Category Archives: New England Fights

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

SECOND TITLE FIGHT ANNOUNCED FOR NEF 38 IN PORTLAND FEATURES ELITE WRESTLERS

Leave a comment

Portland, Maine (February 8, 2019) – New England Fights (NEF) will present its next mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, “NEF 38: STORMBORN,” on April 27, 2019 at Aura in Portland.  Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the second amateur title fight confirmed for the event.  Zac “Rocky” Richard (3-0-1) will take on Tom “The Phenom” Pagliarulo (2-1) for the vacant NEF Amateur  Featherweight Championship.

It will be Richard’s second attempt at capturing the title.  Earlier this month, Richard fought Fred Lear (6-2-1) to a thrilling five-round draw for the strap in Bangor, Maine.  The bout is considered by many to be a very early contender for “Fight of the Year” in New England thus far.  Lear’s decision to turn professional after that fight nixed any hope for an immediate rematch.

Richard, the 2018 “NEF Rookie of the Year” as voted by the promotion’s fans, went on a tear last year with three first-round finishes.  He has never been a stranger to the winner’s circle, having won a Maine state championship in wrestling for Massabesic High School in 2015.  Richard hopes to replicate that success on April 27 and take the featherweight strap home in his second attempt.

Richard represents team Nostos MMA of Somersworth, New Hampshire where he trains under current UFC fighter, and former NEF Professional Lightweight Champion, Devin Powell (9-4).

“Now that I’ve been in a war, I know what I need to work on,” said Richard.  “I’ve came so far in just one year. I’m going to blow the roof off of AURA. No way around it, I want that title. I’m going to come back faster, stronger and smarter. Tom is a great fighter and I know this fight will bring out the best in me.”

Tom Pagliarulo will be making his NEF debut on April 27.  He has two finishes to his credit on MMA events in New Hampshire, including a first-round technical knockout last fall.  Like Richard, Pagliarulo cut his teeth on the wrestling mats.  He is a lifelong wrestler.  He competed for Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, Massachusetts and later for Plymouth State University in Plymouth, New Hampshire.  Pagliarulo currently holds a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and trains at both Burgess MMA in Manchester, New Hampshire and Spero’s Martial Arts Academy in Plaistow, New Hampshire.

“What better way to make my NEF debut than a title fight against a tough competitor,” exclaimed Pagliarulo when reached for comment.  “Zac and myself are both elite wrestlers which should make for an exciting fight. The opportunity was presented to me, and I know it is a fight that will make us both better, so I jumped all over it. As far as the title goes, this is just another fight for me. I’m going to go in there and do what I love to do, fight.”

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 38: STORMBORN,” will take place on Saturday, April 27, 2019 at Aura in Portland, Maine with a bell time of 7 pm.  Tickets are on sale now at www.AuraMaine.com.

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

TITLE FIGHT DRAW LEAVES ZAC RICHARD WITH A SENSE OF PRIDE

Leave a comment

Three prior forays into the New England Fights cage demanded all of five minutes and nine seconds from Zac Richard.

That was the aggregate time it took for the native of Waterboro, Maine, to accumulate three wins by knockout or submission and earn a shot at the vacant NEF amateur featherweight title at NEF 37 on Friday, February 1.

Richard probably only now fully appreciates how the odds were stacked against him that frosty evening. He was paired with Fred Lear, a veteran of eight previous fights who won the bantamweight belt in his previous outing. Both Lear’s home and training center sit a stone’s throw away from the Cross Insurance Center, scene of the showdown.

While draws are a rare turn of events in mixed martial arts, and ties are universally maligned as an unsatisfying outcome to any sporting endeavor, Richard can appreciate the judges’ indecision after the first true donnybrook of his budding career.

“Before the fight when they announced our names, I thought the place was going to explode. It was wild,” Richard said. “And then the fight was pretty even the whole time. I kept thinking to myself, you’re not losing, but you’re not winning by much. That’s all I kept thinking about.”

Richard, a Maine state wrestling champion in high school, has worked on the finer points of his stand-up game with UFC veteran Devin Powell and other instructors at Nostos MMA in Somersworth, New Hampshire.

Pride and practicality persuaded Richard to engage in slug-it-out tactics with Lear, but old habits die hard.

“It started out good. I felt in control from the beginning. I wanted to stay on my feet and really show off how much my striking has come,” Richard said. “And I knew Fred was a really game opponent on the ground and has been training a lot longer than I have. So I wanted to keep it on my feet. But staying a wrestler is such habit. The first combination I threw, I went down for a shot.”

Lear’s assault to the body admittedly took a physical toll on Richard. The newcomer obviously never experienced such blunt trauma in his pre-MMA combat days and hadn’t been touched in his career-opening win streak against Gabriel Diaz, Clifford Redman and Chris Lachcik.

“I got really gassed and winded, because he kept landing knees and punches to the body,” Richard said, “I kept waiting for my second wind to come and it never did. I tried to get in a combination or a good slam every once in a while.”

Even sitting on the stool in his corner between rounds was surreal.

