Tag Archives: New England Fights

DESPITE SETBACKS, NATE BOUCHER IS NOT BACKING DOWN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Bangor, Maine (January 23, 2019) – Nate Boucher’s journey inside the New England Fights’ (NEF) mixed martial arts (MMA) cage has not been a course without its challenges and heartbreak along the way.

After winning his first two outings at the start of his amateur fight career, Boucher, a lifelong wrestler, earned a chance to compete for the NEF Flyweight Championship. His title shot came in November 2017 in front of a sold-out crowd when NEF made its highly anticipated Portland, Maine debut. That night, Boucher was outscored on the judge’s cards and dropped a close, controversial split-decision to NEF veteran Justin Witham. It’s a loss that continues to confound Boucher almost a year and a half later.

“As far as I’m concerned, I won the flyweight title that night,” Boucher stated recently in an interview with Ryan Jarrell and Bryan Stackpole on the Between Rounds Radio podcast. “I try to watch that fight and be optimistic the best that I can. I try to watch that fight and be respectful of what the judge’s could have seen. There’s not an absolute bone in my body that sees the fight going the way the judge’s said it went. That being said, they decided that Justin Witham won that night. He knows I’m coming after him. I’m going to do what it takes to get back into that title conversation and I’m going to get that win back. “

The Witham loss would be followed by two more defeats for Boucher.

In Boucher’s first fight back after losing to Witham, he dropped another split-decision against his hometown wrestling rival, multiple-time state champion, and former NEF Flyweight Champion, Ryan “Gordo” Burgess.

Jumping right back into the cage two months after his loss to Burgess, Boucher sustained the only stoppage defeat on his record when he lost via third-round technical knockout to former bantamweight title contender, Walt Shea, who fights out of John Raio’s First Class MMA in Brunswick, Maine.

Last November, down but not out, Boucher rebounded from three-losses-in-a-row by finishing 2018 off with a first-round submission victory over Jordan Young, a state champion wrestler from Belfast, Maine. The contest took place in the 135-pound weight class.

“Jordan was coming off of a win against my teammate—a tough teammate of mine,” Boucher said. “Not many guys on a three-fight skid would take a fight with a guy coming off of a win and then beat him in the first round. So, I hope that opened some eyes for people so they know exactly what I’m about and they know that I’m strong mentally.

“I’m very happy with myself that I was able to fight like I train,” Boucher recounted regarding his win over Young. “The cut to 135 isn’t as much as it is to flyweight and I think that played a big part in my cardio. I was in great shape for that fight. Mentally, I knew I was going to win months before the fight happened.”

With six bouts already under his belt, Boucher, at only 22-years of age, knows that he still has limitless room to grow within the sport.

“I’m an amateur,” he noted to Jarrell and Stackpole. “I’m a student of the game and I’m learning and developing my skills. I haven’t even come close to what my full potential is. I knew what I can achieve—I know what is possible if I stay on the path.”

Boucher’s 2019 fight season officially begins on Friday, February 1st when he’s scheduled to face newcomer Dillon Henry from First Class MMA. Henry is also a wrestler, having competed for Windham High School. Henry now trains with one of Boucher’s previous opponents, Walt Shea. Regardless of being pitted against the teammate of the only fighter that’s ever stopped him in MMA competition, Boucher stated that he’s confident in the matchup.

“I know he’s going to be training with Walt Shea, obviously,” Boucher said. “I know that Walt Shea is going to pass down information he feels is going to help him. It won’t… He seems to look like a strong guy. All I am going to do is I’m going to prepare myself and I’m going to become a better fighter in this fight camp and I’m going to go out there and fight him. I think it will go my way, for sure.”

Squaring off in the cage against other talented wrestlers is nothing new for Boucher. He defeated four-time Maine state wrestling champion Jeremiah Barkac by first-round submission the last time he competed in Bangor. Ryan Burgess was a three-time state champion for Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, Maine.

“I probably perform at my best against wrestlers,” Boucher stated. “They have really bad habits that a lot of wrestlers don’t seem to be able to shake off their first couple of fights, including myself. Fortunate for me, I have a coach like Jesse Erickson who’s a top-level guy when it comes to the jiu jitsu game around these parts, and he’s shown me the difference between what wrestling the sport is and what wrestling in a fight is. They’re different types of wrestling. I think he’s [Henry] going to expose himself and leave himself open. He’s going to make some rookie mistakes and I’m going to capitalize.”

While the prospect of defeating another wrestler in the NEF cage is an inspiring proposition to Boucher, he’s also excited by the opportunity to once again compete in Maine’s Queen City.

“I’ve never lost in Bangor,” Nate said. “I love that venue. I love the city of Bangor. I’m excited to be there and I’m excited to be sharing a card with some of the monsters that are on it. There’s a lot of great fights on this card and I’m very much looking forward to seeing some of them myself. It’s going to be a great show—I can’t wait.”

