Category Archives: women’s MMA

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights, women's MMA

2017 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR RETURNING TO THE CAGE AT NEF 32

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Lewiston, Maine (December 27, 2017) – New England Fights (NEF) returns to Lewiston onSaturday, February 3, 2018 with the fight promotion’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 32: Super Saturday.”  Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of an amateur women’s bantamweight bout to the card.  Jayda “Lil Killah” Bailey(1-0) is scheduled to face Amanda Gallo (0-1) at a fight weight of 135-pounds.

Jayda Bailey made headlines this year when she became the youngest athlete to ever compete in a sanctioned MMA fight in Maine.  A mere eight days after her 18th birthday, the legal minimum age for an MMA participant in the state, Bailey put together a dominant performance in her debut against Danae Dostie (0-1) at “NEF 31.”  It took her just over 90-seconds to pound out a TKO victory.  So impressive was the win that it earned Bailey a nomination for “Rookie of the Year.”  The fans agreed and voted the Hermon, Maine teenager as the recipient of the award.  Bailey is currently a member of Young’s MMA of Bangor.  This summer, upon graduation from high school, she plans to relocate to Albuquerque, New Mexico where she will join Jackson Wink MMA Academy – home to many top UFC stars.

“I can’t wait to step into the cage again and display my abilities,” said Bailey.  “I look to get better every time I fight, and I’m excited to be facing a new challenge.”

That new challenge will come in the form of Amanda Gallo.  Gallo trains with Robson Moura Nations United (RMNU) based in Tampa, Florida.  She made her cage debut in the fall of 2016 against Laine Orabona (2-2) on a fight card in Georgia.  The thrilling contest went the distance and saw Gallo lose a very close split decision on the judges’ scorecards.  She will come to Maine looking for the first win of her young career.

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 32: Super Saturday,” will see the company make its return to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.  The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 3, 2018.  Tickets are on-sale now online atwww.TheColisee.com.

Combate Americas, mixed martial arts, MMA, women's MMA

Combate 19 Weigh-In Results, Photos and Video

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Kyra Batara (left) and Paulina Granados (right) faced off on stage after each weighed in one day before their much-anticipated main event showdown at “TS-1 Promotions Presents: Combate 19 (Queen Warriors)” live on Telemundo from Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas on Friday, Dec. 1.

OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN RESULTS FOR
“TS-1 PROMOTIONS PRESENTS: COMBATE 19 (QUEEN WARRIORS)”

SAN ANTONIO, TX – November 30, 2017 –The fighters stepped on the scale and faced off with each other on Thursday, Nov. 30, one day before the “TS-1 Promotions Presents: Combate 19 (Queen Warriors)” Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) extravaganza, headlined by the much-anticipated women’s atomweight (105 pounds) showdown between rivals Kyra “Mogwai” Batara (6-4) and Paulina “Firefox” Granados (4-2), live on Telemundo at 12 a.m. ET/11 p.m. CT on Friday, Dec. 1 from Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas.

After Batara of Las Vegas, Nev. missed weight by one pound (107.4 pounds) after the contracted, one-pound allowance was considered, an agreement was made between her and Granados (4-2), who weighed in at 105.5 pounds, to proceed with the bout as planned.

Co-main event fighters Andres “The Bullet” Quintana (12-2) of Albuquerque, N.M. and Rey “The Warrior” Trujillo (21-19) of Houston, Texas tipped the scales at 145 pounds and 145.9 pounds, respectively for their featherweight (145 pounds) matchup.

Undefeated Daniel Rodriguez (4-0) of Los Angeles, Calif. and fellow knockout artistVictor “Kelevra” Reyna (9-3) of Dallas, Texas clocked in at 171.1 pounds and 170 pounds for their welterweight (170 pounds) scrap that will serve as the opening bout on the live Telemundo broadcast.

Prior to the live Telemundo broadcast, the seven-bout preliminary card will stream live on TelemundoDeportes.com, the Telemundo Deportes En Vivo App and Facebook LIVE, beginning at (9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT).

Priced from $30, tickets for “TS-1 Promotions Presents: Combate 19 (Queen Warriors)” are on sale at Ticketmaster.com.