Of course there were thoughts of Richard’s sister, Lacy, who lost her battle with cancer in 2012 but continues to inspire Zac with her fighting spirit. Having time to get in touch with one’s thoughts and survey the scenery aren’t the norm when you’re finishing opponents before the echo of the opening bell fades.

“Most of my fights have been pretty quick. It was definitely a weird experience,” Richard said. “I’ve never had that between rounds. I was looking out in the crowd and would see one certain friend or family member or training partner every time. It was a lot bigger deal than what I’m used to.”

When it became obvious Lear wasn’t ripe to be knocked out, Richard tried to balance self-defense while keeping the scorecards in mind.

“Going into the fourth and fifth round, I knew I was tired, and I knew Fred could punch and kick just as well,” he said. “I was thinking to myself, ‘You’ve got to keep your hands up. This is dangerous when you’re tired.’ All I kept thinking about was don’t get hit. Hit him.

“Every time the clackers went off, when there was 10 seconds left, I tried to get up from the bottom or get in a kick or land one last good strike. That was different, because I never had that—I’ve never even heard the 10-second clackers. I definitely could hear it more than the buzzer, because the last few seconds it would get so chaotic and everyone would get so loud. The ref would just grab us I’m like, ‘Is it over?’ I never experienced anything like that in wrestling.”

Those back-and-forth battles in regional and state mat affairs did serve Richard well. He felt that he was mentally prepared for the championship rounds, even as the physical toll increased.

Richard acknowledged that he has a bad habit of training without using his mouth guard and that it may have affected his breathing in the bout.

“I’ve been in some pretty long wrestling matches, as many different types as you can get in,” Richard said. “I was always a really good wrestler in overtime. I don’t think I ever lost in overtime. If I did, it was like once. But the thing with wrestling is you’re not getting punched and kneed in the stomach and other things that are taking your wind. I was just so tired. I knew the whole time I wasn’t proud of my performance, but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. I kept telling myself I had to get up and do something.”

While unhappy with the draw, Richard takes encouragement from many details that have come to light in the aftermath of the fight.

The mixed result surely entitled Richard to an immediate rematch. That won’t explicitly happen, as Lear informed him that he intends to turn professional.

“I remember February 14 of last year was the first NEF fight I ever went to. I had only been training for a month and (NEF co-owner and matchmaker) Matt Peterson asked me to go,” Richard said. “So I went, and here it is a year later I’m fighting for a belt against a kid that fought for the belt a year and a half ago. Finding out after the fight that he’s going pro, it really made me a lot prouder of how I did. If he can pro after that fight, and I’ve only been fighting for a year, then I’ve got pretty good hope for my future.”

That future will include another crack at the belt, on April 27th.

“I’m the Number 1 contender, and he’s going pro, so it’s whoever’s next,” Richard said. “I don’t know if they’re going to bring in someone from somewhere else or what. Matt said he’s working on opponent. I’ll be ready.”

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 38: STORMBORN,” will take place on Saturday, April 27, 2019 at Aura in Portland, Maine with a bell time of 7 pm.  Tickets are on sale now at www.AuraMaine.com.

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

NEF DELIVERS SCORCHING-HOT MMA EVENT IN SUB ZERO WEATHER

Leave a comment

Bangor, Maine (February 2, 2019) – While the polar vortex froze solid the nearby Penobscot River, New England Fights (NEF) had the mercury rising with some wild mixed-martial-arts (MMA) action inside the Cross Insurance Center on Friday night.  The popular fight promotion brought its latest event to Bangor with yet another sold-out crowd of more than 1200 on hand.  It was the fourth event, and fourth sell-out, in Bangor for NEF since 2016.  The event was aptly titled “SUB ZERO” in anticipation of the bone-chilling weather raging outside.
 
The main event saw Josh Harvey (6-0-1) claim the NEF Professional Featherweight strap when he defeated Bill Jones (13-11) in the first round via technical submission.  In so doing, Harvey made history as the first competitor to win titles in two different weight divisions in NEF.  He previously held the NEF Amateur Lightweight title.
 
Mark Gardner (1-0) was victorious over CJ Ewer (3-3) in Gardner’s professional debut.  Ewer was unable to continue after the first round due to a cut above his eye.
 
In the amateur headliner, Fred Lear (6-2-1) and Zac Richard (3-0-1) fought to a five-round draw on the judges’ scorecards in a bout for the vacant NEF Amateur Featherweight Title.  Lear had a point taken away in the first round by referee John English for grabbing the cage.  The amateur featherweight championship remains vacant.
 
Catie Denning (2-1) and Glory Watson (3-0) both picked up wins for Young’s MMA in their respective women’s bouts.  Denning defeated Amanda Bennett (0-1) via split decision while Watson submitted Wisconsin’s Rachael Lippert (4-3) in the third round.
 