“I’m starting to earn my stripes a little bit in the cage,” Boucher added. “I’m starting to get more comfortable. I’m starting to feel more and more like a recognized name in the NEF—and I think all of that is going to play a factor. I think he’s [Henry] bit off a little more than he can chew for his first fight and, unfortunately, he’s going to figure that out very hard on February 1.”

As 2018 came to a close, Boucher, like many forward-thinking individuals, clearly defined his goals for the year ahead.

“I will be the flyweight champ in the NEF at the end of this year [2019],” Boucher stated confidently. “No doubt about it. That’s what my mind is set on right now.

“My teammate, Kam Arnold, he’s going to carry that belt straight through at 135. Man, the two of us together are some bad dudes. I’m fortunate to have him to push me through this mentally and be able to get me on the right mindset of what a champion is supposed to be—and I’m going to be there, right there with him at flyweight. Man, it’s going to be one hell of a one-two punch, that’s for sure.”

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 37: SUB ZERO,” will take place on Friday, February 1, 2019 at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine with a bell time of 8 pm.  Tickets are on-sale now at www.CrossInsuranceCenter.com.

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 fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

DESPITE SUB ZERO TEMPERATURES, NEF FIGHT CARD WILL BRING THE HEAT TO BANGOR

Bangor, Maine (January 18, 2019) – New England Fights (NEF) will hold its next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 37: Sub Zero,” on Friday, February 1, 2019 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine.  Earlier today, the promotion announced the full fight card for the event.

In the main event of the evening, Josh “Hook On” Harvey (5-0-1) will face Bill “Jonesi” Jones(13-10) for the vacant NEF MMA Professional Featherweight Title.  Harvey is coming off a very controversial majority draw in Massachusetts last fall against UFC veteran Joe Giannetti (6-1-1).  Many observers felt that Harvey had dominated Giannetti for three rounds and Giannetti was only saved by a hometown decision.  Prior to that time, Harvey had a perfect professional record with five straight wins in the NEF cage.  Bill Jones is a pioneer of the New England MMA scene.  Jones, a member of Nostos MMA, vanquished Matt Denning (5-8) last spring at “NEF 33” in Portland, Maine via second-round technical knockout.

Harvey’s Young’s MMA teammate CJ Ewer (3-2) will be in action in the co-main event against The Academy’s Mark “Pockets” Gardner (0-0) at a catchweight of 180-pounds.  Ewer is the reigning NEF MMA Professional Middleweight Champion.  Gardner makes his pro debut after a stellar amateur career that saw him finish all three of his opponents.

Ricky Dexter (1-0), also of Young’s MMA, rounds out the professional portion of the card against Ruben Redman (0-2) in a welterweight contest.  Both fighters have not competed in the cage in two years.  Dexter is the former NEF MMA Amateur Welterweight Champion.

Fred Lear (6-2) will headline the amateur card with Zac Richard (3-0) in a bout for the vacant NEF MMA Amateur Featherweight Title.  Lear has previously held the amateur bantamweight strap and will look to make NEF history as the first athlete to win titles in different weight divisions within the promotion.  Zac Richard was voted the “2018 Rookie of the Year” by NEF fans after cutting down all three of his previous opponents in the first round last year.

It will be a family affair as Roger Ewer (1-0), brother and Young’s MMA teammate of co-main-event competitor CJ Ewer, meets Bryce Bamford (2-0) of First Class MMA in an amateur heavyweight fight.  This will be the second time the Ewer brothers have fought together on a card in Bangor, the first being in August 2017 at “NEF 30.”

Also featured on the amateur portion of the fight card will be two women’s fights.  “2018 Rookie of the Year” runner-up Glory Watson (2-0) will face her toughest challenge to date in the form of Wisconsin’s Rachael Lippert (4-2), while Catie Denning (1-1) takes on the debuting Amanda Bennett (0-0) of First Class MMA.  Watson and Denning are two members of the group known affectionately among teammates and fans as “Chris’s Angels” as they train under Chris Young at Young’s MMA in Bangor.

Tickets are sold-out at the box office and Ticketmaster, but fans can still contact NEF through its Facebook page, “New England Fights,” as the promotion still has a very limited number of tickets available for direct sale.  Tickets will be sold on a first-come/first-served basis until they run out.

The full “NEF 37” fight card (subject to change and approval of the Combat Sports Authority of Maine):

PROFESSIONAL

145*TITLE Josh Harvey 5-0-1 (Young’s MMA) vs Bill Jones 13-11 (Nostos)

180 CJ Ewer 3-2 (Young’s MMA) vs Mark Gardner 0-0 (The Academy)

170 Ricky Dexter 1-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Ruben Redman 0-2 (Independent)

AMATEUR

145*TITLE Fred Lear 6-2 (Young’s MMA) vs Zac Richard 3-0 (Nostos)

