Category Archives: New England Fights

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

WELTERWEIGHT MATCHUP HAS ALL THE MAKINGS OF “FIGHT OF THE YEAR”

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Lewiston, Maine (February 11, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine on April 11, 2015 with its seventeenth mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event.  The fight card, aptly titled “NEF XVII,” will feature a high-level professional welterweight contest between Jarod “Last Minute” Lawton (4-1) and Dennis Olson (12-7).

 

“This is the kind of fight we love to make in NEF,” said NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson.  “It’s two exciting fighters who come with 100% each and every time they step into that cage. Neither of them could have a boring fight if they tried. Both of these athletes bring a rare intensity to their training regimens and fighting styles. When we look back at the end of 2015, I expect this fight to be in the discussion for ‘Fight of the Year.'”

 

Lawton, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt out of Augusta, Maine, recently signed a long-term promotional contract with NEF.  He has been a regular in the NEF cage for three years, four of five of his professional bouts having been for the promotion.  Lawton’s sole loss came to Darrius Heyliger (5-2) when the cage-side physician stopped the bout due to a cut.  He had been beating Heyliger soundly up until that point.

 

Lawton would go on to win his next three in a row, becoming known for his late fight finishes of opponents.  He currently owns and operates Team Lawton Martial Arts – a Team New England United (NEU) affiliate based in Farmingdale, Maine.  With the Androscoggin Bank Colisee being just down the road from his base of operations, Lawton feels that he will have the home field advantage over Olson in their April 11 bout.

 

“I hope the fans are as excited as I am about me getting back in the cage,” said Lawton.  “I plan to make this a breakout year for myself and Team Lawton-NEU.  I am ready to take this step up in competition against Olson.  We are both very durable and I am expecting fireworks for this fight, but NEF is my home –  this guy is coming to my home, my fans’ home.  When we step in that cage, it will be more than me in that cage – it will be an entire arena against him.  All my preparation will be thanks to my training partners, coaches, students and my wife and son, and NEF for all the opportunities they have given me.”

 

Dennis Olson is one of the most-respected, and feared, athletes in the history of the New England MMA scene.  He is a product of John Fain’s Team Triumph in Nashua, NH, and was, at one time, the kingpin of the region’s welterweight division.  Olson is a two-fight veteran of the Bellator cage and has spent over a decade competing in MMA.  His list of opponents reads like a “who’s who” of New England welterweights over the years, including a notable win over UFC veteran and Dolce Diet namesake Mike Dolce (4-9). Olson will undoubtedly look to avenge past losses by his Triumph teammates John Ortolani (7-9) and Cody Anderson (1-2) at the hands of Lawton.

 

“April 11, 2015, I climb into the cage for the 22nd time, Lawton for the sixth,” said Olson.  “I respect every one of my opponents’ ability to throw a punch or snag a choke.  However, with the level of competition that I have seen leads me to believe that there is nothing Lawton can use to surprise me or catch me off guard. Knowing this information leaves me with only one option.  I have to take advantage of absolutely every second I have in order to prepare myself to prove that information as fact.  I am going to do my best to take every ounce of heart and soul from you.  I’m going to make you want to give up, make you want to die.  I’m going to do my best to dismantle you piece by piece.  To prove to you and I and everyone else that I am your alpha. I am above you, you cannot and will not defeat me.”

 

NEF’s next MMA event, “NEF XVII,” is scheduled to take place onApril 11, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.  Bruce “Pretty Boy” Boyington (10-7) will defend the NEF MMA Lightweight Title against number-one contender Jamie Harrison (5-1).  In addition, Jarod “Last Minute” Lawton (4-1) meets Dennis Olson (12-7) in a welterweight contest.  Tickets for “NEF XVII” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling The Colisee box office at 207.783.2009 x 525.  For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

 

About New England Fights

 

New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

BOYINGTON AND HARRISON ON APRIL 11: POWER IS LEGEND

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Lewiston, Maine (February 10, 2015) – The night was June 16, 2012.  Over 3,000 fans had filled the Androscoggin Bank Colisee for New England Fights’ (NEF) “NEF III” mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event.  In the main event of the evening was former two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Champion of the World Tim “The Maine-iac” Sylvia (31-10).  Sylvia was competing for the first time ever in his home state of Maine.   Media outlets, both local and national, descended on Lewiston that night for the big event.  National cable station HDNet (now “AXS TV”) sent a full film crew and producer to cover the pro portion of the fight card for their weekly program Inside MMA.

 

Sylvia’s 12-second knockout of Randy Smith (13-15-1), however, was not the story that night.  The real story coming out of the event was the emergence of not one, but two, new stars before a national audience.  Bruce “Pretty Boy” Boyington (10-7), already holding the first-ever knockout in Maine MMA history, added to his legend with a Taekwondo spinning-hook kick that left his opponent unconscious and earned Boyington the quickest knockout in NEF at the time at 10-seconds.  Moments later, Jamie Harrison (5-1) finished his opponent with an unorthodox ground-and-pound technique dubbed “The Lobster Punch” by Inside MMA co-host Bas Rutten (28-4-1).  Both finishes were caught on camera by AXS TV, and both were seen by fight fans the world over on television and the internet.  The road to April 11, 2015, “NEF XVII,” and a showdown between Boyington and Harrison, had been paved.

 

In the months and years to come, Boyington would become the face of NEF MMA.  Leaving a trail of broken opponents in his wake, Boyington would go on to capture the vacant NEF MMA Lightweight Championship in September 2014 by defeating Jesse “The Viking” Erickson (3-4).  Weeks later, Boyington and Erickson would rematch with Boyington once again emerging victorious. Harrison had, himself, cut through Tollison Lewis (0-3) with reckless abandon just moments earlier, leading many to speculate that the time for the Boyington-Harrison showdown had finally arrived.  In the hours that followed, both sides had agreed to the fight and the stage was set for April 11, 2015 in Lewiston at “NEF XVII.”  Both athletes squared off in the cage last Saturday at “NEF XVI” to officially announce the bout which will be a five-rounder for Boyington’s Lightweight Championship.