The results from Bangor, Maine:
 
PROFESSIONAL


Josh Harvey def. Bill Jones via technical submission, round 1


Mark Gardner def. CJ Ewer via technical knockout, round 2
 
AMATEUR


Fred Lear fought Zac Richard to a five-round draw


Devin Corson def. Taylor Bartlett via unanimous decision
 
Catie Denning def. Amanda Bennett via split decision
 
Jake Bagley def. Brady MacDonald via unanimous decision
 
Bryce Bamford def. Roger Ewer via KO, round 1
 
Glory Watson def. Rachael Lippert via guillotine submission, round 3
 
Nate Boucher def. Dillon Henry via rear-naked submission, round 1
 
Jordan Young def. Clifford Redman via rear-naked submission, round 1
 
Rob Kiah def. Joe Howard via rear-naked choke submission, round 2
 
 
NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 38: STORMBORN,” will take place on Saturday, April 27, 2019 at Aura in Portland, Maine with a bell time of 7 pm.  Tickets are on sale now at www.AuraMaine.com.
mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

UNDEFEATED TITLE CONTENDER HARVEY: “I’M GOING OUT THERE TO FIGHT TO KILL, OR BE KILLED”

Leave a comment

Bangor, Maine (January 28, 2019) – New England Fights (NEF) undefeated prospect Josh “Hook-On” Harvey is not intimated by the tough talk of his opponent, longtime mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran Bill “Jonesi” Jones. The two are scheduled for a five-round 25-minute Featherweight Championship bout this Friday, February 1st at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine.

“I heard a lot about his interview,” Harvey recently stated to Ryan Jarrell and Bryan Stackpole on theBetween Rounds Radio podcast during a remote recording of the show that was heard at the Sea Dog Brewing Company. “I didn’t hear it because I don’t really bother with that… I get enough trash floating around—I don’t need to listen to it.”

Harvey was referring to some strong words that Jones had for him recently during multiple podcast interviews he’s delivered, including one to Between Rounds Radio where Jones predicted a first round knockout victory over Harvey. In the same interview, Jones also criticized Harvey’s ability to make weight, the caliber of opponents that he’s faced, and, specifically, Harvey’s most recent fight—a three-round draw with The Ultimate Fighter finalist Joe Giannetti.

“The truth is, I’ve had struggles making weight as of recently,” Harvey stated.

“Against Giannetti, on three-week’s notice, yes, I missed weight and I think what I did is I shut down that quote-unquote godly jiu-jitsu game that he has,” Harvey explained. “I don’t think there was one successful (expletive) sub attempt.”

Harvey admitted that making weight is always a challenge. He admitted that he walks around at 175-pounds and has even swelled to as big as 190-pounds during an 18-month stretch when he was inactive due to an injury. Harvey also noted that he has made the weight before and anticipates no issues reaching the contracted 145-pound championship scratch weight limit for his showdown with Jones.

“I’ve made championship weight for featherweight before,” Harvey said. “Against [Derek] Shorey, I was ’44.”

During the interview, Harvey acknowledged that Jones has faced an impressive list of opponents during his storied fight career that stretches back almost 12-years.

“I’m a rookie compared to my opponent, he would say,” Harvey stated. “He’s fought a lot of big names, a lot of big guys.”

“I know that he’s fought a lot of big guys, but I think most of them got to the big show after they fought him,” Harvey continued. “I haven’t fought a lot of those names, but I also haven’t lost to a lot of those names.”

Jones has criticized Harvey by suggesting that he “doesn’t like to get, hit” to which Harvey replied simply: “No one likes to get hit.”

“If I can see a fight being finished with me victorious without taking a whole lot of damage—I mean, that’s a no-brainer,” Harvey explained.

Harvey also recognized the similarity in attitudes and fight styles that the two scheduled opponents share. “I typically am the same way,” Harvey said. “I’m going out there to fight to kill, or be killed.”

“I’m prepared for five rounds, but if it goes five rounds it means someone’s not doing their job—me,” Harvey explained. “I’m not doing my job if it goes five rounds because I’m sure within the first few rounds an opportunity will present itself and a missed opportunity is something we can’t have.”

Although reluctant to offer a prediction on how he might finish the fight, Harvey is confident that he will execute another efficient in-cage conclusion on Friday, the kind of performance that has become his calling card since finishing five of his six professional opponents in the first round.

“I can’t tell you when it’s going to happen or whether I’m going to go out there and sub him or I’m going to go out there and knock him out or if it’s going to be first round or if it’s going to be last round,” Harvey said.

“I just want to get out there, put on a show, get the finish, and remain ready to fight again.”

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 37: SUB ZERO,” will take place on Friday, February 1, 2019 at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine with a bell time of 8 pm.  Tickets are on-sale now at www.CrossInsuranceCenter.com.

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

TITLE CONTENDER JONES SPITTING FIRE AHEAD OF MAIN EVENT WITH UNDEFEATED HARVEY

Leave a comment

Bangor, Maine (January 27, 2019) – Similar to his scheduled opponent in the February 1st main event of New England Fights’ “NEF 37: SUB ZERO,” card at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine, Bill “Jonesi” Jones is known as a hardworking entrepreneur that is focused on getting ahead in life.

As Jones himself recently stated bluntly: “I’m on a mission to get rich.”

Jones’ opponent for Friday night, undefeated hammer Josh “Hook-On” Harvey, is also known within the Penobscot County region where he resides as a sun-up to sun-down grinder that doesn’t stop until he crams 25-hours worth of work into a 24-hour day.