Doors at Freeman Coliseum open at 7 p.m. CT.  The first preliminary bout begins at 8 p.m.


(Pictured above): Rey “The Warrior” Trujillo (left) and Andres “The Bullet” Quintana (right) will square off in the ‘Combate 19’ co-main event, live on Telemundo tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 1.

COMPLETE WEIGH-IN RESULTS FOR
“TS-1 PROMOTIONS PRESENTS: COMBATE 19 (QUEEN WARRIORS)”

MAIN FIGHT CARD (LIVE ON TELEMUNDO AT 12 A.M. ET/11 P.M. CT):

Atomweight (105 pounds) Main Event: Kyra Batara (107.4 pounds) vs Paulina Granados (105.5 pounds)

Featherweight (145 pounds) Co-Main Event: Andres Quintana (146 pounds) vs Rey Trujillo (146.4 pounds)

Welterweight (170 pounds) Featured Bout: Daniel Rodriguez (171.1 pounds) vs Victor Reyna (170 pounds)

PRELIMINARY FIGHT CARD
(LIVE ON TELEMUNDODEPORTES.COM, TELEMUNDO DEPORTES EN VIVO APP AND FACEBOOK LIVE):

Catchweight (140 pounds): Ray Rodriguez (139.1 pounds) vs Michael Rodriguez (143.7 pounds)

Atomweight (105 pounds): Vanesa Rico (105.1 pounds) vs Brenda Enriquez (106.1 pounds)

Bantamweight (135 pounds): David Jesus Fuentes (135 pounds) vs Joel Scott (135.1 pounds)

Flyweight (125 pounds): Heinrich Wassmer (125.4 pounds) vs Juan Deantes (123.8 pounds)

Catchweight (140 pounds): Javier Obregon (139.5 pounds) vs Jose Ceja (138.9 pounds)

Flyweight (125 pounds): David Miramontes (125.6 pounds) vs Federico David Olivera (123.8 pounds)

Lightweight (155 pounds): Fernando Rodriguez (153.1 pounds) vs Jesse Almaraz (154.2 pounds)
###

ABOUT COMBATE AMERICAS

Combate Americas is the premier Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise, rapidly becoming the number two sport, after soccer, for Spanish speaking sports fans worldwide.  The Combate Americas franchise includes reality TV programming, live events and mobile programming. The company’s CEO, Campbell McLaren, is universally recognized as the co-founder/co-creator of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). New York Magazine described McLaren as “the marketing genius behind the UFC” and Yahoo! Sports proclaimed that he “knows more about the sport than just about anyone in it today.” With an unprecedented product and a blue-chip ownership and management team, Combate Americas is poised to break new ground and bring about a new era in world championship level MMA competition.
Combate Americas, mixed martial arts, MMA, women's MMA

COMBATE AMERICAS ANNOUNCES SEVEN-BOUT PRELIMINARY CARD FOR STACKED MMA EVENT FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1ST IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

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All preliminary bouts stream live on the
Telemundo Deportes En Vivo App and TelemundoDeportes.com,
beginning at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT

Main card airs live on Telemundo at 12 a.m. ET/11 p.m. CT

SAN ANTONIO, TX – November 29, 2017 – Combate Americas today announced a complete, seven-fight preliminary bout card lineup for it’s first-ever live television event in Texas State – “TS-1 Promotions Presents: Combate 19 (Queen Warriors)” – taking place at Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio – onFriday, December 1, live on Telemundo (12 a.m. ET/11 p.m. CT).

The preliminary fight card will stream live in its entirety on the Telemundo Deportes En Vivo app, TelemundoDeports.com and Facebook Live, beginning at9 p.m. ET/8 p.m., CT, immediately prior to the live Telemundo broadcast of the three-fight main card headlined by the much-anticipated women’s atomweight (105 pounds) showdown between rivals Kyra “Mogwai” Batara (6-4) of Las Vegas, Nev. and Paulina “Firefox” Granados (4-2) of Corpus Christi, Texas.