155 Taylor Bartlett 1-1-1 (CMBJJ) vs Devin Corson 1-1 (The Outlet)

145 Catie Denning 1-1 (Young’s MMA) vs Amanda Bennett 0-0 (First Class MMA)

130 Brady Macdonald 1-1 (Pictou County Jiu-Jitsu) vs Jake Bagley 0-0 (Nostos)

265 Roger Ewer 1-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Bryce Bamford 2-0 (First Class MMA)

135 Jordan Young 1-2 (Young’s MMA) vs Clifford Redman 0-7 (Independent)

135 Nate Boucher 3-3 (CMBJJ) vs Dillon Henry 0-0 (First Class MMA)

125 Glory Watson 2-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Rachael Lippert 4-2 (Fearless MMA)

145 Rob Kiah 1-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Joe Howard 1-1 (CMBJJ)

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 37: SUB ZERO,” will take place on Friday, February 1, 2019 at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine with a bell time of 8 pm.  A very limited number of tickets are still on-sale by contacting NEF directly through its Facebook page “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 fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising. ��

TOP AMATEUR PROSPECTS WILL MEET IN WOMEN’S FIGHT AT NEF 37

Bangor, Maine (January 10, 2019) – New England Fights (NEF) will hold its next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 37: Sub Zero,” on Friday, February 1, 2019 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine.  Earlier today, the promotion announced the addition of an amateur women’s flyweight fight to the card.  Glory Watson (2-0) will take on Rachael Lippert (4-2) at a fight weight of 125-pounds.

Glory Watson made her mark in the NEF cage in 2018 with wins over Chelsea Tucker and Megan Rosado.  It earned her a nomination in the “Rookie of the Year” category.  She was the runner-up to fellow undefeated amateur rookie Zac Richard (3-0) in fan voting last month.  Watson trains with Young’s MMA in Bangor.  The fight with Lippert will be her first in her hometown.

“I’ve continued to train and challenge myself since my victory in Portland this past November,” said Watson.  “I’m really excited to finally make my debut in my hometown to kickstart 2019 with a three-fight run streak over the next three months! I’m looking forward to my return to the cage and to show my supporters the hard work that I’ve been putting in to maintain my career with zero losses!” 

Rachael Lippert is also riding a two-fight win-streak into this bout.  Last month, she was victorious on a card in Minnesota put on by national promotion Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA).  She is a 25-year-old with a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu representing Fearless MMA of Janesville, Wisconsin. 

“I am happy to have the opportunity to travel and fight,” said Lippert. “At this point, we decided we weren’t going to accept higher weight or lower record fights. This fight is both of those things, but I looked up Glory and she looked like a banger of an opponent. I know how it is to work hard and not get to fight, so I am happy to fill the spot. I am looking forward to a great fight.”         

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 37: SUB ZERO,” will take place on Friday, February 1, 2019 at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine with a bell time of 8 pm.  Tickets are on-sale now at www.CrossInsuranceCenter.com.

EWER & GARDNER TO MEET AT CATCH WEIGHT AT NEF 37 IN BANGOR


Bangor, Maine (December 17, 2018) – New England Fights (NEF) will hold its next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 37: Sub Zero,” on Friday, February 1, 2019 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine.  Earlier today, the promotion announced the addition of a professional catchweight bout to the card.  CJ Ewer (3-2) will take on Mark “Pockets” Gardner (0-0) at a fight weight of 180-pounds.

CJ Ewer is the reigning NEF Professional Middleweight Champion, having submitted Mike Hansen at “NEF 30” in August 2017 to claim the title.  It was a special night for Ewer, not only as a night he would capture his first gold as a professional, but also as the night he got to compete on the same card with his brother Roger (1-0) in front of their many friends and family.  “NEF 37” will be the second time the Ewer brothers fight on a card together as Roger is scheduled to be in amateur heavyweight action against Bryce Bamford (2-0).  The Ewers represent Young’s MMA of Bangor.

“Mark has proven himself as a very tough competitor, and I have all the respect in the world for his gym and his coaches at The Academy,” said CJ Ewer.  “It will be a very tough, great fight for the fans. The last time Roger and I fought on the same card was the most memorable night of my MMA career when I won the middleweight title.  I’m looking forward to having another memorable night February 1st.”

Mark Gardner will make his professional debut at “NEF 37” after an amateur career that saw him put together a perfect 3-0 record.  He finished all three of his opponents, including a pair of first-round submissions.  Gardner, who trains with The Academy of MMA in Portland, Maine, was scheduled to make his professional debut at “NEF 35” earlier this year, but his opponent pulled out on the day of the fight.  That setback has made Gardner more determined than ever to get back in the cage for battle.

“I’m pretty excited to get in there and fight again in February,” said Gardner.  “I’ve been training hard since the last one. I’ve seen CJ fight a couple times now and the dude’s tough for sure. It’s going to be a good one.”

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 37: SUB ZERO,” will take place on Friday, February 1, 2019 at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine with a bell time of 8 pm.  Tickets are on-sale now at www.CrossInsuranceCenter.com.

RICKY DEXTER RETURNS TO CAGE AGAINST RUBEN REDMAN IN BANGOR

Bangor, Maine (December 11, 2018) – New England Fights (NEF) will hold its next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 37: Sub Zero,” on Friday, February 1, 2019 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine.  Earlier today, the promotion announced the addition of a professional welterweight fight to the card.  Ricky Dexter (1-0) is scheduled to face Ruben Redman (0-2) at a fight weight of 170-pounds.