That is where their similarities end, however.

In the lead-in to their fight, Jones has been vocal in his predictions that he will finish Harvey quickly by knocking him out in the first round if the fight stays standing.

Harvey, on the other hand, has been relatively quiet before their five-round Featherweight Championship bout.

Jones was at it again recently when he joined Craig Allen on Fight Night Picks to talk about his upcoming showdown with Harvey.

“I think Harvey likes to look good,” Jones stated. “I think he likes to protect his face and look pretty. So, I think when I start smashing on him, he’s going to cover up and bail out really quick.”

The lone blemish on Harvey’s record-to-date came back in November when he fought to a draw withThe Ultimate Fighter finalist Joe Giannetti at a show in Massachusetts. Many in attendance felt that Harvey won the bout.

Jones, meanwhile, saw the fight and wasn’t impressed with Harvey’s performance.

“[Harvey’s fight with] Giannetti was more of a hugging match,” Jones told Allen. “Two guys just kind-of hanging on to each other for 15-minutes, no damage done. I’m going to throw down and fire until there’s no more bullets to come out. It’s going to be exciting, I can’t wait.”

At 40-years old, Jones knows that age eventually gets the better of every combat sports athlete and that, realistically, he’s looking at his final few fights. Fully aware of this, Jones is pleased to be finishing out his career back home with New England Fights.

“It’s good to bring it back home toward the end of my career,” Jones stated. “It will be nice to bang out Harvey here and maybe get that fight with Lacey, like they were talking about, and close it out with him. We’ll see where it goes.”

“It’s not about the money for me anymore—it’s not about the sponsors. It’s about the competition,” Jones concluded. “I want to go out there and kick some more ass. I make plenty of money doing my day job, so it is what it is—let’s go beat people up.”

To listen to the full interview with Bill Jones visit:

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 37: SUB ZERO,” will take place on Friday, February 1, 2019 at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine with a bell time of 8 pm.  Tickets are on-sale now at www.CrossInsuranceCenter.com.

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 fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPION KAM ARNOLD: THE KING IN THE NORTH

Leave a comment

There are always burning questions as New England Fights flips the calendar into a new year.

Based on the fan voting at the end of a wild 2018 campaign, one occupies everyone’s mind: What can Kam Arnold possibly do for an encore?

Arnold, a relative newcomer from Casco, Maine, posted the second and third opening-round knockouts of his young career, including an 11-second demolition of David Thompson.

He followed that by fighting Killian Murphy on short notice and earning an unforgettable fourth-round stoppage to win the organization’s amateur bantamweight title at NEF 34 in June. That decision locked up fighter of the year honors, a distinction that immediately puts the outspoken Arnold (4-0) in some serious company, as he explained in a recent interview on “This Week in MMA” with Craig and Matt Allen of Fight Night Picks.

“It’s crazy, because you know what? I never expected it. The way the polls go, its kind of like a popularity contest. I never thought I was going to get past Ryan Sanders, let alone the fan base that he carries and some of the other guys,” Arnold said. “I know I have a great fan base as well. When it comes down to earning it, in my mind without a doubt I was the most deserving, but I was just happy to be in the ballpark with Ryan. He’s a big name. He’s sculpted his career. He’s been battling to get into the UFC for a while now.”

Arnold already harbors similar expectations for himself. He hinted at a major fight announcement in the near future and sees it as a springboard to his continued meteoric rise.

His scrap with Murphy – a substitute after Arnold spent much of his fight camp preparing for the more wiry Mike Crespo – was a testament to the champion’s focus and single-minded determination.

“They said, ‘You want to fight this?’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, that title’s mine, I don’t care who it is, I’m fighting him.’ I had two weeks to prepare for Killian, who is a state champ wrestler, so that changed up my game plan, but (I was confident) as long as I imposed my will,” Arnold said.

“That fight with Killian was a very poor performance for me. I feel like that was a really bad showing in my eyes. Did I show a lot of heart? Yes. And I have a good chin. That’s stuff I feel like I already know about myself. I was very disappointed in myself. Not disappointed in the outcome. So don’t get me wrong, (it was a) great outcome. I’m just a pretty tough critic, I guess.”

When it was over, Arnold was relieved to find an opponent who finally pushed him. He worried that the series of quick wins over Glenn Kasabian, Kyle Kenney and Thompson weren’t conducive to his pursuit of long-term glory.

“It was kind of worrisome honestly, and I’m not trying to make that into a cocky statement at all,” Arnold said. “It was more like, ‘OK, when is my test coming, and what is that test going to be like?’ The eyes never left the prize. My goal is to be a world champion.”

Other athletes and teams make the most of so-called bulletin board fodder. Some would say the New England Patriots used it to their advantage in the run to their latest AFC championship. When rivals, journalists or even fans utter words that may be veiled insults, they become motivational medicine.

Arnold is no exception. He heard the whispers that he hadn’t been tested, or that Murphy was a superior wrestler, or that someone able to take away Arnold’s stand-up acumen would enjoy better results.