At the top of the undercard lineup, rising star and former Fort Hood U.S. Marine Corps Combatives Instructor Ray “The Judge” Rodriguez (12-4) of San Antonio will battle submission ace Michael “Mayhem” Rodriguez (9-5) of Donna, Texas in a bantamweight (135 pounds) contest.

On the heels of her professional debut win in September, Brenda “Little Hands of Stone” Enriquez (1-0) of Salt Lake City, Utah will face off with 12-time Spanish National Judo Champion Vanesa Rico (2-3) of Alicante, Spain in a second women’s atomweight tilt.

Aggressive-minded finisher Heinrich “Ricky Scraps” Wassmer (6-1) of Los Angeles, Calif. will return to La Jaula, the Combate Americas cage, to lock horns with undefeated Juan Deantes (3-0) of Harlingen, Texas in a flyweight (125 pounds) scrap.

In a lightweight (155 pounds) meeting between two San Antonio residents, unbeaten Fernando Rodriguez (2-0) and Jesse Almaraz (1-2) – will face off against each other.

Priced from $30, tickets for TS-1 Promotions Presents: “Combate 19 (Queen Warriors),” are on sale at Ticketmaster.com.

Calling the action live will be multiple-time WWE Heavyweight Champion and retired, former MMA star Alberto Del Rio, Telemundo Deportes’ Edgar Lopez, Combate Americas superstar Erik “Goyito” Perez, play-by-play man Andres Bermudez and Andrea Calle.

Complete Preliminary Fight Card

  • Catchweight (140 pounds):
    • Ray Rodriguez (12-4), San Antonio, TX vs. Michael Rodriguez (8-5), Donna, TX
  • Atomweight (105 pounds):
    • Vanesa Rico (2-3), Alicante, Spain vs. Brenda Enriquez (1-0), Salt Lake City, UT
  • Bantamweight (135 pounds):
    • David Jesus Fuentes (12-10), McAllen, TX vs. Joel Scott (6-6), Port Arthur, TX
  • Flyweight (125 pounds):
    • Heinrich Wassmer (6-1), Los Angeles, CA vs. Juan Deantes(3-0), Harlingen, TX
  • Catchweight (140 pounds):
    • Javier Obregon (11-14), Ft. Worth, TX vs. Jose Ceja (4-4), Port Arthur, TX
  • Flyweight (125 pounds):
    • David Miramontes (3-2), San Antonio, TX vs. Federico David Olivera (2-4), Irving, TX
  • Lightweight (155 pounds):
    • Fernando Rodriguez (2-0), San Antonio, TX vs. Jesse Almaraz (1-2), San Antonio, TX

Complete Main Fight Card

  • Atomweight (105 pounds) Main Event:
    • Kyra Batara (4-2), Las Vegas, NV vs. Paulina Granados (4-2), Corpus Christi, TX
  • Featherweight (145 pounds) Co-Main Event:
    • Andres Quintana (12-2), Albuquerque, NM vs. Rey Trujillo(21-19), Houston, TX
  • Welterweight (170 pounds) Featured Bout:
    • Daniel Rodriguez (4-0), Los Angeles, CA vs. Victor Reyna (9-3), Dallas, TX

 
LFA, mixed martial arts, MMA, women's MMA

MACKENZIE DERN RETURNS AT LFA 24 – FRINCU vs. MILLENDER

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FEATURE FIGHT:
 
MULTIPLE-TIME JIU-JITSU WORLD CHAMPION
MACKENZIE DERN
vs.
IFBB PROFESSIONAL FITNESS COMPETITOR
MANDY “MISSDEMEANOR” POLK
 
WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN
 
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13th LIVE on AXS TV
COMERICA THEATRE in PHOENIX, ARIZONA
Tickets are on sale NOW through ComericaTheatre.com
 
HOUSTON, Texas –  Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) CEO Ed Soares announced today that the MMA super prospect Mackenzie Dern will return to the LFA Octagon in her hometown of Phoenix, Arizona at LFA 24.