 

“I’m feeling on top of the world,” said Boyington when reached for comment.  “The break has served its purpose and although I feel I have strengths such as a well-rounded MMA game, more professional fights, more experience with top level opponents and comfort in this arena – I know that it’s all irrelevant because the high that I’m on right now right now and the eagerness to get in the cage and have fun , along with a strict conviction with myself NOT to lose and to entertain the crowd makes me more confident than ever to get the job done.  I respect Jamie very much. He is tough and presents challenges and I’ve had my sights on him for a long time, studying him and knowing we would cross paths eventually. Lucky for me, I’m a hell of a wrestler.  I see what’s coming.  Fans, this fight is unlike anything else you will ever see.  Make sure you’re in attendance to witness what I’m about to do.  I have no problem proving the critics wrong.  Just be there and don’t blink. This is a big stage fight, I’ll prove it.”

 

“I am extremely excited to get back in the NEF cage for this huge opportunity,” remarked Harrison.  “Bruce is on a hot streak and so am I.  The title belt around my waist has been a long time coming and it will be bittersweet to do it in front of all my family, friends, and fans.  This fight will have a lot of fireworks and you will not want to look away for a second.”

 

“These are the two alpha males of the NEF roster,” said NEF co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo.  “When they walk in a room, everyone knows it.  But we all know that there can only be one alpha male in the pride.  On April 11 in Lewiston, we’ll determine which is the true alpha male when these two lions collide.”

 

NEF’s next MMA event, “NEF XVII,” is scheduled to take place onApril 11, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.  Bruce “Pretty Boy” Boyington (10-7) will defend the NEF MMA Lightweight Title against number-one contender Jamie Harrison (5-1).  In addition, Jarod “Last Minute” Lawton (4-1) meets Dennis Olson (12-7) in a welterweight contest.  Tickets for “NEF XVII” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling The Colisee box office at 207.783.2009 x 525.  For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

 

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

NEF XVI RECAP: KING RETAINS; WOOD DETHRONED; YOUNG’S MMA GOES 8-1

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Tyler King after retaining the Heavyweight Title on Saturday night

Lewiston, Maine (February 9, 2015) –New England Fights’ (NEF) latest mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event “NEF XVI,” took place Saturday night at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.  With temperatures dropping to below zero, and the threat of a snowstorm looming over the area, more than 2,500 fight fans braved the elements to pack the state’s most venerable fight venue.  The crowd was treated to a total of 24 action-packed fights, including four professional bouts, two of which were for NEF MMA title belts.

 

The main event of the evening saw Anthony “Cheesesteak” Morrison (17-9) unseat Ray “All Business” Wood (5-1) to become the new NEF MMA Featherweight Champion.  The loss spoiled what was expected to be a triumphant return home for Wood.  The native of Bucksport, Maine had moved to South Carolina in 2014 to pursue his goal of competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).  Morrison was considered Wood’s toughest challenge to date, having himself competed on the national stage in Bellator and World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC).  Still, Wood was recognized as the favorite going into the bout Saturday night.  Morrison was dominant for most of the fight, out-wrestling Wood before submitting him with a guillotine choke in the fifth round to capture the belt.

 

The loss was also the sole blemish on what was otherwise a perfect night for Young’s MMA.  The Bangor, Maine-based team had won their previous eight bouts over the course of the evening, an amazing feat considering that the Young’s corners were often running back and forth from the cage to the locker room to prepare their fighters for bouts that were mere moments apart from each other.  Of particular note, the opening fight of the card featured Josh Harvey (3-1) of Young’s tearing through top-ten-ranked amateur featherweight Caleb Hall (5-2) with a technical knockout (TKO) victory a mere 36-seconds into the first round. Later, Young’s newest team member, Carl Langston (4-7), got his first win ever on Maine soil with a decision over Sheldon Bang (1-2) in a rematch of a bout Langston had lost at “NEF XIII” last year.

 

Marcus Davis’s Team Irish went 2-0 on the night with Ricky Dexter(2-0) picking up the second win of his amateur career and Rick Matthews (1-1) getting his first victory.  44-year old Matthews won a decision over Emmett Huber (0-1) while Dexter scored a big knockout on Cory Trial (0-1) in the second-round, sending Trial to a nearby hospital in the process.

 

Highlight-reel knockouts were par for the course at “NEF XVI.” Among them, UFC, Bellator and Strikeforce veteran Nah-Shon “The Rock-n-Rolla” Burrell (11-5) had already bloodied Ryan Hodge(6-10) before knocking him out in the first round of their professional middleweight contest.  The most-talked-about knockout of the evening, however, went to Caleb Farrington (2-0) of Team New England United (NEU) who dropped Brandon “The Enigma” Russell (0-1) with a single right hand just 8-seconds into the first round.  The knockout broke the all-time record of 11-seconds previously set by Buck “Knuckles” Pineau (7-4) in April 2012.

 

More history was made at “NEF XVI” when a father and not one, but two of his sons competed on the same MMA card.  Following losses by his sons, Sheldon and Steve Bang (3-3), Dr. Steve Bang(1-0), a member of Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ), entered the NEF MMA cage to a loud ovation from the crowd.  The bariatric surgeon wasted little time in going to work on his opponent, Matthew Hanning (0-1), taking him down and pounding out a victory via referee-stoppage.

 

NFL and UFC The Ultimate Fighter veteran Tyler King (8-2) successfully defended the NEF MMA Heavyweight Title in the co-main event of the night, defeating Terry “The Polar Bear” Blackburn (5-3).  King stormed into the arena with a determined fire in his eyes.  Mid-way through the first round, King took Blackburn down to the mat and worked a Kimura submission, forcing Blackburn to tap-out.  During his post-fight victory interview in the cage, King called out a slew of heavyweights and light-heavyweights including local names like Eric Bedard (6-5), as well as national stars such as Bellator’s Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (14-4).

