Msanga KUMASULIDWA: Portland, Maine (November 3, 2017) - New England Kumenyana (NEF) made its long-awaited debut in Portland, Maine lachiwelu night before a sold-out crowd at Aura.

Kwenikweni mwambo madzulo, hometown favorite Paul Gorman (11-9) took on James Blair (5-2) in a 130-pound catchweight contest. The crowd was on the edge of its collective seat for a thrilling three-round war that will be a definite “nkhondo m'chaka” candidate for 2017. Gorman pulled off the unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards.

The ever-popular John “Choyamba Maphunziro” Ray (3-8) returned to the NEF cage after a three-year retirement. Raio faced a game Zenon Herrera (0-6) and came out with the win in the third round when Herrera tapped out to a guillotine choke.

Pa ankachita masewera pambali pa khadi, three new champions were crowned. Terrance Jean-Jacques (3-0) became the new NEF Amateur Heavyweight Champion with a unanimous decision victory over defending champion Nick Gulliver (4-1). Justin Witham (4-4) is the new flyweight titleholder after defeating Nate Boucher (2-1) ndi kugawanika zochita. Hilarie Rose (5-3) made history as the first women’s champion in promotion history by capturing the strawweight title against Alex Walker (4-2).

Two milestones were set early in the night as Jayda Bailey (1-0) became the youngest fighter to ever emerge victorious in the NEF cage, while Garry Carr (1-0) took the honor of the oldest fighter to ever win in the NEF cage. Bailey turned 18 just eight days prior to the event. Carr is 56 years young.

In addition to an evening of fights, fans were able to meet special guest Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (24-5). Souza is currently the number-four ranked middleweight in the UFC.

The results from Portland, Maine:

Akatswiri

Paul Gorman def. James Blair via unanimous decision

John Raio def. Zenon Herrera via guillotine, wozungulira 3

Ankachita masewera

Hilarie Rose def. Alex Walker via TKO, wozungulira 1

Justin Witham def. Nate Boucher via split decision

Terrance Jean-Jacques def. Nick Gulliver via unanimous decision

Carl Langston def. Henry Clark via unanimous decision

Mohammed al Kinani def. Phil Pearson via KO, wozungulira 1

Isaac Therrien def. Chad Weymouth via TKO, wozungulira 1

Francesca Morabito def. Carol Linn Powell via unanimous decision

Emmett Huber def. Will McCall via guillotine, wozungulira 1

Bill Cole def. Nathan Pete via rear-naked choke, wozungulira 2

Garry Carr def. David Hart via rear-naked choke, wozungulira 1

Mark Gardner def. Carlton Charles via TKO, wozungulira 2

Sarah Matulis def. Chelsea Elizabeth via TKO, wozungulira 1

Jayda Bailey def. Danae Dostie via TKO, wozungulira 1

NEF otsatira losakanizika karate-luso chochitika, “NEF 32: Super Loweruka,” adzaona kampani kupanga ulendo wake wobwerera ku Androscoggin Bank Colisee mu Lewiston, Maine. The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 3, 2018. Tickets are on-sale now online atwww.TheColisee.com.

Portland, Maine (October 6, 2017) - New England Kumenyana (NEF) will make its long-awaited debut in Portland on Friday, November 3, 2017 at Aura with “NEF 31: The Old Port.” Poyambirira lero, the fight promotion announced the full fight card for the event featuring a full slate of professional and amateur mixed-martial-arts bouts.

Maine fan-favorite Paul Gorman (10-9) is scheduled to take on James “The Flyin’ Hawaiian” Blair (5-1) in the main event of the evening. Gorman, the former NEF bantamweight titleholder and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt out of the Academy in Portland, makes his return to the NEF cage after a three-year absence. Blair is a hot prospect from the world-renowned American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida where he trains alongside a veritable murderers’ row of current and former world champions like Mike Brown (26-9), Tyron Woodley (18-3-1), and Joanna Jędrzejczyk (14-0) just to name a few.

Reigning NEF Professional Middleweight Champion CJ Ewer (3-0) will be in action when he takes on Crowsneck Boutin (2-3) in a non-title affair. Ewer captured the 185-pound title over the summer when he submitted Mike Hansen (5-6) pa “NEF 30: Rumble in Bangor.” Boutin will be coming off a year-long layoff from competition.

“The Blackpool Ripper” Matt Probin (0-0) makes his pro MMA debut against rugged veteranJosh parkers (6-9). Both Probin and Parker have extensive backgrounds as professional boxers. Probin has trained and competed in Muay Thai in Thailand. Parker is the founder of Ruthless MMA & Boxing of Waterville, Maine.