Ricky Dexter will return to the NEF cage after a two-year absence.  It was in February of 2017 that Dexter made his professional debut, knocking out Matt Denning (5-8) in the first round with a brutal body shot at “NEF 27.”  It was the perfect exclamation mark to start his professional career after a stellar amateur run that saw Dexter amass a record of 5-2 and capture the NEF Amateur Welterweight Title.  He is currently a member of Young’s MMA based in Bangor, and he looks forward to fighting for the first time in front of his home crowd.

“I’m absolutely ecstatic to be  finally fighting on my home turf,” said Dexter. “I’m getting pushed by some of the best fighters in New England every day. On top of that, I’ve got a MMA mastermind in my corner, Chris Young, who’s sharpening my technique and working out the kinks. Come February 1st, you will see a completely different and evolved fighter.”

Ruben Redman will likewise return to the NEF cage after an extended absence.  Redman last competed in August 2016 in Bangor.  He will be looking for his first victory as a professional.  Redman’s last win came in his amateur days when he scored a technical knockout in the first round against Heath Hanson (1-3) at “NEF 13” in June 2015.

“I’m healthy and ready for a great fight—that’s all I can say,” stated Redman. “The rest will be determined when the cage door locks.”

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 37: SUB ZERO,” will take place on Friday, February 1, 2019 at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine with a bell time of 8 pm.  Tickets are on-sale now at www.CrossInsuranceCenter.com.

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 fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

ZAC RICHARD RELISHES UNDERDOG ROLE IN UPCOMING FIGHT WITH FRED LEAR

Bangor, Maine (December 10, 2018) – It has been a meteoric rise through the New England Fights enterprise for Zac Richard, who will celebrate one year since he started training in the sport by fighting for the featherweight title on February 1st.

Richard, a state champion high school wrestler with three first-round stoppages to his credit since he transitioned from the mat to mixed martial arts, will face former bantamweight champion Fred Lear for the vacant 145-pound strap at NEF 37: “Sub Zero.” The fight will be held at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.

In a recent interview with Ryan Jarrell and Bryan Stackpole for the Between Rounds Radio podcast, Richard noted that MMA has given him balance and structure after a tumultuous time in his personal and family life. Richard’s last fight, a 51-second stoppage of Chris Lachcik by rear naked choke, took place one day before the six-year anniversary of his sister Lacy’s death from cancer.

“Every year around this time, I always found myself making bad decisions or being down in the dumps. This year I had something to take my anger out and have all those people come out and support, so it was pretty awesome. It’s the best mindset I’ve ever been in for a fight, that’s for sure,” Richard said.

NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson knew he had a fighter on his hands the moment Richard signed with the organization.

Anyone who thinks the opportunity is being extended too soon probably isn’t familiar with the fighter, his background or his disposition.

“After watching Zac wrestle for almost a decade, I knew that his aggressive, go-for-broke style against the toughest competition that he could find would translate well to the mixed martial arts cage,” Peterson said. “He welcomes a challenge, and he never hesitated for a second when I offered him the opportunity to face a decorated veteran, Fred Lear, for the featherweight championship.”

A graduate of Massabesic High School in Waterboro, Richard said he started training in 2018 as part of a new year’s resolution.

That journey took him an hour away to Nostos MMA in Somersworth, New Hampshire, where his dogged determination and raw talent caught the eye of none other than Devin Powell, the former NEF Lightweight Champion and current UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) competitor.

“On the weekends after work, I did nothing. I might go to the bar or something. I kind of felt like I was wasting my time. I used to wrestle, and that was all I did. I didn’t want to go to college and wrestle, because there was nothing I wanted to go to college for,” Richard said. “I was like, ‘I’m going to try mixed martial arts.’ I just walked in, started slamming people and stuff, not tapping, and after a while Devin was like, ‘Hey, who are you?’ And then we kind of just hit off and started training.”

Richard said friends and family, at first, didn’t believe him when he told them of the connection to the local celebrity turned worldwide fighter.

“It’s crazy, telling people. They think I’m joking. Then I’ll post pictures with (Powell) on Instagram and Facebook and people start hearing about it,” Richard said. “It’s good to know you can make it. It’s good to have a coach who’s living it in the UFC. He’s fighting his heart out, getting hurt and still going. He makes some good media, so it’s pretty cool.”

Richard recently relocated by renting an apartment across the street from the gym, providing further evidence of his commitment.

Working with Powell has its privileges, but it also comes with a lighter side. Richard elicited a few laughs on the program when he relayed the story of his mentor adopting a baby pig. It’s a free-range animal, he reported, wandering the gym right along with Powell’s fighters.

