Lewiston, Maine (Plaub Hlis Ntuj 21, 2015) - Tshiab England Fights (NEF), America lub xov tooj-ib regional sib ntaus qib, yuav tuav nws xyoo mixed martial--kawm (MMA) kev tshwm sim, “NEF XVIII: Made in America,” rau Saturday, Lub rau hli ntuj 13, 2015 nyob rau ntawm lub Androscoggin Bank Colisee nyob rau hauv Lewiston, Maine. Nyuam qhuav pib hnub no, the promotion announced that NEF MMA Professional Lightweight Champion Bruce “Zoo nkauj tub” Boyington (10-8) yuav ua tau raws li John “Thawj cov hoob kawm” Ray (2-7) on the card in a non-title bout at a weight of 150-pounds.
Boyington and Raio first met in February 2014 ntawm “NEF XII” nyob rau hauv Lewiston. Boyington dominated the early moments with his striking. Coming towards the end of the first round, Raio would take Boyington’s back and apply a rear-naked choke on the mat. The future lightweight champion waved his hand in the air, a signal which referee Jimmy Bickford took to indicate Boyington’s submission. Bickford stopped the bout and awarded the fight to Raio, drawing an immediate protest from Boyington who stated he was waving to his fans in the crowd as a sign that he was not in danger.
In the days that followed, a heated debate would rage on social media over the controversial finish to the fight. Both fighters, boasting arguably the two largest fan bases in all of New England, were at the center of an epic war of words between their respective supporters. It seemed as though everyone had an opinion, and the entire state of Maine was split.
“Things were crazy that week after the bout,” recalled NEF co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo. “Our Facebook page was flooded with comments and private messages. Everybody and their mother was weighing in. It’s probably the most controversial moment in NEF history. Fans have been asking us for over a year when the rematch would happen. The time has finally come, Lub rau hli ntuj 13 nyob rau hauv Lewiston!”
Boyington would go on to have a highly successful finish to 2014, winning not one but two regional MMA titles, including the NEF MMA Professional Lightweight Championship. He would also win his professional boxing debut at NEF’s inaugural boxing event in October 2014. Boyington has, nyob rau hauv qhov tseeb, won four of his last five since the Raio loss.
“This fight is solely about redemption and giving the fans what they have been wanting to see,” stated Boyington when reached for comment. “Sometimes you have to step outside of what is best for you in this sport and entertain and that’s what I’m doing. I like a challenge—the biggest challenge—and that time will come, but for now, its about showing people what was about to happen last time and I can still show I’m three-levels above him by making the statement I’m about to embark on. I’m done with mishaps in that cage. I’m seizing every opportunity and will not let something slip again. Mark my words, its about to get tiag tiag in my fight.”
Raio is coming off two losses in a row to his archrival, Derek Shorey (2-1), including one defeat earlier this month at “NEF XVII.” In need of a win, the founder of First Class MMA may now be more determined than ever to return to the NEF cage.
“I know this is a fight that I want, Bruce wants, and a lot of MMA fans have asked for,” stated Raio when reached for comment. “I look forward to fighting Bruce. Hopefully when the fight is over, there will be no controversy.”
NEF tus tom ntej MMA kev tshwm sim, “NEF XVIII: Made in America” will originate from the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine on June 13, 2015. Daim pib rau “NEF XVIII” pib ntawm cia li $25 thiab yog muag tam sim no nyob www.TheColisee.com los yog los ntawm kev hu mus rau lub chaw ua hauj lwm ntawm Colisee207.783.2009 x 525. Yog xav paub ntxiv nyob rau hauv cov kev tshwm sim thiab kev sib ntaus card tshiab, thov mus saib cov qib lub website ntawm www.NewEnglandFights.com. Nyob rau hauv tas li ntawd, koj yuav saib NEF yeeb yaj duab ntawm www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, ua raws li lawv nyob rau Twitternefights thiab koom nrog cov nom Facebook pab pawg neeg "New England Fights."
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