John “Choyamba Maphunziro” Ray (2-8) will come out of retirement to face Zenon “K-Bar” HERRERA (0-5). Raio last fought in the summer of 2015. He is the head coach of First Class MMA based in Brunswick, Maine. HERRERA, a veteran of both the United States Army and Marine Corps, is looking for his first win since joining the professional ranks two years ago.

The amateur side of the card will feature a total of three title fights. NEF Amateur Heavyweight Champion Nick “The Guardian” Gulliver (4-0) will defend his strap against WWE signeeTerrance Jean-Jacques (2-0), pamene Nate Boucher (2-0) ndipo Justin Witham (3-4) square off for the vacant flyweight title. Alex Walker (4-1) ndipo Hilarie Rose (4-3) will make history when they battle for the first-ever NEF women’s championship in the strawweight division.

The Walker-Rose fight will be one of four female bouts featured on the “NEF 31” amateur card. Carol Linn Powell (0-0), wife of former NEF Professional Lightweight Champion and current UFC competitor Devin Powell (8-3), is scheduled to make her cage debut against Francesca Morabito (0-0). Jayda “Lil Killah” Bailey (0-0) makes her debut just eight days after her 18th birthday, the legal minimum age for competing in MMA in Maine, in a bantamweight bout with Danae Dostie (0-0) pamene Sarah Matulis (0-0) ndipo Chelsea Elizabeth(0-0) face off in yet another double amateur debut.

The full “NEF 31” nkhondo khadi (phunziro kusintha ndi kukondweretsa kulimbana Sports Authority wa Maine):

 

Akatswiri MMA

180 CJ Ewer 3-0 (Young a MMA) motsutsana Crowsneck Boutin 2-3 (Independent)

 

150 John Ray 2-8 (Choyamba Maphunziro MMA) motsutsana Zenon HERRERA 0-5 (Independent)

 

145 Josh parkers 6-9 (Ankhanza MMA & Nkhonya) vs Matt Probin 0-0 (CMBJJ/Young’s MMA)

 

135 Paul Gorman 10-9 (The Academy) vs James Blair 5-1 (American Top Team)

 

Ankachita masewera MMA

 

265*Title Nick Guilliver 4-0 (m'ma) (First Class /Foundry) vs Terrance Jean-Jacques 2-0 (Team Link)

 

125*Title Nate Boucher 2-0 (CMBJJ) vs Justin Witham 3-4 (Shatterproof kulimbana Club)

 

115 *Title Alex Walker 4-1 (Kaze) vs Hilarie Rose 4-3 (USMMA)

265 Matt Glover 1-1 (Berserkers MMA) vs Jason Field 0-2 (Kenney’s MMA)

 

175 Carlton Charles 1-0 (Charles Family Fighting/Fire&Iron Athletics) vs Nate Evans 0-0

 

170 Mohammed al Kinani 0-0 (Evolution Athletix) motsutsana Phil Pearson 0-1 (Choyamba Maphunziro MMA)

 

170 David Grant 0-0 (Evolution Athletix) vs Tom Rials 0-0 (Nostos)

 

155 Will McCall 1-2 (Evolution Athletix) vs Chad Pierce 1-0 (The Academy)

 

155 Nick Banks 0-0 (Choi Institute) vs Emmett Huber 0-1 (The Academy)

 

155 Garry Carr 0-0 (CMBJJ) vs David Hart 0-1 (Kenney’s MMA)

135 Sarah Matulis 0-0 (Shatterproof kulimbana Club) vs Chelsea Elizabeth 0-0 (Choyamba Maphunziro MMA)

 

135 Danae Dostie 0-0 (Kenney’s MMA) vs Jayda Bailey 0-0 (Young a MMA)

 

135 Carl Langston 6-9 (Young a MMA) motsutsana Henry Clark 3-3 (Choi Institute)

 

135 Kam Arnold 1-0 (CMBJJ) vs Caleb Costello 3-4 (Young a MMA)

 

135 Carol Linn Hawkins 0-0 (Nostos) vs Francesca Morabito 0-0 (Choi Institute)

 

NEF otsatira losakanizika karate-luso chochitika, “NEF 31: The Old Port,” will see the company debut in Portland, Maine at the brand new, state-of-the-art venue Aura. The event is scheduled to take place on Friday, November 3, 2017. Matikiti ali pa malonda tsopano www.auramaine.com.