NEF ANNOUNCES SUMMER’S HOTTEST FIGHT CARD

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Lewiston, Maine (Lub Xya hli ntuj 16, 2025) – New England Fights (“NEF”) presents its next event “NEF 63: Cruel Summer,” on Saturday, Lub yim hli ntuj 9, 2025, at the Lewiston Memorial Armory in Lewiston, Maine. The event will make history as the first ever sanctioned hybrid mixed-martial-arts (MMA) and kickboxing card in Maine. Tickets are on sale now atwww.nefights.com/tickets/.  The event will also stream live atwww.CombatSportsNow.com.

Earlier today, NEF announced the full fight card for the event. A mega-card consisting of two dozen bouts was released featuring a slew of MMA title fights, grudge matches, and kickboxing contests.

“This is old school NEF,” proclaimed NEF co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo. “This will be reminiscent of the marathon cards we used to host in Lewiston back in the day. Just non-stop action from the time the first fight hits the cage to the last. We really wanted to put something special together for our debut at the Armory and for the debut of regulated kickboxing in Maine. This is a must-see event for combat sports fans!  You WILL get your money’s worth on this night!”

The big story of the evening is the retirement fight of Lewiston/Auburn’s own Jesse “The Viking” Erickson (11-9).  Erickson, one of the promotion’s most popular athletes, competed on the “NEF 1” card in Lewiston back in 2012. He has consistently been a top challenger for NEF’s pro lightweight title over the years representing nearby Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ).  Erickson will step into the NEF cage one final time, facing Massachusetts’ Brian Cosco (2-2) at a catchweight of 165 pounds in a professional MMA bout.

The main event of the night will feature Nick Eldridge (4-0) defending the promotion’s professional MMA bantamweight title against the challenge of top Canadian prospect Olivier Poisson (3-0).  Eldridge won the 135-pound championship at “NEF 62” this past May handing previously undefeated Tim Fargo (3-1) the first loss of his professional career.

Eldridge’s Nostos teammate Nathaniel Grimard (7-5) will face First Class MMA’s Felipe Günter (3-1) in the hotly anticipated co-main event for NEF’s professional MMA featherweight strap. Both competitors have been extremely popular with fans throughout their respective careers. Both held gold with the promotion as amateurs.

Local favorite “Killa” Kam Arnold (6-1) will look to keep his four-fight win streak alive when he meets savvy Pennsylvania veteran Charlie “The Madman” Gathers (9-11) in a catchweight MMA bout.

Also featured on the professional portion of the MMA card: Fred Allen Sfeir (1-0) and Josue Sotero (1-0) will each put their undefeated record on the line in a featherweight contest; Tyler Smythe (5-6) returns to the MMA cage after a recent jaunt in the boxing ring to meet Erick Alvarado (2-2); and Rumford, Maine’s Nate Boucher (0-5) and Florida’s Paul Walters (0-7) both look for the first victory of their respective professional MMA careers in a catchweight bout.

Two title fights will headline the amateur MMA portion of the fight card.

Undefeated Nate “The Mule” White (7-0) will square off with Brandon Oldenburg (2-3) for the vacant amateur MMA heavyweight title. White will compete for the first time in 21 months. Oldenburg is on a two-fight win streak with two first-round knockouts.

Sean Wakefield (7-4) is scheduled to fight Preston LaPointe (4-1) for NEF’s amateur MMA welterweight belt. The pair previously met in Indiana this spring for a regional championship. LaPointe won a very close split decision in that first fight. A highly-competitive rematch is anticipated.

Also featured on the amateur portion of the MMA card will be a bantamweight bout between highly-skilled competitors Julian Connerton (6-3) and Qasim Abdullah (3-1).

Seven amateur kickboxing bouts are scheduled for the “NEF 63” undercard.

As the card order now stands, Ben Perry (0-0) from Nostos and Abdinajib Adan (1-0) of the Choi Institute will have the honor of being the first regulated kickboxing bout in Maine history.

William Lagasse (0-0) will meet Connor Morrill (3-0) in an amateur kickboxing bout. It will be a rematch of their first meeting – an amateur MMA fight won by Lagasse via first-round knockout.

Also on the amateur kickboxing portion of the card, 52-year-old Ice Young (0-0) will make his NEF debut against Daniel Heredia (1-0) in a light heavyweight contest.

The full “NEF 63” fight card (subject to change):

PROFESSIONAL MMA

135 TITLE: Nick Eldridge (c) vs Olivier Poisson

145 TITLE: Nathaniel Grimard vs Felipe Günter

165: Jesse Erickson vs Brian Cosco

140: Kam Arnold vs Charlie Gathers

145: Josue Sotero vs Fred Allen Sfeir

140: Nate Boucher vs Paul Walters

140: Tyler Smythe vs Erick Alvarado

AMATEUR MMA

265 TITLE: Nate White vs Brandon Oldenburg

170 TITLE: Preston LaPointe vs Sean Wakefield

240: Charles Sullivan vs Michael Hamm

145: Isaac Therrien vs Billy Henry

170: Zach Perry vs Leland Hopson

155: Avery Poole vs Ben Rogers

135: Qasim Abdullah vs Julian Connerton

155: Justin Wygant vs Jacob MacMillan

145: John Soucy vs Joe Cleary

205: Carlo Oliveira vs David Hart

AMATEUR KICKBOXING

155: James Johnson vs Mark Walker

135: Jonas Ryerson vs Quinn Poirier

140: Connor Morrill vs William Lagasse

135: Spencer Belanger vs Evan Thibeault

205: Daniel Heredia vs Ice Young

135: Richard Clark vs Alex Smith

165: Abdinajib Adan vs Ben Perry

“NEF 63: Cruel Summer” takes place on Saturday, Lub yim hli ntuj 9, 2025, at Lewiston Memorial Armory in Lewiston, Maine. Qhov rooj yuav qhib rau 6 pm with the first fight taking place at 7 PM. Tickets are on sale now atwww.nefights.com/tickets/.  The event will also stream live atwww.CombatSportsNow.com.