“I felt in some cases slapped in the face since I first started,” Arnold said. “I think that’s what carries the chip on my shoulder. That’s why I keep on going, keep on going, keep on going.

“Every camp I find that little something to put the fuel to my fire. A lot of people seem to forget, I’m a wrestler, too, and I’ve shown that in the very few fights I’ve had. You look at the blast double that I had on Kyle Kenney. I have very good wrestling (skills). Ask my training partners. So I think a lot of people take my ground game for granted. They’re going to see what my jiu-jitsu is like. Don’t sleep on it.”

Although he has settled into a comfort zone at 135 pounds, Arnold said he isn’t against moving up a weight class or even two if it will help expand his options for opponents.

Being the smaller, underestimated guy doesn’t bother him much: Arnold grew up as the youngest child in a family of all boys. He described it to the Allen’s as a rough upbringing in which the last child in life had no choice but to fight for what he wanted.

“We didn’t get a lot of opportunity to get out and pursue what I thought back then were never-been dreams. Then I hit what I would call rock bottom and I had no choice,” he said. “I’m a hungry, hungry fighter. A lot of guys are in there to compete. I’m not in there to compete. I’m there to put your lights out. I want to win. I think that really sets me apart from everybody else.”

While Arnold still is making his mark in the amateur ranks, he considers mixed martial arts his profession and career path.

Beginning with the fight he’s eyeing on the immediate horizon, every camp this year is a likely building block toward those aspirations.

“I’ve been dying for 2019 to come along. It’s nothing but success this year. I can’t wait to turn it up a notch,” Arnold said. “Look for me on the big stage at the end of 2019. It’s coming.”

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 37: SUB ZERO,” will take place on Friday, February 1, 2019 at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine with a bell time of 8 pm.  A very limited number of tickets are still on-sale by contacting NEF directly through its Facebook page “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 fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

CONTENDER BILL JONES ON JOSH HARVEY: “HE’S A PRETTY BOY THAT DOESN’T WANT TO GET HURT”

Leave a comment

Bill “Jonesi” Jones has seen and done it all during a decorated mixed martial arts (MMA) career that spans back more than a decade.  On February 1st, he’ll look to add another noteworthy accomplishment to his deep fight resume when he faces highly touted, undefeated prospect Josh “Hook-On” Harvey for the New England Fights (NEF) professional Featherweight Championship in the main event at “NEF 37: SUB ZERO” in Bangor, Maine. Jones recently discussed his storied record and his upcoming championship bout with Ryan Jarrell and Bryan Stackpole on the Between Rounds Radio podcast.

Jones made his MMA debut in September 2007. Over the course of more than 20-bouts, he fought and defeated a who’s-who of New England’s top-tier combat sports athletes, including multiple opponents that went on to compete in the world’s largest promotions such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Professional Fighters League (formally known as WSOF), and Bellator. Jones holds wins over UFC veterans Matt Bessette and Tateki Matsuda. It’s this experience against high-level competition that Jones believes will give him an edge over Harvey on February 1st.

“I’ve won fights and I’ve lost fights in the Northeast, but a good portion of my fights were top contenders at 155 or 145,” Jones told Jarrell and Stackpole. “Harvey’s never really fought—other than his last fight that he fought to a decision and he didn’t really show anything in—he’s never fought anybody to the caliber of the guys that I’ve fought. So, I feel really good about that going into this fight.”

“I’m going to bust ass and smash through this guy,” Jones added.

Bill made his highly anticipated debut with NEF in April 2018, finishing Matt Denning in the second round via technical knockout.

“Beating Denning pretty decisively the way I did—it felt good to get back in the win column, but it still doesn’t show me,” Jones said. “I feel like I should have beat him in the first round, not the second round.”

The win set-up Jones for a title match showdown with Aaron Lacey for the vacant professional featherweight championship in November 2018, but the bout was scrapped when Lacey sustained an injury that forced him to withdraw.

“When he backed out, I was super, extremely disappointed,” Jones explained.  “I was extremely disappointed… Lacey’s more of a 145-pound fighter. Harvey, if he makes weight at 145, he is going to have a really rough night because it’s just going to be a lot of weight for him to cut. After the first round, if he makes it out of it, it’s going to wear on him.”

“In my brain, I knew he [Lacey] wasn’t going to make it out of the first round with me—it was a win,” Jones continued. “It was just one of those fights where you knew, you walked in there, and you walked out victorious. I know it’s a tougher fight with Harvey, but in my mind, it’s the same fight.”

With Lacey currently on the sidelines, Lacey’s teammate, fast rising Josh “Hook-On” Harvey, agreed to step in and put his 5-0-1 record on the line against Jones in the feature fight for NEF’s 2019 return to Bangor.

“Every fight that I’ve watched him [Harvey] fight, it seems like he comes out and tries to stand with them, but then as soon as they start throwing back, I feel like he gets nervous and shoots,” Jones said. “So, he flashes off like he’s a standup fighter, but then as soon as they start to attack, he instantly shoots. So that, in my mind, makes me feel like he’s a pretty boy that doesn’t want to get hurt. He doesn’t want to get hit.”