“He loves that thing. When we went to Las Vegas, he was talking about it and said, ‘I’m gonna get a pig.’ And I’m like, ‘OK, Devin.’ Then one day I went on Instagram and watched his story and I’m like, ‘No, he didn’t.’ I’d like to follow some of his footsteps, but not the pig one,” Richard said. “I’m pretty sure it’s like a teacup pig, but it’s kind of big, so guess we’ll just have to see. Hopefully he didn’t get lied to. He’s going to be kind of upset when there’s a full-grown pig running around Nostos every day.”

Richard and Lear will meet in the middle in terms of weight for their title bout.

Lear, out of Young’s MMA in Bangor hasn’t fought since his victory over Walt Shea for the 135-pound title in August 2017. Richard will come down in weight after tackling his past two outings at 155, not far below his typical walking-around weight of 160 to 165.

It will be a challenge in the cold Maine winter. Richard, who is a mechanic by trade, said his job helps him sweat out the pounds during summer.

“I’m always fluctuating. Knowing that I’ve been fighting at 155 my past two fights, I’ve been eating whatever and lifting, walking around about 165,” Richard said. “I’m used to cutting weight for wrestling. I’d like to see myself at 145 from here on out. I don’t feel the need to cut that much weight for a fight. It’s only amateurs, and I don’t know when I’ll go pro or if I’ll go pro. I just now got a strength and conditioning coach at the Brickhouse in Sanford, so we’ll see where it goes. 145 is where I see myself.”

“I know Zac’s parents, and he comes from a wonderful family. They always did everything that they could to support him, going above and beyond during his wrestling career,” Peterson said. “He’s young and athletic and has the confidence to complement his genetic gifts. Fred is an experienced champion that has faced all manner of fighters over the course of his eight MMA bouts. Both guys know how to wrestle. Both come from respected gyms. It’s a match befitting our return to Bangor in February.”

That shared wrestling background made the fight with Lear (6-2) attractive to Richard.

In addition to being on enemy territory in Lear’s hometown, Richard expects to be seen as the underdog due to the opponent’s previous title fight experience.

“I don’t really care about the noise that much. I always liked being the underdog in wrestling,” Richard said. “I’ve got nothing to lose. If his crowd ‘s there and chanting his name, whatever. It’s just more noise.”

Richard said he has never been much for watching film of opponents, knowing that tactics can turn on a dime. He has watched two of the bouts in Lear’s archive, though, and both expects and craves a battle for the ages.

“I want it to go into deep water,” he said. “I’ve had three fights, and not to sound cocky, but they’ve all been pretty quick. I want a war. That’s why I do it. I train all this time. I want to show my true self and get into a real fight, you know? I think Fred and I will be a good fight. Hopefully it lives up to the expectations I have for it.”

Lear’s year-and-a-half of inactivity is in stark contrast to Richard’s rapid-fire approach since gravitating to the sport. The newcomer hopes that won’t be held against him if he comes out on top.

“I think he’ll be fine. I hope he is. I don’t want any excuses,” Richard said. “I want it to be a straight-up fight with some highlight reels on it. If I lose, I lose, but I’m going to go out swinging if I do.”

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 37: SUB ZERO,” will take place on Friday, February 1, 2019 at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine with a bell time of 8 pm.  Tickets are on-sale now atwww.CrossInsuranceCenter.com.

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 fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

LEAR AND RICHARD TO VIE FOR FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE AT NEF 37 IN BANGOR

Bangor, Maine (December 6, 2018) – New England Fights (NEF) will hold its next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 37: Sub Zero,” on Friday, February 1, 2019 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine.  Earlier today, the promotion announced the addition of an amateur featherweight title fight to the card.  Fred Lear (6-2) is scheduled to meet Zac Richard (3-0) for the vacant 145-pound championship.

Fred Lear will look to replicate the success he had the last time he fought in Bangor.  In August 2017, Lear captured the amateur bantamweight strap with a second-round technical knockout of Walt Shea (3-1) at the Cross Insurance Center.

Lear has had a stellar amateur career fighting out of Young’s MMA in Bangor.  Prior to competing in mixed-martial-arts, Lear wrestled for John Bapst High School also based in the Queen City.  He has won his last three in a row in the MMA cage.  Should Lear win the featherweight title, he will become the first competitor in NEF history to hold championships in multiple weight divisions.

“This title fight is an opportunity to develop and grow,” said Lear. “An undefeated opponent with nothing but finishes, I like it—it’s polarizing. I want to turn professional. This is how I get better, that’s all I’m focused on.”

Like Lear, Zac Richard brought a wrestling background with him to the MMA cage.  He won a state championship in 2015 competing for Massabesic High School in Waterboro, Maine.  Richard now trains with Nostos MMA of Somersworth, New Hampshire under head coach, current UFC competitor, and former NEF Professional Lightweight Champion, Devin Powell (9-4).  Richard has finished all three of his previous opponents in the first round.

“I’m very excited for this fight,” said Richard. “The belt is great and all, but it’s just a stepping stone to my goals. I think this is a great opportunity for me to really show the hard work I put in. This fight camp is going to be extremely different for me and I cannot wait to have that cage locked. This fight will be just past the year mark of when I started training in MMA. It’s just the beginning.”