 

Two bouts were announced for NEF’s next MMA event, “NEF XVII,” scheduled for April 11, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee. NEF MMA Lightweight Champion Bruce “Pretty Boy” Boyington(10-7) faced-off in the cage with Jamie Harrison (5-1) for an interview.  Boyington will defend his title at “NEF XVII” against number-one-contender Harrison in the main event.  Jarod “Last Minute” Lawton (4-1) and Bellator veteran Dennis Olson (12-7) were also brought into the cage for an interview.  The two exciting welterweights will square off at “NEF XVII” in a bout many local observers feel could end up being a contender for “Fight of the Year” in the region.

 

The full results of “NEF XVI” in Lewiston, Maine:

 

PROFESSIONAL

 

145*TITLE Anthony Morrison def. Ray Wood (c) via guillotine, round 5 (Morrison wins title)

265*TITLE Tyler King (c) def. Terry Blackburn via Kimura, round 1 (King retains)

185 Nah-Shon Burrell def. Ryan Hodge via TKO, round 1

265 Mike Hansen def. Artie Mullen via TKO, round 1

 

 

AMATEUR

 

CATCH Aaron Lacey def. Nick Spencer via tap to rear-naked choke, round 3

CATCH Dustin Veinott def. Dave Brown via tap to armbar, round 1

145 Mike Peitersen def. Henry Clark via KO, round 3

180 Caleb Farrington def. Brandon Russell via KO, round 1

155 Ricky Dexter def. Cory Trial via KO, round 2

155 Dr. Steve Bang def. Matthew Hanning via TKO, round 1

  1. HWT Gravin Guillen def. Mladen Holman via unanimous decision

CATCH Fred Lear def. Bryant Orick via TKO, round 2

185 Frank Dellasala def. Heath Hanson via TKO, round 1

155 Jason Lachance def. Steve Bang via unanimous decision

265 Billy Leahy def. Brandon Lessard via unanimous decision

185 Nick Shea def. Jacob Cameron via TKO, round 1

CATCH Rob Kiah def. Clifford Redman via tap to rear-naked choke, round 1

135 Johnny Crafts def. Mike Crespo via tap to rear-naked choke, round 1

CATCH Jimmy Jackson def. Kris Welch via bulldog submission, round 2

205 Chris Perry def. Ruben Redman via unanimous decision

265 Ryan Glover def. Michael Freeman via TKO, round 1

140 Carl Langston def. Sheldon Bang via unanimous decision

155 Rick Matthews def. Emmett Huber via split decision

145 Josh Harvey def. Caleb Hall via TKO, round 1

 

NEF’s next MMA event, “NEF XVII,” is scheduled to take place onApril 11, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.  Bruce “Pretty Boy” Boyington (10-7) will defend the NEF MMA Lightweight Title against number-one contender Jamie Harrison (5-1).  In addition, Jarod “Last Minute” Lawton (4-1) meets Dennis Olson (12-7) in a welterweight contest.  Tickets for “NEF XVII” start at just $25 and are on sale now atwww.TheColisee.com or by calling The Colisee box office at207.783.2009 x 525.  For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

 

About New England Fights

 

New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

NEF ANNOUNCES MMA RESULTS FROM LEWISTON, MAINE

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Lewiston, Maine (February 8, 2015) –New England Fights’ (NEF) latest mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event “NEF XVI,” took place Saturday night at the Ramada Conference Center in Lewiston, Maine.  A crowd of more than 2,500 was on-hand to witness the promotion’s first event of 2015.

 

In the main event of the evening, Anthony “Cheesesteak” Morrison (17-9) shocked the crowd by defeating hometown heroRay “All Business” Wood (5-1) to capture the NEF MMA Featherweight Title.  In the co-main event, Tyler King (8-2) defeated Terry “The Polar Bear” Blackburn (5-3) via submission to retain the NEF Heavyweight Title.

 

In addition, NEF announced two fights for its next event, “NEF XVII,” scheduled for April 11, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.  On that night, NEF MMA Lightweight Champion Bruce “Pretty Boy” Boyington (10-7) will defend his title against the challenge of Jamie Harrison (5-1) in the main event.  Also on the card that evening will be Jarod “Last Minute” Lawton (4-1) in a professional welterweight contest against Dennis Olson (12-7).

 

The full results of “NEF XVI” in Lewiston, Maine:

 

PROFESSIONAL

 

145*TITLE Anthony Morrison def. Ray Wood (c) via guillotine, round 5 (Morrison wins title)

265*TITLE Tyler King (c) def. Terry Blackburn via Kimura, round 1 (King retains)

185 Nah-Shon Burrell def. Ryan Hodge via TKO, round 1

265 Mike Hansen def. Artie Mullen via TKO, round 1

 

 

AMATEUR

 

CATCH Aaron Lacey def. Nick Spencer via tap to rear-naked choke, round 3

CATCH Dustin Veinott def. Dave Brown via tap to armbar, round 1

145 Mike Peitersen def. Henry Clark via KO, round 3

180 Caleb Farrington def. Brandon Russell via KO, round 1

155 Ricky Dexter def. Cory Trial via KO, round 2

155 Dr. Steve Bang def. Matthew Hanning via TKO, round 1

  1. HWT Gravin Guillen def. Mladen Holman via unanimous decision

CATCH Fred Lear def. Bryant Orick via TKO, round 2

185 Frank Dellasala def. Heath Hanson via TKO, round 1

155 Jason Lachance def. Steve Bang via unanimous decision

265 Billy Leahy def. Brandon Lessard via unanimous decision

185 Nick Shea def. Jacob Cameron via TKO, round 1

CATCH Rob Kiah def. Clifford Redman via tap to rear-naked choke, round 1

135 Johnny Crafts def. Mike Crespo via tap to rear-naked choke, round 1

CATCH Jimmy Jackson def. Kris Welch via bulldog submission, round 2

205 Chris Perry def. Ruben Redman via unanimous decision

265 Ryan Glover def. Michael Freeman via TKO, round 1

140 Carl Langston def. Sheldon Bang via unanimous decision

155 Rick Matthews def. Emmett Huber via split decision

145 Josh Harvey def. Caleb Hall via TKO, round 1

 