“I feel like he’s going to crumble under the pace that I put on him. I’m a more of an attack, in-your-face fighter and I feel like he’s going to fold under that.”

When “Jonesi” and Hook-On” face-off on February 1st, it will be in the heart of winter in Maine, hence the title of the aptly named event, “Sub Zero.” Unlike many combat athletes that try to avoid cutting weight over the long holiday season, Jones, who works full-time during the day as a roofing foreman supervising a crew of 12 laborers, prefers competing during the winter months.

“Wintertime is always a good time for me to train,” Jones explained to Jarrell and Stackpole. “I get out of work fairly early in the wintertime. We work dark-to-dark in the summer, so I don’t get home until 6, 7, 8 o’clock—so it’s hard to make it to the gym. So winter time is a real good training schedule for me.”

Jones, who normally walks around at 155-pounds despite the admission that he normally “eats out of gas stations” when he’s not in fight camp, predicts no problems whatsoever in terms of making the championship scratch weight limit of 145-pounds. When asked, however, on whether he thinks his opponent will make the weight, he couldn’t express the same confidence.

“I have trouble seeing Harvey making weight for the fight,” Jones said. “I’m going to fight him either way, whatever weight he walks in at. But, I believe that Lacey is really the one that is in line for it. I mean, Harvey hasn’t made weight for a fight at 45 in awhile. The fight he just had with Joe-Joe [Gianetti] that he just kind-of held on to the whole time, he missed weight by four or five pounds…. He’s going to have a tough time making that weight.”

Regardless of the weight, Jones is unwavering in his belief that he has the tools to put the first loss on Harvey’s record. Harvey, not known for losing frequently in any combat sport, was also a multiple-time state champion wrestler.

“I think he’s going to try to wrestle me,” Jones said. “I think he’s going to try to take me down and win by wearing me out… If he lets it stay standing, I’ll probably knock him out in the first round.”

Having kicked a 25-year smoking habit a few years ago, Jones feels revitalized and better than ever and ready for the challenge in front of him on February 1st.

“I really want to win that belt,” he said. “I’m 40-years old. Life moves on and I don’t know how many more years I got to push into the sport, but it’s a good time for me.

“I don’t look at it as a job like everybody else, or something that I dream to do,” Jones explained. “I love to fight. I love the atmosphere of it, I love the competition of it.

“I want to end my career on a high note.”

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 37: SUB ZERO,” will take place on Friday, February 1, 2019 at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine with a bell time of 8 pm.  Tickets are on-sale now at www.CrossInsuranceCenter.com.

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 fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

DESPITE SETBACKS, NATE BOUCHER IS NOT BACKING DOWN

Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Bangor, Maine (January 23, 2019) – Nate Boucher’s journey inside the New England Fights’ (NEF) mixed martial arts (MMA) cage has not been a course without its challenges and heartbreak along the way.

After winning his first two outings at the start of his amateur fight career, Boucher, a lifelong wrestler, earned a chance to compete for the NEF Flyweight Championship. His title shot came in November 2017 in front of a sold-out crowd when NEF made its highly anticipated Portland, Maine debut. That night, Boucher was outscored on the judge’s cards and dropped a close, controversial split-decision to NEF veteran Justin Witham. It’s a loss that continues to confound Boucher almost a year and a half later.

“As far as I’m concerned, I won the flyweight title that night,” Boucher stated recently in an interview with Ryan Jarrell and Bryan Stackpole on the Between Rounds Radio podcast. “I try to watch that fight and be optimistic the best that I can. I try to watch that fight and be respectful of what the judge’s could have seen. There’s not an absolute bone in my body that sees the fight going the way the judge’s said it went. That being said, they decided that Justin Witham won that night. He knows I’m coming after him. I’m going to do what it takes to get back into that title conversation and I’m going to get that win back. “

The Witham loss would be followed by two more defeats for Boucher.

In Boucher’s first fight back after losing to Witham, he dropped another split-decision against his hometown wrestling rival, multiple-time state champion, and former NEF Flyweight Champion, Ryan “Gordo” Burgess.

Jumping right back into the cage two months after his loss to Burgess, Boucher sustained the only stoppage defeat on his record when he lost via third-round technical knockout to former bantamweight title contender, Walt Shea, who fights out of John Raio’s First Class MMA in Brunswick, Maine.

Last November, down but not out, Boucher rebounded from three-losses-in-a-row by finishing 2018 off with a first-round submission victory over Jordan Young, a state champion wrestler from Belfast, Maine. The contest took place in the 135-pound weight class.

“Jordan was coming off of a win against my teammate—a tough teammate of mine,” Boucher said. “Not many guys on a three-fight skid would take a fight with a guy coming off of a win and then beat him in the first round. So, I hope that opened some eyes for people so they know exactly what I’m about and they know that I’m strong mentally.

“I’m very happy with myself that I was able to fight like I train,” Boucher recounted regarding his win over Young. “The cut to 135 isn’t as much as it is to flyweight and I think that played a big part in my cardio. I was in great shape for that fight. Mentally, I knew I was going to win months before the fight happened.”