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 37: SUB ZERO,” will take place on Friday, February 1, 2019 at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine with a bell time of 8 pm.  Tickets are on-sale now at www.CrossInsuranceCenter.com.

NEF FINISHES 2018 SEASON WITH SOLD-OUT EVENT IN PORTLAND

NEF FINISHES 2018 SEASON WITH SOLD-OUT EVENT IN PORTLAND

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Portland, Maine (November 18, 2018) – New England Fights (NEF) held its most recent mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 36: Battle for the Gold,” on Saturday night at Aura in Portland, Maine.  The event officially sold-out days prior to doors opening.  It was the fifth and final NEF event of the 2018 season, and what many in attendance insisted was the standout show of the year.

In the main event, Ryan Sanders (18-9) put the NEF MMA Professional Lightweight Title on the line against Jacob Bohn (7-6).  Sanders retained the championship after the cageside doctor stopped the fight due to a cut on Bohn’s head in the second round.

History was made when Ras Hylton (3-2) and Yorgan De Castro (3-0) faced off to crown the first-ever NEF MMA Professional Cruiserweight Champion in the co-main event.  De Castro captured the strap in dramatic fashion with a violent first-round knockout of Hylton.

Matt Probin (3-0) made his long-awaited NEF debut against Lionel Young (7-16).  Probin remained undefeated in his professional career when he forced a referee stoppage to strikes early in the second round.

In the opening fight of the evening, Taylor Thompson (3-0) and Catie Denning (1-1) waged an absolute war that had the entire crowd on its feet to kick off the amateur card.  Thompson won a unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards.

Later on in the amateur card, Megan Rosado (0-1) and Glory Watson (2-0) battled back and forth in another crowd-pleasing thriller that went the distance.  Watson was victorious via split decision in a very close fight.

In the third and final women’s fight of the evening, Chelsea Tucker (1-3) picked up the first win of her amateur career with a late-fight technical knockout of BJ Garceau (1-1).

Zac Richard (3-0) remained undefeated with a first-round submission of Chris Lachcik (0-2).  It was a fight that Richard had dedicated to the memory of his older sister Lacey who passed away from cancer six years ago this weekend at the age of 23.

Likewise, in a post fight interview, an emotional Henry Clark (5-4) dedicated his victory over Killian Murphy (1-2) to a friend of his named Justin who recently passed away.

NEF further announced that its next event, “NEF 37: SUB ZERO,” would originate from the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine on Friday, February 1, 2019.  The main event will feature Josh “Hook On” Harvey (5-0-1) and Bill “Jonesi” Jones (13-11) squaring off for the vacant NEF MMA Professional Featherweight Title.

The full results from Portland, Maine:

PROFESSIONAL MMA

Ryan Sanders def. Jacob Bohn via doctor stoppage, round 2

Yorgan De Castro def. Ras Hylton via knockout, round 1

Jose Lugo def. Ernesto Ornelas via rear-naked choke, round 1

Matt Probin def. Lionel Young via technical knockout, round 2

 

AMATEUR MMA

Chelsea Tucker def. BJ Garceau via technical knockout, round 3

Henry Clark def. Killian Murphy via unanimous decision

Nate Boucher def. Jordan Young via tap to rear-naked choke, round 1

Zac Richard def. Chris Lachcik via tap to rear-naked choke, round 1

Glory Watson def. Megan Rosado via split decision

Ben Peters def. Brandon Maillet-Fevens via verbal submission to Kimura, round 1

Felipe Günter def. Schuyler Vaillancourt via tap to rear-naked choke, round 2

Mohammad Al Kinani def. Clifford Redman via TKO, round 1

Jordan Norman def. Jon Assam via split decision

Taylor Thompson def. Catie Denning via unanimous decision

 

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 37: SUB ZERO,” will take place on Friday, February 1, 2019 at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine with a bell time of 8 pm.  Tickets are on-sale now atwww.CrossInsuranceCenter.com now with pre-sale code “NEF.”

ZAC RICHARD FIGHTING IN MEMORY OF HIS SISTER 

Portland, Maine (November 6, 2018) – Two things have provided a compass for Zac Richard through his admittedly challenging journey into young adulthood: Combat sports, and the fighting spirit of his older sister, Lacy.

 

 

Richard will combine those influences in a powerful way when he enters the New England Fights mixed martial arts cage Saturday, November 17 for “NEF 36: Battle For the Gold” at Aura in Portland. Opening bell time is 7 p.m.

 

 

The former high school state champion wrestler from Waterboro, Maine, undefeated in two short MMA forays, will take on Chris Lachcik. It’s a weekend with unforgettable significance for Richard and his family: That weekend will mark the six-year anniversary that Zac’s sister, Lacy, 23, passed away after a battle with cancer.

 

 

“It’s a weird thing losing your sister. It’s certainly going to help motivate me,” Richard said. “A lot of the fans that are going to be there will be wearing T-shirts that we made with my sister’s picture on it. I think it will be an emotional night.”