NEF’s next MMA event, “NEF XVII,” is scheduled to take place onApril 11, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.  Bruce “Pretty Boy” Boyington (10-7) will defend the NEF MMA Lightweight Title against number-one contender Jamie Harrison (5-1).  In addition, Jarod “Last Minute” Lawton (4-1) meets Dennis Olson (12-7) in a welterweight contest.  Tickets for “NEF XVII” start at just $25 and are on sale now atwww.TheColisee.com or by calling The Colisee box office at207.783.2009 x 525.  For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

 

About New England Fights

 

New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

MAINE’S NEWEST FIGHT TEAM MAKING NOISE IN THE MMA CAGE

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Lewiston, Maine (February 3, 2015) –New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, presents its next mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event this Saturday night  at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.  The fight card, titled “NEF XVI,” will feature two members of Maine’s newest fight team, Ruthless MMA & Boxing, in amateur bouts.

 

Ruthless MMA & Boxing was founded in 2014 by veteran fighter Josh Parker (4-8).  Parker has a long history in the NEF MMA cage, having competed seven times for the fight promotion between February 2012 and November 2013.  More recently, Parker has remained out of the MMA cage to focus on his career as a professional boxer, as well as building his gym.

 

Parker opened the gym in Benton, Maine as a way of giving back to the fight community.  He sees Ruthless MMA & Boxing as a means to introduce young athletes from the area to the burgeoning world of combat sports and provide them with opportunities to compete. That includes his own sons.

 

“I’ve been thinking about starting my own gym for a while now,” said Parker.  “My first fight was almost ten years ago when my son was three.  Now he’s 13 and ready to start his own fight career, and I just had another son.  I knew it was time to build my boys a place where they can train whenever they want to.  This is a fight family.”

 

Parker introduced his first protégé, Alex Johnson (1-1), in the fall of 2014.  Johnson is coming off a win over Rick Matthews (0-1) in a brutal, back-and-forth slugfest at “NEF XV” this past November. The bout was considered by many to be the “Fight of the Night” of that card.

 

Corey Trial (0-0), another of Parker’s prospects, hopes to continue the success brought to Ruthless MMA & Boxing by his teammate Alex Johnson.  Trial makes his NEF MMA debut this Saturday night in Lewiston when he meets Ricky Dexter (1-0) of Team Irish in a lightweight contest.

 

“I’ve always dreamed of being able to punch someone in the face and not go to jail for it,” Trial stated.  “Now that I have that opportunity, you better believe someone’s getting hurt.”

 

“Our style is simple, we like to stand and bang,” Parker elaborated. “When we spar, we like to see who can hit the hardest.  Mike Tyson said it best ‘everybody’s got a plan- until they get hit.’  We want to give the fans exciting fights.  We’re looking for knockouts.

 

“The guys at Ruthless come from all walks of life- whether it was street fighting or cage fighting they all came with experience throwing fists.  They each approached me after hearing I was building a gym. Our values are simple- when you come in you leave your ego at the door.  When you’re a part of the Ruthless team, you’re expected to carry yourself as a professional- sportsmanship and respect are a must.”

 

Bryant Orick (3-5) is another Ruthless team member scheduled to make his NEF MMA debut this Saturday night.  It will not, however, be his first time in the cage.  Orick, a native of Ohio now living in Clinton, Maine, has competed in the sport for five years.  He is a veteran of eight bouts, fighting in the Buckeye State, Kansas and Indiana, to name a few states.  Orick hopes to find a home and success in NEF alongside his Ruthless MMA & Boxing teammates. At “NEF XVI” this weekend, Orick will have his work cut out for him with undefeated Fred Lear (2-0) of Young’s MMA.

 

“I’m coming out to make a name for myself at NEF,” said Orick.  “I am well-rounded and going to put on a show.  I train hard every day, have a great coach and teammates.  Nothing will surprise me in my upcoming bout.”

 

” Being a coach has taught me to slow it down and bring it back to the basics,” Parker stated.  “Fighting really is pretty simple, knock the other guy out and you win.  I demand 100% from my fighters, and I give them 100% back.  Fighting is not a hobby, it’s a lifestyle.”

 

Ruthless MMA & Boxing is located in Benton, Maine.  You can learn more about the team at their Facebook page “Ruthless MMA & Boxing.”

 

NEF’s next MMA event, “NEF XVI,” takes place this Saturday, February 7, 2015, with an all-star lineup of fights scheduled.  Ray “All Business” Wood (5-0) returns that night to defend the NEF MMA Featherweight Title against Bellator and WEC veteran Anthony “Cheesesteak” Morrison (16-9).  NFL and UFC The Ultimate Fighter veteran Tyler King (7-2) puts the NEF MMA Heavyweight Title on the line against Terry “The Polar Bear” Blackburn (5-2).  In the feature bout of the evening, UFC, Bellator and Strikeforce veteran Nah-Shon Burrell (10-5) makes his NEF MMA debut against Ryan Hodge (6-9).  Tickets start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling The Colisee box office at 207.783.2009 x 525.  For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

 

About New England Fights

 

New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

NEF RE-SIGNS JAROD LAWTON TO MULTI-FIGHT DEAL

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Lewiston, Maine (February 2, 2015) –New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, announced earlier today that the company had re-signed Jarod “Last Minute” Lawton (4-1) to a multi-fight contract. While the exact terms of the deal were not released, NEF executives confirmed that the contract would be long-term over a course of years.

 

“I am very excited to continue to be a part of the NEF organization,” stated Lawton when reached for comment. “They have been a great supporter of my development in MMA and have done a great job building a sustainable platform for local fighters to grow and improve. I am very excited about the upcoming year with them and guarantee some great performances.”

 

“Jarod Lawton is one of the hottest prospects on the regional MMA (mixed-martial-arts) scene right now,” said NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson.  “He’s a big, strong, athletic BJJ Black Belt with very solid standup skills. We have no doubt that Jarod has next-level potential and this deal will give him the opportunities he needs to get there.”