The previously announced main event of LFA 24 will feature a welterweight war between two of the division’s marquee names when Australian annihilator Matthew “Thunder From Down Under” Frincu faces off with southern California juggernaut “Curtious” Curtis Millender. LFA 24 – Frincu vs. Millender takes place Friday, October 13th at the Comerica Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
“Mackenzie Dern will return to the LFA Octagon in front of her hometown crowd at LFA 24,” stated Soares. “Dern is one of the most accomplished jiu-jitsu competitors to ever crossover into MMA. OnOctober 13th, she will face RFA vet and IFBB professional fitness competitor Mandy Polk in the flyweight division.”
Tickets for LFA 24 – Frincu vs. Millender are available for purchase NOW at ComericaTheatre.com.
Dern (3-0) is the daughter of legendary jiu-jitsu and judo black belt Wellington “Megaton” Dias. She began training with her father at an early age in the Phoenix area and is now widely considered one of the most accomplished jiu-jitsu practitioners to ever compete in MMA. The multiple-time jiu-jitsu world champion has won a world title at every rank (blue belt through black belt) and in 2015 added an ADCC Submission Wrestling World title to her trophy case. Dern will look to defend that ADCC title this weekend in Finland. After ADCC 2017, the woman who former UFC champion Benson Henderson famously stated “will be bigger than Ronda Rousey”, will return to the LFA Octagon in front of her hometown crowd at LFA 24.
Polk (3-3) will be the woman waiting to welcome Dern to the flyweight division. This is the UFC’s newest weight class that is currently being featured on the current season of the UFC’s hit reality television series The Ultimate Fighter (TUF 26). “MissDemeanor” is a native of the Memphis, Tennessee area and holds a purple belt in jiu-jitsu. She is also a high school wrestling coach and IFBB professional fitness competitor. Polk competed at the final RFA event (RFA 46) before RFA merged with Legacy FC. Upon signing with RFA and knowing about the eventual merger, Polk made her intentions clear that she would love the opportunity to compete against Dern, who was competing for Legacy FC. Polk will now get her wish at LFA 24.
Main Card (Televised on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT):
Main Event | Welterweight Bout (170 lb)
– Matthew Frincu (11-2) vs. Curtis Millender (12-3)
Co-Main Event | Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)
– Joey Miolla (9-2) vs. Vinicius Zani (10-4)
Women’s Flyweight Bout (125 lb)
– Mackenzie Dern (3-0) vs. Mandy Polk (3-3)
Lightweight Bout (155 lb)
– LaRue Burley (7-3) vs. Maycon Mendonça (6-2)
Featherweight Bout (145 lb)
– Cory Sandhagen (5-1) vs. Randy Steinke (18-11-1)
Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)
– Kevin Natividad (4-0) vs. Glen Baker (3-2)
Lightweight Bout (155 lb)
– Keoni Diggs (4-0) vs. Nick Chasteen (0-0)
In September, RFA and Legacy FC officials announced that they would be merging to form the premier developmental organization in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) starting in January 2017. RFA and Legacy FC have launched the careers of over 100 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC.
LFA 24 will serve as the second LFA event to take place in the state of Arizona. The promotion’s first trip to “The Grand Canyon State” took place in May. The entire main card of LFA 24 will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
Please visit LFAfighting.com for bout updates and information. LFA is on Facebook at Legacy Fighting Alliance. LFA is also on Instagram at @LFAfighting and Twitter at @LFAfighting.
mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights, women's MMA

WOMAN WILL MAKE HISTORY AS YOUNGEST MMA COMPETITOR EVER IN MAINE

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Portland, Maine (August 30, 2017) –New England Fights (NEF) will make its long-awaited debut in Portland onFriday, November 3, 2017 at Aura with “NEF 31: The Old Port.”  Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the addition of an amateur mixed-martial-arts bout to the card.  Jayda “Lil Killah” Bailey (0-0) is scheduled to face Danae Dostie (0-0) in a female bantamweight contest.

Bailey, a senior at Hermon High School in Hermon, Maine, will turn 18 (the legal minimum age for one to compete in MMA in Maine) a mere eight days before the fight, thereby making her the youngest person in history to ever compete in a regulated MMA fight in the state.  She has trained in the martial arts since the age of four and has been a member of Young’s MMA in Bangor since age twelve.  Bailey also wrestles for Bucksport High School as Hermon does not have a team.  At the age of 15, she traveled to New Mexico to train at the world famous Jackson Wink MMA Academy where she worked with the likes of former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm (11-3).  Bailey regularly competes in Jiu-Jitsu tournaments throughout the New England region.