With six bouts already under his belt, Boucher, at only 22-years of age, knows that he still has limitless room to grow within the sport.

“I’m an amateur,” he noted to Jarrell and Stackpole. “I’m a student of the game and I’m learning and developing my skills. I haven’t even come close to what my full potential is. I knew what I can achieve—I know what is possible if I stay on the path.”

Boucher’s 2019 fight season officially begins on Friday, February 1st when he’s scheduled to face newcomer Dillon Henry from First Class MMA. Henry is also a wrestler, having competed for Windham High School. Henry now trains with one of Boucher’s previous opponents, Walt Shea. Regardless of being pitted against the teammate of the only fighter that’s ever stopped him in MMA competition, Boucher stated that he’s confident in the matchup.

“I know he’s going to be training with Walt Shea, obviously,” Boucher said. “I know that Walt Shea is going to pass down information he feels is going to help him. It won’t… He seems to look like a strong guy. All I am going to do is I’m going to prepare myself and I’m going to become a better fighter in this fight camp and I’m going to go out there and fight him. I think it will go my way, for sure.”

Squaring off in the cage against other talented wrestlers is nothing new for Boucher. He defeated four-time Maine state wrestling champion Jeremiah Barkac by first-round submission the last time he competed in Bangor. Ryan Burgess was a three-time state champion for Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, Maine.

“I probably perform at my best against wrestlers,” Boucher stated. “They have really bad habits that a lot of wrestlers don’t seem to be able to shake off their first couple of fights, including myself. Fortunate for me, I have a coach like Jesse Erickson who’s a top-level guy when it comes to the jiu jitsu game around these parts, and he’s shown me the difference between what wrestling the sport is and what wrestling in a fight is. They’re different types of wrestling. I think he’s [Henry] going to expose himself and leave himself open. He’s going to make some rookie mistakes and I’m going to capitalize.”

While the prospect of defeating another wrestler in the NEF cage is an inspiring proposition to Boucher, he’s also excited by the opportunity to once again compete in Maine’s Queen City.

“I’ve never lost in Bangor,” Nate said. “I love that venue. I love the city of Bangor. I’m excited to be there and I’m excited to be sharing a card with some of the monsters that are on it. There’s a lot of great fights on this card and I’m very much looking forward to seeing some of them myself. It’s going to be a great show—I can’t wait.”

“I’m starting to earn my stripes a little bit in the cage,” Boucher added. “I’m starting to get more comfortable. I’m starting to feel more and more like a recognized name in the NEF—and I think all of that is going to play a factor. I think he’s [Henry] bit off a little more than he can chew for his first fight and, unfortunately, he’s going to figure that out very hard on February 1.”

As 2018 came to a close, Boucher, like many forward-thinking individuals, clearly defined his goals for the year ahead.

“I will be the flyweight champ in the NEF at the end of this year [2019],” Boucher stated confidently. “No doubt about it. That’s what my mind is set on right now.

“My teammate, Kam Arnold, he’s going to carry that belt straight through at 135. Man, the two of us together are some bad dudes. I’m fortunate to have him to push me through this mentally and be able to get me on the right mindset of what a champion is supposed to be—and I’m going to be there, right there with him at flyweight. Man, it’s going to be one hell of a one-two punch, that’s for sure.”

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 37: SUB ZERO,” will take place on Friday, February 1, 2019 at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine with a bell time of 8 pm.  Tickets are on-sale now at www.CrossInsuranceCenter.com.

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 fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

DESPITE SUB ZERO TEMPERATURES, NEF FIGHT CARD WILL BRING THE HEAT TO BANGOR

Leave a comment

Bangor, Maine (January 18, 2019) – New England Fights (NEF) will hold its next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 37: Sub Zero,” on Friday, February 1, 2019 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine.  Earlier today, the promotion announced the full fight card for the event.

In the main event of the evening, Josh “Hook On” Harvey (5-0-1) will face Bill “Jonesi” Jones(13-10) for the vacant NEF MMA Professional Featherweight Title.  Harvey is coming off a very controversial majority draw in Massachusetts last fall against UFC veteran Joe Giannetti (6-1-1).  Many observers felt that Harvey had dominated Giannetti for three rounds and Giannetti was only saved by a hometown decision.  Prior to that time, Harvey had a perfect professional record with five straight wins in the NEF cage.  Bill Jones is a pioneer of the New England MMA scene.  Jones, a member of Nostos MMA, vanquished Matt Denning (5-8) last spring at “NEF 33” in Portland, Maine via second-round technical knockout.

Harvey’s Young’s MMA teammate CJ Ewer (3-2) will be in action in the co-main event against The Academy’s Mark “Pockets” Gardner (0-0) at a catchweight of 180-pounds.  Ewer is the reigning NEF MMA Professional Middleweight Champion.  Gardner makes his pro debut after a stellar amateur career that saw him finish all three of his opponents.

Ricky Dexter (1-0), also of Young’s MMA, rounds out the professional portion of the card against Ruben Redman (0-2) in a welterweight contest.  Both fighters have not competed in the cage in two years.  Dexter is the former NEF MMA Amateur Welterweight Champion.