 

Lawton, 30, holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) under Alexey Cruz, a 5th degree BJJ Black Belt under Ricardo de La Riva. Lawton is the owner and operator of Team Lawton Martial Arts – a Team New England United (NEU) affiliate located in Farmingdale, Maine.  Lawton has won his last three MMA fights in a row in the NEF MMA cage.  NEF executives anticipate that Lawton will have the first fight of his new contract this spring.

 

While Lawton’s greatest accomplishments have come on the grappling mats and the MMA cage, he proved his versatility in combat sports this past fall on the very first NEF Boxing event in Lewiston, Maine.  Lawton, in a double pro boxing debut, fought experienced amateur boxer Joel Bishop (0-0-1) to a majority draw on the judges’ scorecards.  It was a fight, however, that many in attendance felt Lawton clearly won.  NEF executives confirmed that the new agreement with Lawton would guarantee him both MMA and boxing fights with the promotion.

 

“All around, Jarod Lawton is just a great, great athlete,” said NEF co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo.  “Matt (Peterson) and I knew it three years ago.  We’re very proud to have him back on our roster for many fights to come.”

 

NEF’s next MMA event, “NEF XVI,” takes place on February 7, 2015with an all-star lineup of fights scheduled.  Ray “All Business” Wood (5-0) returns that night to defend the NEF MMA Featherweight Title against Bellator and WEC veteran Anthony “Cheesesteak” Morrison (16-9).  NFL and UFC The Ultimate Fighterveteran Tyler King (7-2) puts the NEF MMA Heavyweight Title on the line against Terry “The Polar Bear” Blackburn (5-2).  In the feature bout of the evening, UFC, Bellator and Strikeforce veteranNah-Shon Burrell (10-5) makes his NEF MMA debut against Ryan Hodge (6-9).  Tickets start at just $25 and are on sale now atwww.TheColisee.com or by calling The Colisee box office at207.783.2009 x 525.  For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

 

About New England Fights

 

New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

PACKED HOUSE EXPECTED FOR “MOST ANTICIPATED” LEWISTON MMA EVENT TO DATE

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Lewiston, Maine (January 29, 2015) – One week from this Saturday, New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, presents its sixteenth mixed martial arts (MMA) event, “NEF XVI,” in Lewiston, Maine.  The event is scheduled to originate from the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.  The show will mark the three-year anniversary of the company’s inception.  NEF executives announced today that they were expecting one of the largest crowds ever for the wildly-popular fight promotion’s event.

 

“Our February events have always been our flagship,” said NEF co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo.  “Coupled with the fact that this card is loaded with UFC, Bellator, NFL veterans, two title fights, and the return of Ray Wood (5-0), it’s no surprise that ticket sales have been going the way they’ve been going.”

 

Indeed, ticket sales have been at an all-time high for this event.  It is not unusual for the fight promotion to sell out their floor seats for any given show.  The sell-out, however, has always come on fight night.  The floor seats for “NEF XVI” were sold out a full 17 days prior to the event.  NEF executives give partial credit for the quick sales to the addition of complimentary waitress drink service for all cage-side ticketholders.  They did not confirm whether or not the promotion was considering adding more floor seats for the event.

 

As DiSalvo indicated, fans are clamoring for the return of Ray “All Business” Wood who will defend the NEF MMA Featherweight Title against Bellator and World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) veteranAnthony “Cheesesteak” Morrison (16-9).  This will be Wood’s first homecoming after moving from Maine to South Carolina in late-2014.

 

“I’m excited for this fight,” said Wood when reached for comment. “I have absolutely nothing to lose.  Anthony Morrison has fought some of the best fighters in the world and I have an opportunity to make a statement with this fight.  I improve my skills each time I step in the cage and I know that this showing will be no exception. I have respect for Anthony and where he’s been in this sport and I am honored to have the opportunity to fight him.”

 

Wood’s teammate at Young’s MMA, Fred Lear (2-0), will be featured on the amateur portion of the card in a catchweight bout against Bryant Orrick (3-5) from Ruthless MMA and Boxing.  The fight will be contested at 140-pounds.

 

“These people push me to be a better fighter, student, and person,” said Lear of his teammates and coaches at Young’s MMA in Bangor, Maine.  “I am grateful for their presence in my life, it is something I will treasure forever. I am honored to be fighting for Young’s MMA.”

Not looking beyond his own fight, Lear points out three exciting matchups his teammates Josh Harvey (2-1), Mike Peitersen (1-0) and Aaron Lacey (4-1) will contest against members of the Choi Institute of Portland, Maine.

 

“Leading up to ‘NEF XVI,’ I can’t help but highlight our matchups with Choi’s,” Lear continued.  “Nick Spencer [Lacey’s opponent (7-4)] is dangerous everywhere, Henry Clark [Peitersen’s opponent (1-0)] is coming off of an impressive debut, and I’ve known Caleb[Hall – Harvey’s opponent (5-1)] since high school and there is no doubt about his grit and talent. The atmosphere at the Colisee will be electrifying as six high-caliber fighters look to leave their mark.”

 

Hall and Harvey are set to open the show in a featherweight bout at 7:00 pm sharp.  Hall has competed on six previous NEF MMA events, and he has definitely noticed an increased excitement from fans leading into “NEF XVI.”

 

“The anticipation is at an all time high because of all the good match ups on the card,” noted Hall.  “On February 7th, I’m expecting it to be the most exciting night yet.”

 

Having fought for smaller promotions in the past, Harvey is clear that the size of the crowd does not matter to him.  He will bring his A-game to the cage whether the fight be under the big lights in a world-famous arena like the Androscoggin Bank Colisee or held in a tiny, poorly-lit room with a few chairs set up around a cage.

 

“Personally it doesn’t matter who or how many people are watching,” stated Harvey.  “I’m going to put on a show whether there are 20 people or 20,000.  I love to entertain.  After Caleb hooks on to me he’ll know he’s been in a fight.”