“I’ve been wanting to fight for as long as I can remember,” said Bailey. “November 3rd will be the day I can showcase what I have, and begin my career with a bang.”

Standing opposite Bailey in the cage will be a fellow amateur debut in the form of Danae Dostie.  Dostie is a graduate of Fryeburg Academy High School in Fryeburg, Maine where she was a standout athlete on the track and field team.  She currently serves as a member of the military police with the Maine Army National Guard.  Dostie represents Kenney’s MMA of Lisbon, Maine.

“I’m very excited for my first fight in NEF,” said Dostie. “It will be fun to see how this fight goes. I know either way I will learn a lot.”

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 31: The Old Port,” will see the company debut in Portland, Maine at the brand new, state-of-the-art venue Aura.  The event is scheduled to take place on Friday, November 3, 2017.  Tickets are on sale now at www.auramaine.com.

Fight Network, mixed martial arts, MMA, women's MMA

Fight Network Presents ENFUSION LIVE #51 from Halifax this Saturday, July 8 at 8:00 p.m. ET

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For Immediate Release – July 6, 2017

TORONTO – Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 multi-platform channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents the Canadian debut of ENFUSION LIVE this Saturday, July 8 at 8:00 p.m. ET, as ENFUSION LIVE #41 emanates from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, headlined by a five-round showdown between England’s Iman Barlow and Canadian Ashley Nichols for the Enfusion -54 kg world championship.

The live broadcast of ENFUSION LIVE #41 will air at 8:00 p.m. ET on Fight Network across Canada. The full line-up includes:

-54kg World Title – Iman Barlow (England) vs. Ashley Nichols (Canada)

-80kg – Thomas Dalziel (Canada) vs. Ariel Abreu (USA)

-85kg – Mark MacKinnon (Canada) vs. Joey George (Canada)

-75kg – Justin Condie (Canada) vs. Matthew Kendell (Canada)

-70kg – Chris McMillan (Canada) vs. Kyle Nelson (Canada)

-60kg – Lenny Wheeler (Canada) vs. Desmond Johnson (Canada)

Ahead of ENFUSION LIVE #41, the UFC 213 PREFIGHT SHOW will air live at 7:00 p.m. ET, featuring final predictions and analysis from Las Vegas, including UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping and retired contender Kenny Florian serving as desk analysts with host Karyn Bryant and reporter Megan Olivi conducting on-site interviews.

The live UFC 213 POSTFIGHT SHOW airs at approximately 1:00 a.m. ET, recapping the championship doubleheader featuring the rematch between Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko, plus the clash between Yoel Romero and Robert Whittaker for the interim middleweight crown.

For a full listing of Fight Network’s broadcast schedule, please visit www.fightnetwork.com, follow us on Twitter @fightnet, become a fan on Facebook and visit us on Instagram @fightnet.
Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights, women's MMA

WOMEN’S FIGHT AT NEF 29 IS A MATTER OF RESPECT

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Lewiston, Maine (May 9, 2017) – “I wanna knock her out!”  Those were the emphatic words of Alex Walker (3-1) when asked last weekend at “NEF 28” for her prediction on her upcoming fight with Sarah Ziehm (1-0).  The crowd at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee erupted in response.

 

Walker and Ziehm are scheduled to face off when New England Fights (NEF) returns to the Colisee onSaturday, June 17, 2017 with the fight promotion’s next event, “NEF 29: STARS & STRIPES.”  Walker, a two-fight veteran of the NEF cage and a member of Lancaster, New Hampshire’s Team Kaze, has made it her mission to teach Ziehm a lesson in respect for what Walker viewed as a “cocky” performance in Ziehm’s debut earlier this year.

 

“I have respect for 99% of the females I do battle with, but I do not respect her,” said Walker when reached for comment.  “I don’t like the way she handled herself in her first fight, I think she needs to be humbled and I will do that in June – if she even shows up! My manager told (NEF matchmaker) Matt Peterson to have a backup because she will come up with an excuse not to get a beating.”