 

 

Lacy’s death came early in Zac’s sophomore year at Massabesic High School.

 

 

It fueled his development as one of the top schoolboy wrestlers in the state. After losing an overtime decision at the Class A state meet as a junior, Richard finally grabbed 145-pound gold in his senior campaign of 2015.

 

 

“That was always my thing,” Richard said, “I remember a wrestling match my senior year. I was getting my ass kicked by this kid and had no energy to get up. That’s all I could think about was if Lacy could get up, so can I. I ended up winning that match, too, so it’s kind of crazy.”

 

All-state and New England competitions were in play that year, as well, but Richard said his postseason was cut short for disciplinary reasons.

 

 

It began a cycle of a year or two in which Richard – the only remaining child of Glen and Shelly – struggled to find his way in life.

 

 

His relationship with his parents suffered. Memories of their inseparable bond during his wrestling career ultimately provided Zac’s wake-up call.

 

 

“Starting in middle school, my parents drove me to New Hampshire every single day to practice. They drove me all around the country. They bought me a sauna to cut weight in. They always loved the sport,” Richard said, “Once wrestling ended, I was just kind of being a (jerk). They stopped talking to me as much and we weren’t as close.

 

 

“I always missed (wrestling). I had nothing to keep me out of trouble. Wrestling was what always did that for me. It sounds corny, but once 2018 came it was like, “All right, let’s get your (stuff) together.’ It was time to do something with my free time.”

 

 

Richard joined forces with Nostos MMA in Somersworth, New Hampshire, home of former NEF Lightweight Champion and current Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) fighter Devin Powell.

 

 

It didn’t take long for Richard to find a home and follow his mentor into competition. His docket to date includes first-round technical knockouts of Gabriel Diaz and Clifford Redman.

 

 

“Devin is definitely cool. He took me under his wing when I first went in there,” Richard said. “I went to the NEF fights in February when I first started, and he brought me in the cage to get a feel for it and stuff. He’s always given me good advice and told me which fights I should take and which ones I shouldn’t.”

 

 

Coincidentally, both Richard and Powell are preparing for bouts that will take place the same day. Powell’s is on the first-ever UFC card in Argentina.

 

 

“We’re both training right now, so it’s not as one-to-one as much this time, but I love having him as a coach,” Richard said. “I drive 45 minutes every single day because it’s Devin, you know?”

 

 

Richard’s transition to the multi-dimensional MMA arena has been so quick that his repertoire remains a work in progress. He relies heavily on his wrestling acumen and the relentless personality that made him a champion on the mat.

 

 

“I love it because I can actually slam people now,” he said with a laugh. “I was a real scrappy wrestler. I had the most takedowns for my high school, which I crushed the record before me. So those two things help out a lot in MMA, the takedowns and the scrambling, because I don’t practice as much jiu-jitsu as I should. But my wrestling can usually get me out of most situations.

 

 

“I’ve always thought about doing MMA. Growing up as a kid I followed the sport. And I’ve always gotten into fights, so it was like, why not? I kind of hit it off pretty quick, and now I’ve fallen in love and I’m obsessed with it.”

 

 

That focus isn’t lost on Richard’s parents, who are heavily involved in his life – and budding career – once again.

 

 

Together, the family helped raise $33,000 for cancer awareness and research at an annual motorcycle ride in Lacy’s honor this past June.

 

 

Ticket and T-shirt sales also are part of their contribution, but they’re not afraid to get a little dirty, either. When Zac’s boxing coach was unable to attend the last fight, Glen took his place in the corner.

 

 

“My parents are very big supporters,” Richard said, “I love them. I love seeing them be happy with me again.”

 

 

He noted that they drove all the way to Bangor, between two and three hours, for a one-minute fight earlier this year.

 

 

True to his own tradition, Richard hasn’t spent much time watching film of his upcoming opponent.

 

 

“I don’t like to game plan. I just want to go in there and do it. If you fought a guy on the street, you couldn’t watch videos of him. That’s the way I look at it,” Richard said. “All through wrestling, I watched film of one kid because it was my state final and I’d wrested him like 12 times. We went back and forth so it was like, ‘What am I doing wrong?’ But that was different.”

 

 

Richard expects this fight to be a jumping-off point as he tests himself against the top competition NEF has to offer in the year ahead.

 

 

“I’m just going to take any fight I can get against the best guys,” Richard said. “You can sit here and say, ‘I could have been one of the best fighters’ and stuff, but you’ll never know until you try. Every fight I’m going to put my hardest into it.”

 

 

And through all the blood, sweat and tears, one guiding force will remain constant.

 

 

“I’m usually pretty irritated that time of year,” Richard said of Lacy’s anniversary. “Every fight and wrestling match, I’ve just thought to myself if your little sister – well, big sister, but she was tiny – can fight cancer and deal with all this (crap), there’s no way I’m going to back down.”

 

 

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 36: Battle for the Gold,” will see the company make its return to Aura in Portland, Maine.  The event is scheduled to take place Saturday, November 17, 2018 with a bell time of 7 pm.  Tickets are on sale now at www.AuraMaine.com.