Fred Lear (6-2) will headline the amateur card with Zac Richard (3-0) in a bout for the vacant NEF MMA Amateur Featherweight Title.  Lear has previously held the amateur bantamweight strap and will look to make NEF history as the first athlete to win titles in different weight divisions within the promotion.  Zac Richard was voted the “2018 Rookie of the Year” by NEF fans after cutting down all three of his previous opponents in the first round last year.

It will be a family affair as Roger Ewer (1-0), brother and Young’s MMA teammate of co-main-event competitor CJ Ewer, meets Bryce Bamford (2-0) of First Class MMA in an amateur heavyweight fight.  This will be the second time the Ewer brothers have fought together on a card in Bangor, the first being in August 2017 at “NEF 30.”

Also featured on the amateur portion of the fight card will be two women’s fights.  “2018 Rookie of the Year” runner-up Glory Watson (2-0) will face her toughest challenge to date in the form of Wisconsin’s Rachael Lippert (4-2), while Catie Denning (1-1) takes on the debuting Amanda Bennett (0-0) of First Class MMA.  Watson and Denning are two members of the group known affectionately among teammates and fans as “Chris’s Angels” as they train under Chris Young at Young’s MMA in Bangor.

Tickets are sold-out at the box office and Ticketmaster, but fans can still contact NEF through its Facebook page, “New England Fights,” as the promotion still has a very limited number of tickets available for direct sale.  Tickets will be sold on a first-come/first-served basis until they run out.

The full “NEF 37” fight card (subject to change and approval of the Combat Sports Authority of Maine):

PROFESSIONAL

145*TITLE Josh Harvey 5-0-1 (Young’s MMA) vs Bill Jones 13-11 (Nostos)

180 CJ Ewer 3-2 (Young’s MMA) vs Mark Gardner 0-0 (The Academy)

170 Ricky Dexter 1-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Ruben Redman 0-2 (Independent)

AMATEUR

145*TITLE Fred Lear 6-2 (Young’s MMA) vs Zac Richard 3-0 (Nostos)

155 Taylor Bartlett 1-1-1 (CMBJJ) vs Devin Corson 1-1 (The Outlet)

145 Catie Denning 1-1 (Young’s MMA) vs Amanda Bennett 0-0 (First Class MMA)

130 Brady Macdonald 1-1 (Pictou County Jiu-Jitsu) vs Jake Bagley 0-0 (Nostos)

265 Roger Ewer 1-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Bryce Bamford 2-0 (First Class MMA)

135 Jordan Young 1-2 (Young’s MMA) vs Clifford Redman 0-7 (Independent)

135 Nate Boucher 3-3 (CMBJJ) vs Dillon Henry 0-0 (First Class MMA)

125 Glory Watson 2-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Rachael Lippert 4-2 (Fearless MMA)

145 Rob Kiah 1-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Joe Howard 1-1 (CMBJJ)

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 37: SUB ZERO,” will take place on Friday, February 1, 2019 at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine with a bell time of 8 pm.  A very limited number of tickets are still on-sale by contacting NEF directly through its Facebook page “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 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, MMA, New England Fights

TOP AMATEUR PROSPECTS WILL MEET IN WOMEN’S FIGHT AT NEF 37

Leave a comment

Bangor, Maine (January 10, 2019) – New England Fights (NEF) will hold its next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 37: Sub Zero,” on Friday, February 1, 2019 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine.  Earlier today, the promotion announced the addition of an amateur women’s flyweight fight to the card.  Glory Watson (2-0) will take on Rachael Lippert (4-2) at a fight weight of 125-pounds.

Glory Watson made her mark in the NEF cage in 2018 with wins over Chelsea Tucker and Megan Rosado.  It earned her a nomination in the “Rookie of the Year” category.  She was the runner-up to fellow undefeated amateur rookie Zac Richard (3-0) in fan voting last month.  Watson trains with Young’s MMA in Bangor.  The fight with Lippert will be her first in her hometown.

“I’ve continued to train and challenge myself since my victory in Portland this past November,” said Watson.  “I’m really excited to finally make my debut in my hometown to kickstart 2019 with a three-fight run streak over the next three months! I’m looking forward to my return to the cage and to show my supporters the hard work that I’ve been putting in to maintain my career with zero losses!” 

Rachael Lippert is also riding a two-fight win-streak into this bout.  Last month, she was victorious on a card in Minnesota put on by national promotion Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA).  She is a 25-year-old with a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu representing Fearless MMA of Janesville, Wisconsin. 

“I am happy to have the opportunity to travel and fight,” said Lippert. “At this point, we decided we weren’t going to accept higher weight or lower record fights. This fight is both of those things, but I looked up Glory and she looked like a banger of an opponent. I know how it is to work hard and not get to fight, so I am happy to fill the spot. I am looking forward to a great fight.”         

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 37: SUB ZERO,” will take place on Friday, February 1, 2019 at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine with a bell time of 8 pm.  Tickets are on-sale now at www.CrossInsuranceCenter.com.