 

Jason Lachance (0-1) from MMA Athletix in Bath, Maine is scheduled to meet Steven Bang (3-2) of Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Auburn, Maine at “NEF XVI.”  Lachance credits the level of talent on the NEF roster with bringing in large crowds like the crowd expected on February 7.

 

“NEF has a lot of talent on this night of fights, as they always do,” said Lachance.  “I expect nothing less than an exciting night for the fans.  The support from our fans means everything, and my fellow fighters and I come ready to throw down and send everyone home with even more anticipation for the next event.  God has blessed us with another opportunity to do what we love to do in front of so many.”

 

Billy “Bigfoot” Leahy (1-1) will also see action at “NEF XVI” when he steps into the cage to face debuting independent fighterBrandon Lessard (0-0) in a heavyweight bout.  Leahy got the first win of his MMA career this past September at “NEF XIV” before some 2,000-plus fans at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.  As such, he is familiar with the feeling that comes from performing for a massive, ravenous fight crowd.

 

“I’m expecting a great night of fights,” exclaimed Leahy.  “I am honored to be on such a great card.  The NEF fans are like no other, and I can’t wait to put on a great show in front of my family, friends and fans.”

 

NEF’s next MMA event, “NEF XVI,” takes place on February 7, 2015with an all-star lineup of fights scheduled.  Ray “All Business” Wood (5-0) returns that night to defend the NEF MMA Featherweight Title against Bellator and WEC veteran Anthony “Cheesesteak” Morrison (16-9).  NFL and UFC The Ultimate Fighterveteran Tyler King (7-2) puts the NEF MMA Heavyweight Title on the line against Terry “The Polar Bear” Blackburn (5-2).  In the feature bout of the evening, UFC, Bellator and Strikeforce veteranNah-Shon Burrell (10-5) makes his NEF MMA debut against Ryan Hodge (6-9).  Tickets start at just $25 and are on sale now atwww.TheColisee.com or by calling The Colisee box office at207.783.2009 x 525.  For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

 

About New England Fights

 

New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

NEF MMA ANNOUNCES FULL FIGHT CARD FORFEBRUARY 7 LEWISTON EVENT

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Lewiston, Maine (January 20, 2015) –New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, presents its sixteenth mixed martial arts (MMA) event, “NEF XVI,” on February 7, 2015 in Lewiston, Maine.  The event is scheduled to originate from the Androscoggin Bank Colisee. Earlier today, NEF announced the full fight card for the event.   A pair of title fights are scheduled to headline the card which will feature veterans of the National Football League (NFL), the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Bellator MMA, World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) and Strikeforce MMA.

 

“This card might just be our most ambitious to date,” said NEF co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo.  “There’s  something here for everyone.  If you like the big guys, we have plenty of heavyweight and super-heavyweight fights.  If you like seeing the UFC and Bellator names, we have them.  If you like wrestlers, they are well represented on this card.  If you like women’s MMA, we have a women’s fight on here.  $25 tickets to a fight card of this caliber is a steal for the fight fan.  NEF continues to bring you the biggest bang for your buck as we open our fourth year of business.”

 

In the main event of the evening, Ray “All Business” Wood (5-0) will defend the NEF MMA Featherweight Title against the challenge of Philadelphia’s Anthony “Cheesesteak” Morrison (16-9). Morrison is a veteran of the Bellator and World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) cages.  He will be Wood’s highest-profile challenge to date.  Many insiders predict that Wood could be one or two wins away from getting the call to one of the national promotions himself.

 

The co-main event of the evening will see Tyler King (7-2) defend the NEF MMA Heavyweight Title against Terry “The Polar Bear” Blackburn (5-2).  King is an NFL veteran, having played for the San Diego Chargers, St. Louis Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars and Arizona Cardinals after a very successful college career at the University of Connecticut where he recorded 19 sacks as a defensive end, and was named the team’s “Defensive MVP” in 2004.  He appeared on the 19th season of UFC’s The Ultimate Fighter television series in 2014.  Tyler is the son of Steve King who spent nine years with the New England Patriots as a linebacker during the 1970s and early 1980s.  The challenger, Terry Blackburn, had a highlight-reel knockout victory over Jason Dolloff (6-19) in the NEF MMA cage in September 2013.

 

Ryan Hodge (6-9) will see action against Nah-Shon “The Rock-n-Rolla” Burrell (11-4) in a middleweight feature fight.  Hodge, who lives in Florida but has made a name for himself on the northeast regional fight scene, last appeared in the NEF MMA cage in November 2013.  That night, Hodge had a big knockout win over Josh Watson (7-4).  Burrell is a veteran of the UFC, Bellator and Strikeforce cages.  He has competed a total of nine times on the biggest stages the sport has to offer.

 

“Those three fights on top of this card are worth the price of admission alone,” said NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson.  “All three of those fights are main events on any regional MMA event held on the east coast any night of the week.  And we’re giving them all to the fans in one awesome night of MMA action for one low price of admission.  You can bet your bottom dollar that you will be entertained on February 7, and you won’t have to break the bank to do it.”

 

On the amateur side of the card, Gravin “The Stampede” Guillen(1-1) and 56-year-old Mladin Holman (0-1) will engage in a rematch of their super-heavyweight bout from this past November.  Many fans felt the bout was stopped early by the referee, awarding the victory to Guillen by technical knockout (TKO).  NEF executives listened to fans and quickly arranged the rematch.

 

Also on the amateur card will be two of the three fighting Bang brothers, Sheldon Bang (1-1) and Steven Bang (3-2), along with their debuting father Dr. Steve Bang (0-0).  Dr. Bang is a 46-year-old bariatric surgeon with a background in wrestling.  His four sons, including Sheldon and Steven, have all followed in their father’s footsteps, each wrestling for Edward Little High School in Auburn, Maine.