 

Ziehm made her MMA debut last February with a win over Nicole Burgess (0-2).  She submitted Burgess in the third round after a dominant performance.  (Of note, Walker also submitted Burgess in the third round just a few months earlier.)  Ziehm trains with Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ) in Lewiston.

 

“This will be a good battle,” predicted Ziehm.  “Alex is a seasoned and skilled warrior. I’m not underestimating her at all. I’m excited to get back into cage and do some work.”

 

New England Fights returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine with its next event, “NEF 29: STARS & STRIPES,” on Saturday, June 17, 2017.  Tickets are on sale now at the Colisee box office 207-783-2009 x 525 and online at www.TheColisee.com.

 

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.

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV, women's MMA

BELLATOR WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT CHAMP TO BE CROWNED IN 2017

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LOS ANGELES – Bellator is pleased to announce the signings of Valérie Létourneau (8-6), Alejandra Lara (6-1), Sabriye Şengül(Debut), Kristi Lopez (2-0), Na Liang (6-0) and Juliana Velasquez (5-0) to multi-fight contracts that will see them compete in Bellator’s emerging 125-pound division. Additionally, Bellator will look to crown its next women’s flyweight world champion this year.

“2017 has been a big year for us in terms of bringing in marquee free agents that can have an immediate impact on their division,” said Bellator President Scott Coker. “This group of flyweight signings demonstrates that we’re committed to that throughout our roster, as we’re adding even more depth to an already-competitive weight class. We’re adding a proven title contender, along with a group of prospects from all around the globe, and we look forward to putting on great fights and displaying the talent this division has to offer.”

These news stars join a division that already includes talented fighters, such as Keri Taylor-Melendez (1-0), Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (6-0),Anastasia Yankova (5-0), Emily Ducote (5-2), Colleen Schneider (11-7) and Lena Ovchynnikova (12-4, 1 NC).

The Canadian-born Létourneau, a former UFC strawweight title challenger, carries an impressive track record of thrilling fights, highlighted by a world title contest against undefeated UFC champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk. Now, moving up to a more natural weight class, the 33-year-old American Top Team product will make her debut for Bellator in 2017. She will look to improve upon her eight victories as a professional, a tally that includes five finishes, with four coming by way of knockout.

Hailing from Medellin, Colombia, Alejandra Lara will look to make a statement in Bellator’s budding women’s flyweight division. The 22-year-old knockout artist has earned six victories in seven outings since making her professional debut in 2011. “Azul” has shown tenacity in her fights thus far, showcasing a pair of first round knockouts, as well as a first round armbar submission. Lara trains alongside UFC fighters Alexa Grasso and Irene Aldana at Team Lobo in Mexico.

Fighting out of Hollywood, Calif., Kristi Lopez will enter the Bellator fray as she prepares for her third professional bout. Prior to that, “Loba” also tallied three victories over a four-fight, two-year span on the amateur circuit.

Chinese submission specialist Na Liang will look to build on a 2017 campaign that already saw her finish an opponent in a mere 38 seconds. The first-round stoppage marked the fifth time in six appearances that Liang’s opposition failed to make it out of the opening round. After competing exclusively at bantamweight to begin her career, Liang decided to move down to the flyweight division, where she also saw success by collecting a trio of first round finishes.

With an impressive following in Turkey from her kickboxing career, Sabriye Şengül will now transition to MMA under the direction of Bellator. With a professional kickboxing record of 6-1, the 26-year-old prospect holds the potential to achieve the same success in multiple combat sport disciplines.

Undefeated at 30 years of age, Juliana Velasquez trains under the Nogueira brothers in Brazil, carrying one of the most famous names in MMA with her inside the Bellator cage.  Additionally, Juliana trains alongside fellow Bellator flyweight Bruna Vargas. With five wins in five appearances, the Rio de Janeiro resident will look to become another Brazilian Bellator champion.

