NEF RETURNS TO MAINE WITH STACKED FIGHT CARD FEATURING FOUR TITLE FIGHTS
DO SCAOILEADH Láithreach: Portland, Maine (Deireadh Fómhair 22, 2021) – When the bell rings at 7 pm EST to start the show on Friday, Samhain 5, it will be the first time New England Fights (NEF) has presented a mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event in its home state of Maine in 21 months. Shortly after the venerable fight promotion held “NEF 42” at Merrill Auditorium in Portland on February 8, 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic gripped the state and the nation. The resulting shutdown forced the indefinite postponement of “NEF 43” which was scheduled to take place in Orono, Maine later that spring. With the state not fully opening for combat sports events until well into 2021, NEF decided to turn to neighboring New Hampshire to hold “NEF 44” last summer. “NEF 45: Uprising” on November 5 will see the fight promotion make its long-awaited return to action in Maine, as well as close out its first decade of business. The event will originate from Aura in Portland.
Níos luaithe inniu, NEF announced the full fight card for “NEF 45.” It is scheduled to feature a total of 21 bouts with four championships to be decided.
Sa chás is mó de na tráthnóna, Josh "Hook Ar" Harvey(7-1-1) will defend the NEF Professional Featherweight Title against the challenge ofAguilando Brandao(9-8). Harvey has held the championship since February 2019. Brandao is a tough veteran with more than 15 years of cage experience.
The co-main event will seeMark “Pockets” Gardner(1-2)chur arNick Alley (7-4) in a professional welterweight contest. Both competitors are veterans of global promotion Bellator’s cage. Both will be looking to bounce back from losses in their respective previous bouts.
Zac "Rocky" Richard (0-0) a dhéanamh sé ar an bhfoireann ghairmiúil in aghaidhCarl Langston(0-5) after a successful amateur career that saw Richard capture the NEF 155-pound title. Langston seeks his first win as a professional fighter.
In other pro bouts, Matt “Ken Doll” Denning(5-10) meets former University of Southern Maine wrestling standoutJon Deupree (0-0) in Deupree’s pro debut, while former NEF Professional Middleweight ChampionCJ Ewer(3-3) cathannaShaun Ray (2-1) in the welterweight division.
The amateur portion of the fight card will be headlined by three title fights: Caleb Austin(5-0) aghaidheannaTyler Smythe (2-1) for the vacant flyweight belt; Felipe Günter(3-0) is scheduled to square off withTeddy Politis (2-0) for the vacant bantamweight championship; agusNathaniel Grimard(4-0) will defend his newly-won featherweight strap againstBilly Wilson(6-1).
The sole women’s fight of the evening will also take place on the amateur card asBJ Garceau(1-1) meets the debutingHayley Martin (0-0) in a strawweight bout. Garceau last appeared in the NEF cage three years earlier at “NEF 36.”
“It feels like forever since we had a fight in Maine—and what a card to come back with,"A dúirt an NEF comh-úinéir agus matchmaker Matt Peterson. “So many prospects in this lineup, so many undefeated fighters putting their perfect records on the line, so much at stake for so many impressive athletes putting themselves to the test on November 5th. Four title fights. For headliner Josh Harvey, his next fight could be the last chance to see him compete before he gets the call to the UFC —he’s that close. Leading up to the main event we have several undefeated amateur athletes that are on the cusp of turning pro and trying to follow in Harvey’s footsteps. AURA is the place to be November 5th!"
The full “NEF 45” fight card (faoi réir a athrú):
PROFESSIONAL MMA
145 POUND TITLE: Josh Harvey (c) vs. Aguilando Brandao
170 PUNT: Nick Alley vs. Mark Gardner
140 PUNT: Carl Langston vs. Zac Risteard
170 PUNT: Jon Deupree vs. Matt Denning
160 PUNT: Jay Ellis vs. Rodrigo Almeida
170 PUNT: CJ Ewer vs. Shaun Ray
Amaitéarach MMA
125 POUND TITLE: Caleb Austin vs. Tyler Smythe
145 POUND TITLE: Billy Wilson vs. Nathaniel Grimard (c)
135 POUND TITLE: Felipe Günter vs. Teddy Politis
115 PUNT: BJ Garceau vs. Hayley Martin
200 PUNT: David McCarthy vs. Danny Dray
170 PUNT: Brian Cosco vs. Tyler Kingsbury
265 PUNT: Tucker Olinsky vs. George Pissimissis
170 PUNT: Curtis Ouellette vs. Derek Lambert
185 PUNT: Bryant Wade vs. Brandon Oldenberg
185 PUNT: Brett Martin vs. Justin Philbrook
155 PUNT: Jonas Ryerson vs. RJ Janeczek
165 PUNT: Austin Hamilton vs. David Hart
115 PUNT: Julian Menjivar vs. Matt Miles
155 PUNT: Jacob Routon vs. Emmett Huber
135 PUNT: Tyler Parent vs. Randall Hathorn
"NEF 45: Uprising” takes place on Friday, Samhain 5, 2021, at Aura in Portland, Maine. Doors open at 6 pm with first fight at 7 pm. Tickets are on sale now atwww.Ticketmaster.com. The event will also be live streamed on pay-per-view for the price of $29.99 agwww.CombatSportsNow.com.
Maidir troideanna Sasana Nua
Troideanna Sasana Nua ("NEF") Is troid imeachtaí chun cinn cuideachta. Is é misean NEF a chruthú na himeachtaí chaighdeán is airde do trodaithe agus lucht leanúna araon. Tá foireann feidhmiúcháin NEF taithí fhairsing i mbainistíocht spóirt a chomhrac, tháirgeadh Imeachtaí, caidreamh leis na meáin, margaíochta, dlí agus fógraíocht.