the heavyweight title in a wild back-and-forth brawl with Ryan Glover(1-1), Dustin Veinott (4-3) won a close split decision over“Sleepy” Norman Fox (4-2) to capture the flyweight strap, andJosh Harvey (4-1) submitted Ricky Dexter (3-1) to claim the lightweight championship.

 

It was further announced that former NEF MMA Professional Bantamweight Champion Paul Gorman (10-9) would return at “NEF XIX” on September 12, 2015 at the Colisee after a year’s absence from the cage.

 

The results from Lewiston, Maine:

 

PROFESSIONAL

150 Bruce Boyington def. John Raio via TKO, round 2
185 Crowsneck Boutin def. Ryan Cowette via unanimous decision

135 Jeremy DiChiara def. Derek Shorey via Americana, round 1
155 Jesse Erickson def. Zenon Herrera via tap to strikes, round 1
205 Cody Anderson def. Michael Hansen via TKO, round 1

 

AMATEUR
155*TITLE Josh Harvey def. Ricky Dexter via armbar, round 1 (Harvey wins title)
125*TITLE Dustin Veinott def. Norman Fox via split decision (Veinott wins title)
S.HWT Dave Smith def. Gravin Guillen via armbar, round 1
CATCH Mike Crespo def. Caleb Costello via unanimous decision

155 Cory Trial def. Corey Hinkley via KO, round 1
125 Ryan Burgess def. Justin Witham via unanimous decision

170 Mike Bazanson def. Jeff Dustin via TKO, round 2

155 Dom Cofone def. Jason Lachance via armbar, round 2

265*TITLE Billy Leahy def. Ryan Glover via unanimous decision (Leahy wins title)

145 Rob Robinson def. Dustin Shorey via rear-naked choke, round 2

170 Alex Payson def. Alex Bronish via TKO, round 2

160 Pat Kelly def. Dr. Steve Bang via TKO, round 1

185 Ruben Redman def. Heath Hanson  via tap to strikes, round 1

265 Nick Gulliver def. Sonny Spratt via rear-naked choke, round 1

CATCH Carl Langston def. Alex Johnson via TKO, round 2

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF XIX,” takes place on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets for “NEF XIX” 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.

 

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

BOYINGTON GOES HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH RAIO DAYS BEFORE FIGHT: “I’M GONNA GO IN THERE AND DESTROY HIM”

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Lewiston, Maine (June 10, 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,” this Saturday night, June 13, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.   Recently, headliners Bruce “Pretty Boy” Boyington (10-8), the NEF MMA Professional Lightweight Champion, and John “First Class” Raio(2-7) joined NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson on a special “Head-to-Head” edition of the  NEF Podcast.  Boyington and Raio discussed the upcoming rematch and the controversy surrounding their first meeting in February 2014, among other topics.

 

The interview quickly turned to the top of the first fight.  Raio appeared to apply a rear-naked choke to Boyington on the mat late in the first round.  Boyington began waving his hand in the air and referee Jimmy Bickford quickly stepped in to stop the fight.  Much has been made of the infamous “hand wave.”  While Bickford saw it as a sign of Boyington’s submission, Boyington has contended that he was merely signaling to his fans in the crowd that the hold was not doing any damage.

 

“I can tell you how that night ended,” recalled Raio of the first bout. “Basically, Bruce had given me his back.  When I took his back, I had the hooks in and I had the rear-naked choke across his jaw line.  I was trying to pressure it under his throat, and as I grabbed my left bicep and my left hand was going behind his head, the ref stopped the fight… I was amazed that he had tapped because, honestly, I knew that I had a lot of pressure on his jaw… If in fact he was waving, that sucks for him.”

 

“In that situation, I specifically remember Bickford looking at me, I’m face up, he’s going for my neck and I’m waving,” said Boyington.  “Everybody starts roaring real loud and I remember Bickford saying, ‘No Bruce, you can’t say that’… If you think that I’m submitting or I’m in trouble or can’t breathe,  you don’t tell the fighter, “You can’t say that,” you just jump in and you stop the fight. I feel like he made a mistake.  I feel like he realizes that… I see a lot of different things that John has said online, and a lot of things other people have said, and that’s when I really started to get bothered by what had happened.  I felt like he could’ve handled it better.”

 

Prior to Boyington giving up his back, many felt he had been winning that first round.  Indeed, Boyington’s striking seemed to be on point that evening.  Peterson asked both competitors to speculate on what would have happened had the referee not stopped the bout at that point.