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights, women's MMA

FIRST WOMEN’S MMA TITLE FIGHT IN MAINE AT NEF 28

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Lewiston, Maine (March 17, 2017) – New England Fights (NEF) presents its next mixed-martial-arts event “NEF 28: INVINCIBLE” on Saturday, April 29, 2017 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.  Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the addition of an amateur women’s title fight to the card. Jessica “The Black Widow” Borga (5-2) returns to take on “Scary” Kerri Kenneson (4-1) to crown a new NEF MMA Amateur Women’s Bantamweight Champion.

 

The bout is historic in that it will not only determine the first NEF women’s champion, but the fight will represent the first female MMA title matchup ever held on Maine soil.

 

“Our women’s division has grown so much in the past couple of years,” said NEF co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo.  “It was time to add a title picture to the mix.  This is the first of what we hope to be many female title fights between superior athletes in the NEF cage.”

 

Jessica Borga, a Florida resident, will be making her third appearance in the NEF cage in less than a year.  She dropped a hard-fought decision to Rachael Joyce (3-0) last September at “NEF 25.”  Borga returned to Maine a few weeks later to win a decision over Brianne Genschel (0-1), delivering an impressive, dominant performance against the black belt.  Borga trains out of Champions MMA in Lakeland, Florida and is currently on a three-fight win streak.  She is the holder of two regional titles won in her home state, and she is looking to add a third belt to her collection on April 29.

 

“I’m so honored and excited to be back in the NEF cage not only to fight for such a great promotion, but to fight for their first-ever women’s title against a great opponent,” said Borga.  “I can’t wait to put on a show for everyone, and I promise I won’t disappoint!”

 

A native of Bow, New Hampshire, Kerri Kenneson trains with Team Link in Hooksett.   She has won her last four in a row, including a victory over NEF veteran Kylie O’Hearn (1-2) last summer.   Kenneson’s sole loss came in her MMA debut two years ago this April.  Coming off a win on a fight card last month in New York State, Kenneson is confident that she will defeat Borga and claim the NEF bantamweight title at “NEF 28.”

 

“If I haven’t already done so, this fight will solidify that I am the best in the Northeast, and I’ll be coming for the rest,” Kenneson declared.  “She’s all for show. She’s about to feel what I’m capable of and she’s not going to like it.”

New England Fights returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine with its next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 28: INVINCIBLE,” on Saturday, April 29, 2017.  Tickets are on sale now at the Colisee box office 207-783-2009 x 525 and online at www.TheColisee.com.

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 the promotion on Twitter and Instagram @nefights, and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights, women's MMA

FEMALE STRAWWEIGHT BOUT RESCHEDULED TO NEF 28

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Lewiston, Maine (March 16, 2017) – New England Fights (NEF) presents its next mixed-martial-arts event “NEF 28: INVINCIBLE” on Saturday, April 29, 2017 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.  Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the addition an amateur women’s bout to the card.  Alex Walker (2-1) will meet Katie Baker (0-0) at the strawweight limit of 115-pounds.

 

Walker and Baker were originally scheduled to face each other last month at “NEF 27.”  Unfortunately, a medical issue forced Walker to withdraw from the contest just days before the fight.  Now fully healed, Walker is back training regularly at the Kaze Dojo in Lancaster, New Hampshire in preparation for “NEF 28.”

 

“Injuries have plagued me and my team for the last two years, but I am healthy now, so watch out,” exclaimed Walker.  “I am going on a run and nothing will stop me!”

 

Losing her opponent so close to the event was definitely a disappointment for Baker and her many fans.  Training in the martial arts from an early age, the eighteen-year-old had waited years to compete in the MMA cage.  Baker is a member of Young’s MMA in Bangor, Maine.  She made her amateur boxing debut last year.

 

“I was really bummed when Alex withdrew from our fight,” said Baker.  “You make the sacrifices it takes to train and diet, not to mention the disappointment of those who purchased tickets. But I knew, and our fans knew, Alex is a warrior and would not back out unless something was wrong.  I’m looking forward to finally meeting her in the cage on April 29th.”

 

New England Fights returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine with its next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 28: INVINCIBLE,” on Saturday, April 29, 2017.  Tickets are on sale now at the Colisee box office 207-783-2009 x 525 and online at www.TheColisee.com.

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 the promotion on Twitter and Instagram @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, regulatory affairs and advertising.