TITLE FIGHTS HEADLINE FINAL NEF EVENT OF 2018

 

Portland, Maine (November 2, 2018) – New England Fights (NEF) will hold its final mixed-martial-arts event of 2018, “NEF 36: Battle for the Gold,” on Saturday, November 17 at Aura in Portland, Maine. Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the fight card for the event featuring a full slate of professional and amateur fights.

 

 

 

The professional side of the card will be headlined by a pair of title fights as Ryan Sanders (17-9) defends the lightweight strap against Jacob Bohn (7-5) and Ras Hylton (3-1) meets Yorgan De Castro (2-0) to crown the first-ever NEF cruiserweight champion.

 

 

 

Sanders has held the lightweight title since April 2017 when he defeated Jon Lemke (7-9) in a tournament final.  He has won a remarkable eight in a row in the NEF cage, not losing on Maine soil in four years.  New York’s Jacob Bohn has won his last two in a row over veterans Kenny Foster (12-13) and Lewis Corapi (8-4) respectively.

 

 

 

Ras Hylton is coming off a highlight-reel elbow knockout of Eric Bedard (6-8) last August.  The 6’6″ resident of South Portland, known to fans as “The Jamaican Shamrock,” is a perfect 3-0 in the NEF cage where he also went 3-0 as an amateur.  Yorgan De Castro is undefeated as a professional, having finished both of his opponents by technical knockout.  The bout will be the first in the newly-created NEF 225-pound cruiserweight division which will fall between the light-heavyweight (205-pound) and heavyweight (265-pound) classes.

 

 

 

Also on the professional card will be a flyweight contest between Portland fan-favorite Ernesto Ornelas (4-7) and undefeated Massachusetts prospect Jose Lugo (3-0).  Ornelas is riding a two-fight win streak while Lugo, nicknamed “El Salvaje,” has finished all three of his opponents.

 

 

 

Matt Probin (2-0) is scheduled to make his long-awaited debut with NEF when he meets veteran Lionel Young (7-15) in a featherweight contest.  Probin has won back-to-back bouts in Vermont via knockout to start his professional career.

 

 

 

As of press time, NEF was still searching for a replacement opponent for Carl Langston (0-1) in a professional featherweight bout after several previous opponents had pulled out.  Interested featherweights should contact NEF matchmakers via email at newenglandfights@gmail.com.  Serious inquiries only please.

 

 

 

The amateur portion of the card is scheduled to feature a total of three women’s MMA bouts.  Glory Watson (1-0) will take on Megan Rosado (0-0), while BJ Garceau (1-0) meets Chelsea Tucker (0-3) and Catie Denning (1-0) faces off with Taylor Thompson (2-0).  Watson, Garceau and Tucker are all members of Young’s MMA in Bangor, Maine owned and operated by coach Chris Young.  The trio has been nicknamed “Chris’ Angels.”

 

 

 

The full “NEF 36” fight card (subject to change and approval of the Combat Sports Authority of Maine):

 

 

 

PROFESSIONAL MMA

 

 

225*TITLE Ras Hylton 3-1 (First Class MMA) vs Yorgan De Castro 2-0

155*TITLE Ryan Sanders 17-9 (c) (Young’s MMA) vs Jacob Bohn 7-5 (Behring Jiu Jitsu NY)

145 Matt Probin 2-0 (Recon) vs Lionel Young 7-15 (Citadel Martial Arts)

125 Ernesto Ornelas 4-7 (Choi Institute) vs Jose Lugo 3-0 (BST MMA & Fitness)

 

 

 

AMATEUR MMA

 

175 Jon Assam 0-0 (CMBJJ) vs Jordan Norman 0-1 (Bad Little Falls Dojo)

155 Zac Richard 2-0 (Nostos) vs Chris Lachcik 0-1 (Independent)

155 Mohammad Al Kinani 4-1 (Evolution Athletix) vs Clifford Redman 0-6 (Independent)

155 Brandon Mailet 0-0 (CMBJJ) vs Ben Peters 0-0 (Titan Athletics)

140 Megan Rosado 0-0 (Evolution Athletix) vs Glory Watson 1-0 (Young’s MMA)

140 Henry Clark 4-4 (Choi Institute) vs Killian Murphy 1-1 (Nostos)

135 Taylor Thompson 2-0 () vs Catie Denning 1-0 (Young’s MMA)

135 Schuyler Vaillancourt 0-0 (Nostos) vs Felipe Gunther 0-0 (First Class MMA)

135 Nate Boucher 2-3 (CMBJJ) vs Jordan Young 1-1 (Independent)

125 Chelsea Tucker 0-3 (First Class MMA) vs BJ Garceau 1-0 (Young’s MMA)

 

 

 

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 36: Battle for the Gold,” will see the company make its return to Aura in Portland, Maine.  The event is scheduled to take place Saturday, November 17, 2018 with a bell time of 7 pm.  Tickets are on sale now at www.AuraMaine.com.

 

 

 

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 fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.