 

“Inevitably, I think John would’ve been knocked out,” stated Boyington emphatically.  “I don’t think I’m gonna submit him, because that would be his best chance with me.  He’s strong enough to defend a submission.”

 

“I think if the ref didn’t stop at the time, when I was on his jaw with my forearm and I was reaching behind his neck,” Raio speculated, “I believe my arm would’ve slid under his throat and it would’ve ended sometime soon before the round.  So, I don’t think it would’ve gone to a second round.”

 

In the days, weeks and months following the fight, both Boyington’s and Raio’s massive fan-followings have been very vocal on social media regarding the outcome of the bout.  The heated debate has raged between both sides for well over a year now.  With so much at stake for each side at “NEF XVIII,” both athletes touched on what the rematch means to them, and what they need to prove this coming weekend.

 

“I just can’t go in there and beat John,” said Boyington.  “Even his own fans are expecting that… I can’t just go in there on June 13thand beat John Raio.  I gotta go in there and destroy him.  Or I still lose out on this fight.  I know that, and I’m gonna go in there and make that statement.  And I’m gonna do it with one arm, because the other arm isn’t even working right now… I haven’t worried about this date from day one.  It’s nothing to do with John Raio.  I don’t disrespect the guy.  I don’t not like the guy.  He’s a good man. I’m just at another level.  I need to show up and prove that.  That’s what it is to me.  It’s not about me beating John.  It’s about me showing everybody where I belong.”

 

“In regard to Bruce finishing me quickly, and making it easy, and not really worrying about the fight too much, I just find it disrespectful like a lot of things he’s said to me, my family and my friends,” replied Raio.  “There were times after the last fight when people were congratulating me (on Facebook) and he’d go on like a one or two paragraph rant on every single comment everyone had put on my page for like three days straight.  So, after that I said ‘Bruce and I aren’t really friends anymore,’ so I deleted him.  I liked him before that fight… but when people disrespect me like he has it’s hard to like the guy.”

 

To listen to the NEF Podcast in its entirety, please visitwww.NewEnglandFights.com/Podcasts/.

 

To learn more about John Raio’s gym, please visit “First Class Fitness and MMA” on Facebook.  Likewise, to learn more about Boyington’s Taekwondo Academy, please visit their websitewww.BoyingtonsTKDA.com.

 

Tickets for “NEF XVIII: MADE IN AMERICA” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisee 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.”

 

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.

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

LAST-MINUTE REPLACEMENT IN FEATHERWEIGHT FIGHT AT NEF XVIII

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Lewiston, Maine (June 8, 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,” this Saturday night, June 13, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.   Earlier today, the promotion announced the addition of an amateur featherweight bout to the fight card.  Carl Langston (4-8) is scheduled to meet Alex Johnson (2-1) at the featherweight limit of 145-pounds.

 

A fixture of NEF MMA amateur cards, Langston, of Young’s MMA in Bangor, Maine, replaces Johnson’s original opponent, and Langston teammate, Aaron Lacey (5-1), who was injured last week.  The Lacey-Johnson fight was scheduled to determine the first-ever NEF MMA Amateur Featherweight Champion.  The bout between Langston and Johnson, however, will be a non-title affair.

 

Langston is riding high off a victory over Sheldon Bang (2-2) last February.  It was Langston’s first victory in the NEF MMA cage. Likewise, Johnson is looking to extend his own streak of two wins in a row to three in NEF action.  A member of Ruthless MMA & Boxing of Benton, Maine, Johnson submitted Dustin Shorey (0-1) at “NEF XVII” this past April.

 

NEF officials further announced today that the Langston-Johnson contest is currently scheduled to open the show at “NEF XVIII” this Saturday.

 

Tickets for “NEF XVIII: MADE IN AMERICA” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisee 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.”

 

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.

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

PROFESSIONAL LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT ADDED TO NEF XVIII FIGHT CARD

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Lewiston, Maine (May 29, 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 a professional light-heavyweight bout to the fight card.  Mike “The Mustache” Hansen (2-1) is scheduled to meet Cody Anderson (1-2) at a fight weight of 205-pounds.

 

A native of Rumford, Maine, Hansen won a state championship in 2004 wrestling for Mountain Valley High School.  After graduation, Hansen began training in MMA and made a successful debut in 2005.  He would put his MMA career on hold to serve his country in the United States Army as a combat engineer.  Earlier this year, Hansen returned to the sport and founded Berserkers MMA in his hometown of Rumford.  His first fight in the cage in nearly a decade saw him triumph over Artie Mullen (0-11) this past February at “NEF XVI.”