 

The new blood is rising early on the amateur portion of the card when Caleb Hall (5-1) and Josh Harvey (2-1) open the show in what should be an action-packed featherweight bout.  Top prospects Nick Spencer (7-4) and Aaron Lacey (4-1) are scheduled to meet in a catchweight bout.  “Crispy” Michael Crespo(2-0) and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) phenomenon Johnny Crafts (2-0) will put their respective unblemished records on the line in a bantamweight contest.  And the women will take to the cage whenHillary Cooledge (0-1) faces Fernanda Araujo (3-3-1).

 

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

 

PROFESSIONAL

 

145*TITLE Ray Wood 5-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Anthony Morrison 16-9 (Daddis Fight Camps)

265*TITLE Tyler King 7-2 (Connors MMA) vs Terry Blackburn 5-2 (First Coast Full Contact/Team Riot)

185 Nah-Shon Burrell 11-4 (Fight Firm Elite & Renzo Gracie BJJ) vs Ryan Hodge 6-9 (F2 Arena)

265 Mike Hansen 1-1 (Independent) vs Artie Mullen 1-13 (MMA of Southern Maine)

155 Jesse Erickson 3-4 (CMBJJ-Team NEU) vs Frank Falso 0-1 (Team United & Santos BJJ)

145 Derek Shorey 1-1 (Shatterproof Combat Club) vs Jon Lemke 4-3 (Team Irish)

135 Matt Denning 1-0 (CMBJJ-Team NEU) vs Jovan White 1-6 (First Coast Full Contact)

 

 

AMATEUR

 

S.HWT Gravin Guillen 1-1 (Independent) vs Mladen Holman 0-1 (Choi Institute)

265 Brandon Lessard 0-0 (Independent) vs Billy Leahy 1-1 (Young’s MMA)

265 Ryan Glover 0-0 (Independent) vs Jason Field 0-0 (Independent)

205 Chris Perry 0-0 (Acadia BJJ) vs Ruben Redman 0-0 (Independent)

185 Frank Dellasala 0-1 (Choi Institute) vs Heath Hanson 0-1 (3Ronin Athletics)

185 Jacob Cameron 1-4 (Team Nitemare) vs Nick Shea 0-0 (First Class MMA)

185 Joe Staples 0-0 (Team Irish) vs Raymond Harrison 0-0 (Independent)

180 Caleb Farrington 1-0 (Team NEU) vs Brandon Russell 0-0 (Independent)

166 CJ Ewer 3-1 (Young’s MMA) vs Jakub Kazuba 1-0 (First Coast Full Contact)

155 Dr. Steve Bang 0-0 Sr. (CMBJJ) vs Matthew Hanning 0-0 (Independent)

155 Steve Bang Jr. 3-2 (CMBJJ-Team NEU) vs Jason LaChance 0-1 (MMA Athletix)

155 Ricky Dexter 1-0 (Team Irish) vs Corey Trial 0-0 (Ruthless Boxing & MMA)

155 Rick Matthews 0-1 (Team Irish) vs Emmett Huber 0-0 (The Academy)

145 Caleb Hall 5-1 (Choi Institute) vs Josh Harvey 2-1 (Young’s MMA)

145 Jimmy Jackson 1-2 (Young’s MMA) vs Kris Welch 0-0 (Independent)

145 Henry Clark 1-0 (Choi Institute) vs Mike Peitersen 1-0 (Young’s MMA)

140 Nick Spencer 7-4 (Choi Institute) vs Aaron Lacey 4-1 (Young’s MMA)

141 Rob Kiah 0-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Clifford Redman 0-0 (Independent)

140 Bryant Orick 3-5 (Ruthless Boxing & MMA) vs Fred Lear 2-0 (Young’s MMA)

135 Johnny Crafts 2-0 (Team NEU) vs Mike Crespo 2-0 (MMA Athletix)

135 Fernanda Araujo 3-3-1 (Defensive Edge) vs Hillary Cooledge 0-1 (Choi Institute)

125 Dustin Veinott 2-3 (CMBJJ-Team NEU) vs Dave Brown 1-1 (White Mountain BJJ)

135 Sheldon Bang 1-1 (CMBJJ-Team NEU) vs TBD

 

Tickets for “NEF XVI” start at just $25 and are on sale now atwww.TheColisee.com or by calling The Colisee box office at207.783.2009 x 525.  For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

 

About New England Fights

 

New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

RUMFORD WRESTLING ROYALTY SET TO SCUFFLE AT “NEF XVI”

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New Blood

Lewiston, Maine (January 16, 2015) –New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, presents its sixteenth mixed martial arts (MMA) event, “NEF XVI,” on February 7, 2015 in Lewiston, Maine.  The event is scheduled to originate from the Androscoggin Bank Colisee. Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of three more bouts to the fight card including a professional heavyweight bout between Mike “Dragon Foot” Hansen (1-1) and Artie “The Fearless One” Mullen (1-13); an amateur heavyweight bout between Ryan Glover (0-0) and Jason Field (0-0); and an amateur featherweight bout between Jimmy Jackson (1-2) and Kris Welch (0-0).  Hansen, Glover and Welch are all former wrestling champions from Mountain Valley High School located in Rumford, Maine.

 

Mike Hansen won a state championship as a heavyweight wrestler for Mountain Valley in 2004. After graduating high school that same year, Hansen began training and competing in the sport of mixed martial arts. Hansen made his successful MMA debut in 2005 when he defeated Eric Brown (5-7) via submission in the first round. Shortly thereafter, Hansen enlisted in the Army where he served as a Combat Engineer. Now retired from the Army, Hansen, who recently signed a long-term contract with NEF MMA, is excited to return to his competitive roots in the NEF cage on February 7thand to represent his hometown.

 

“Rumford-Mexico, especially MVHS [Mountain Valley High School], and Dixfield—we’re all a proud, hardworking breed of people. It is my responsibility and others to go out and show what we are capable of,” said Hansen when reached for comment. “Be true to our region. We are an athletic community and always have been. I will show up [on February 7th] and do my best and I will win.

