Bangor, Maine (July 28, 2016) – The dedicated delegation from Young’s MMA of Bangor usually relish their reputation as road warriors in New England Fights.
Lewiston is long established as the hub city for the organization, drawing competitors and spectators from both directions on the Maine Turnpike. Fighters and fans from the Penobscot River valley find that staying engaged for those fight cards four or five times a year requires greater commitment than most.
For only the second time in its history, the regional promotion will bring its cage to the Queen City. “NEF Presents: Dana White Lookin’ for a Fight” is slated for Friday, August 5 at Cross Insurance Center.
Young’s, the gym located just a few blocks away at 127 Hammond Street, will celebrate by showcasing one of its fighters in four of the eight scheduled professional bouts. Battle-tested Ryan Sanders and relative newcomers Aaron Lacey, Josh Harvey and CJ Ewer all are poised to take their best shot with the support of a raucous, partisan crowd.
“That’s the most exciting part for me, being from Brewer. I went to Brewer High School,” Lacey said. “It was definitely a huge, huge draw for me, seeing it in person. I went to the fights when NEF came to Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion (July 12, 2013) and all I could think is, ‘Man, I want to do this.’ This has been a goal of mine for a long time.”
Sanders (10-7) will battle Derrick Kennington (11-7) in a clash of wily lightweights that will be on the featured attractions on the docket.
His three stablemates each emerged victorious in their only previous pro bout. Lacey will lock up with John Santos (3-3) of Derry, N.H., dagaal featherweight. Harvey has an appointment at featherweight. Ewer, who won an amateur bout at the outdoor concert venue in Bangor, will be tested by Ruben Redman (0-1) in a welterweight scrap.
Even with numerous friends in attendance, the four men know it is the presence of UFC president White, who grew up in nearby Hermon, which could have career-changing ramifications.
“It’s a great opportunity. It’s awesome to know that someone like that is going to be in the building on fight night,” Sanders said. “But for me it’s just another fight. I don’t want to get caught up in all that. Just let it unfold.”
White iyo cohorts Din Thomas iyo Matt Serra waxay u safrayaan dalka iyagoo raadinaya hibo MMA oo aan la ogaanin bandhig dhab ah oo laga sii daayay bogga YouTube ee White iyo sidoo kale UFC Fight Pass oo ku saleysan rukunka ku saleysan adeegga fiidiyowga.
Haa, xiriiriyaha ganacsadaha ee Maine ayaa si wanaagsan loo diiwaangeliyey. Caddaan ayaa sidoo kale horey u keenay UFC Fight Night 47 ilaa Bangor. Barxadda 'Young's talent pool pool' waxay ka shakisan tahay in dhacdadii ugu dambeysay ay ka badan tahay oo keliya kiis Caddaan oo laf ku tuuraya saldhigiisa, Si kastaba ha ahaatee.
“Waan ku faraxsanahay inuu halkan keenay. Waan hubaa inuu filim ka daawaday NEF waqtigiisa firaaqada. Waa inuu ku arkaa wax NEF uu jecelyahay inuu sidan ku sameeyo,”Ayuu yiri Harvey. “Kama dhigeyso mid walwal badan. Waxaan ahay ugu faraxsan, waayo,. Waxaan isku dayi doonaa inaan intaas oo dhan dhinac dhigo oo aan diirada saaro howsha socota. ”
Barbaarinta milkiileyaasha milkiilayaasha Chris Young iyo Ernie Fitch, qiyaastii shan ama lix xirfadlayaal ah iyo dersin hiwaayad ah ayaa ku dhex wareegaya qolka jimicsiga ee ku yaal xero tababar oo kasta.
“Afar naga mid ah ayaa dagaalamaya, waxay kaliya muujineysaa inaan nahay jimicsiga ugu fiican aagga. Saddex naga mid ah lagama badin. Waxaan soo saaraynaa xargaha. Dadku taas way arkayaan waxayna rabaan inay la tababaraan ragga ugu fiican ee ay awoodaan,” Sanders said. “Xaqiiqdii waan is riixeynaa. Waxaad leedahay niman dameerka dabada ka laada maalin kasta. Waxaan rabnaa kan ugu fiican midka kale. Taasi waa sababta aan halkan u joogno.
Harvey waxay rajeyneysaa tirooyinka iyo ballanqaadka inay koraan booqashada White ka dib. Wuxuu tababar ku qaadanayay Young's muddo seddex sano ah. The cage side seat at the waterfront inspired him to step up his own training regimen. It’s a built-in advantage, Harvey noted, that has belonged almost exclusively to Lewiston until now.
“That’s what gets most people started. They go and see the fights and they want to try it,”Ayuu yiri Harvey. “That’s why you see places like Central Maine BJJ (Lewiston) and First Class MMA (Topsham) growing so much. The fights are right there in their backyard.”
Lacey characterizes Young’s as “a gym full of killers.”
The statistics underscore Lacey’s point. The three pros with unblemished records all won their debut in two minutes or less.
“Ryan has only gone to a decision I think one time in his career. He’s a finisher. Josh wuxuu ku guuleystey dagaalkiisa isagoo soo gudbinaya wareegii koowaad. CJ waa mid xoog badan,” Lacey said. “Waxay igula tartamayaan inaan noqdo kan ugu fiican ee aan noqon karo maalin kasta. Waxay iga dhigayaan inaan diirada saaro qolka jimicsiga oo kaliya laakiin ciyaarta nolosha ka baxsan qafiska. ”
In kasta oo uu wajahayo qof ka soo hor jeeda oo leh khibrad aad u weyn, Lacey wuxuu rajaynayaa inuu ku caawiyo adrenaline deg deg ah inuu wajiyo badan oo caan ah ku leeyahay dhabarkiisa.
“Way ka duwan tahay. Waan dagaalamay waxaan u maleynayaa toddobo jeer Lewiston inta udhaxeysa dagaal hiwaayadeed iyo kulankeygii ugu horeeyay,"Ayuu yiri. “Tani waxay i siinaysaa fursad aan ku joogo aaggayga raaxada. Qaar badan oo ka mid ah taageerayaashayduna halkaas kama dhigi karaan. Waqtiga aad ku xisaabtameyso safarka, qiimaha tigidhada, waxaa laga yaabaa in la hoydo, kaliya ma sameyn karaan. ”
Harvey waa ogolaaday, pointing out that it’s the initial fight for which he hasn’t needed to pack a suitcase.
“This will be the first time I’ve slept in my own bed the night before a fight. I think it’s a huge advantage,”Ayuu yiri Harvey. “Some people might think with more of your fans there that there’s more pressure, but I think it just builds you up.”
“NEF Presents Dana White: Looking for a Fight” takes place on Friday, August 5, 2016 at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine. Tigidhada waa on sale hadda ee www.CrossInsuranceCenter.
Wixii macluumaad dheeraad ah ee ku saabsan dhacdada iyo dagaalka kaarka updates, fadlan booqo website horumarinta ee www.NewEnglandFights.com. Waxaa intaa dheer, waxaad daawan kartaa NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA iyo www.flocombat.com, oo iyaga raac onnefights Twitter iyo Facebook ku biiro kooxda rasmi ah "New England oo gaaf wareegaya."