 

“I’m pumped to be have an opponent like Cody,” said Hansen of the upcoming fight with Anderson.  “He is a real tough guy and this should be a great battle.”

 

Cody Anderson is a member of Team Triumph/Boston Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) in Nashua, New Hampshire.  Formerly a top-ranked amateur, Anderson put together a perfect 5-0 record over the course of his amateur career.  He turned pro in the fall of 2012, winning his debut over Hector Sanchez (3-12).  Anderson’s last appearance in NEF saw him submitted in the final moments of his bout with Jarod “Last Minute” Lawton (4-2) at “NEF VII” two years ago.  Anderson had been winning the bout to that point, turning in a “fight of the night” performance along with his opponent.

 

“I’ve been away too long,” said Anderson.  “Even with no fight camp and only two weeks notice, I will put my hands on this guy and put him to sleep.”

 

Tickets for “NEF XVIII: MADE IN AMERICA” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisee 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.”

 

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.

 

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

NEF THANKS MILITARY WITH FREE TICKET GIVEAWAY

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Lewiston, Maine (May 21, 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 a free ticket giveaway for all past and present United States military personnel to coincide with Memorial Day weekend.

 

“This is something we’ve done in conjunction with Memorial Day and Veterans Day in the past, and we’ve given away hundreds of tickets,” said NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson.  “It is the most important promotion we do all year.  It’s our small way of saying ‘thank you’ to those who serve and sacrifice so much for our nation.  Come down to the Colisee box office today or Fridaymorning, present your military ID and get your free ticket.  It’s as simple as that.”

 

The ticket giveaway will take place at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee box office from the hours of noon to 5:00 pm today, Thursday, May 21, 2015, and the hours of 9:00 am to noontomorrow, Friday, May 22, 2015.  The Colisee is located at 190 Birch Street, Lewiston, Maine 04240.  The giveaway is open to all branches of the military.  Personnel must present a valid military identification card at the box office window.  There will be a limit of one ticket per identification card.

 

Tickets for “NEF XVIII: MADE IN AMERICA” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisee 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.”

 

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.

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

FEATHERWEIGHT BATTLE ADDED TO NEF XVIII FIGHT CARD

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Lewiston, Maine (May 21, 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 featherweight bout to the fight card.  The matchup will feature Jeremy Tyler (4-3) facing Johnny Crafts (3-0) at the featherweight limit of 145-pounds.

 

Jeremy Tyler will be making his return to the NEF cage after an extended absence of nine months.  A member of Marcus Davis’s famed Team Irish gym in Brewer, Maine, Tyler will look to rebound from the first back-to-back losses of his career.  Both of those losses came to Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ) competitors.  It is a gym affiliated with Johnny Crafts’ team New England United (NEU), so the June 13 fight will be an opportunity for Jeremy to gain a measure of revenge as well.  Like his opponent at “NEF XVIII,” Tyler has proven himself a submission specialist with all four of his victories coming by way of capitulation.

 

“I’m very excited to be stepping into the NEF cage for the first time in 2015,” said Tyler.  “I am looking forward to the opportunity to fight John Crafts who is a highly ranked MMA fighter with a very good Jiu Jitsu game.  I believe the NEF fans will be very happy with the match-up and feel this will make for an entertaining fight. Expect to see an improved performance from me. I took some time off after my last fight to focus, build upon my technique and add to my overall skill sets.  I am ready to unleash the game I’ve been developing in the cage so June 13th can’t get here fast enough.”

 

Originally scheduled to challenge for the NEF MMA Amateur Bantamweight Championship at “NEF XVIII,” Johnny Crafts was left without a fight after his original opponent pulled out due to injury. That was until Jeremy Tyler stepped up to the challenge this week. This fight will mark the first time Johnny Crafts, who holds a brown belt in BJJ, has competed above the bantamweight limit of 135-pounds.  Crafts was voted the “2014 Rookie of the Year” by NEF fans.

 

“I’m very excited to be fighting Jeremy Tyler,” said Crafts.  “He’s a well-rounded fighter with good experience.  I’m looking to test the waters at 145 for my first time and see how I feel fighting up.  I was pretty disappointed in the title fight falling through, but I assure everyone that this fight will be just as exciting to watch.”

 

Tickets for “NEF XVIII: MADE IN AMERICA” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisee 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.”

 

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.