 

“Wrestling has played a huge role in my fighting career, but even more so was wrestling here in Rumford, Maine. My first wrestling coach was Jamie Dolloff, then Jason Dolloff, then Gary Dolloff—notice a pattern? I owe a lot to these guys and so doesn’t the area. Wrestling for the Dolloff’s created a foundation for fighting and life. Without wrestling, there is no way I would be where I am or have done the things I’ve done.

 

“Fighting next to local boys always gets me excited. Knowing that MVHS will have some state champions in the cage that night is awesome.”

 

Kris Welch won back-to-back state championships for Mountain Valley in 2000 and 2001 and amassed a high school career record of 120-17. Now, Welch is focused on making his MMA debut and representing his community in combat sports.

 

“I want to put on a good show for my town, family, and friends,” said Welch when reached for comment. “We have a great community here in Rumford-Mexico and they do a great job supporting local fighters. Having a solid wrestling background will play a key role in my transition to MMA. Taking your opponent down is a big part of this sport. It feels great to compete on the same card as Ryan Glover and Mike Hansen and getting a chance to work with these guys has been great. This area has a lot of unseen talent that will be delivered to the cage on February 7th.”

 

Ryan Glover was a state runner-up in wrestling in 2010 before winning a state championship as a heavyweight in 2011 for Mountain Valley High School, where he was also a standout football player and named the “2010 Sun Journal Football Player of the Year.” The two-sport state champion athlete has now turned his attention toward the sport of MMA and plans on making a name for himself in NEF.

 

“[Fighting for NEF] is a great opportunity and I’m hoping it opens some eyes and brings more fighters to the area to train with us,” stated Glover when reached for comment. “My wrestling background has helped me with my ground game and left me more time to brush-up on my boxing.”

 

“Our Matchmaker, Matt Peterson, attends wrestling tournaments across Maine and New England on a regular basis scouting for new talent,” stated NEF promoter and co-owner Nick DiSalvo. “We’re proud to feature such a compelling set of matchups between some familiar faces and new names to NEF and are confident these bouts will deliver extreme excitement.”

 

NEF’s next MMA event, “NEF XVI,” takes place on February 7, 2015with an all-star lineup of fights scheduled.  Ray “All Business” Wood (5-0) returns that night to defend the NEF MMA Featherweight Title against Bellator and WEC veteran Anthony “Cheesesteak” Morrison (16-9).  NFL and UFC The Ultimate Fighter veteran Tyler King (7-2) puts the NEF MMA Heavyweight Title on the line against Terry “The Polar Bear” Blackburn (5-2).  In the feature bout of the evening, UFC, Bellator and Strikeforce veteran Nah-Shon Burrell (10-5) makes his NEF MMA debut against Ryan Hodge (6-9).  Tickets start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling The Colisee box office at 207.783.2009 x 525.  For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

 

About New England Fights

 

New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

MILITARY VETERANS TO FACE-OFF AT NEF XVI

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Lewiston, Maine (January 15, 2015) –New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, presents its sixteenth mixed martial arts (MMA) event, “NEF XVI,” on February 7, 2015 in Lewiston, Maine.  The event is scheduled to originate from the Androscoggin Bank Colisee. Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of a professional featherweight bout to the fight card.  “Shatterproof 2.0” Derek Shorey (1-1) has signed to meet Jon Lemke (4-3) at a fight weight of 145-pounds.

 

“We’re so very proud to have two military heroes like Derek Shorey and Jon Lemke representing our promotion in the cage,” said NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson.  “Our featherweight division is one of our deepest, and this fight will have major implications for the rankings.”

 

Derek Shorey debuted in NEF MMA in April 2012 at “NEF II.” He competed for NEF four times as an amateur going 1-3 for the promotion. At “NEF XIV” last September, Shorey made his professional debut against John “First Class” Raio (2-6), who had defeated Shorey when the two competed as amateurs. Shorey gained a measure of revenge by submitting Raio in the first round. He went on to face Matt Denning (1-0) at “NEF XV” this past November.  Although he controlled most of the first round, Shorey suffered his first loss as a pro fighter that night.  He is currently the head of the recently-formed Shatterproof Combat Club.  Shorey also served in the United States Navy.  As a fellow veteran, Shorey holds his opponent Lemke in high regard.

 

“Jon is a tough draw for any fighter in New England at 145,” said Shorey.  “He is probably the most well-rounded fighter I’ve faced to date and I’m excited to see what that brings out in me.  It’s going to be a military bar fight between the squid and the devil dog taking place in a controlled environment, and the outcome is sure to be nothing short of an exciting show for the NEF fans.  I hold nothing but the highest level of respect for Jon and the guys at Team Irish, and look forward to an exciting bout.”

 

Jon Lemke, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps (USMC), last appeared in the NEF MMA cage at “NEF XIV” in September 2014 defeating Amos Collins (3-5) via first-round technical knockout (TKO).  He is a member of Marcus “The Irish Hand Grenade” Davis’ (22-11) Team Irish based in Brewer, Maine. Lemke previously fought on the national stage, defeating Jesse Erickson (3-4) on NEF’s co-promotion with Bellator in March 2013.  Lemke is clear that the respect is mutual between himself and Shorey.

 

“I am once again very excited and grateful to step into the NEF cage and do battle against a true warrior,” said Lemke.  “I look forward to meeting the challenges that such a highly-skilled athlete such as Derek provides.  To be able to meet and exceed those challenges will be a testament to the hard work that myself and teammates have done and will continue to keep improving and live my dreams.”

 

NEF’s next MMA event, “NEF XVI,” takes place on February 7, 2015with an all-star lineup of fights scheduled.  NFL and UFC The Ultimate Fighter veteran Tyler King (7-2) puts the NEF MMA Heavyweight Title on the line against Terry “The Polar Bear” Blackburn (5-2).  In the feature bout of the evening, UFC, Bellator and Strikeforce veteran Nah-Shon Burrell (10-5) makes his NEF MMA debut against Ryan Hodge (6-9).  Tickets start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling The Colisee box office at 207.783.2009 x 525.  For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

 

About New England Fights

 

New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.