Lewiston, Maine (July 23, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its nineteenth mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, “NEF XIX,” on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. Earlier today, the promotion announced the addition of an amateur lightweight bout to the fight card. Cory Trial (1-1) is scheduled to face the debuting Rafael Velado (0-0) at a fight weight of 155-pounds.
Trial is coming off a huge win at “NEF XVIII” last month. He knocked out Corey Hinkley (2-4) in just seven seconds of the first round. In doing so, Trial became the new holder of the NEF fastest knockout record. The finish was so brutal that Hinkley was taken from the cage on a stretcher by paramedics. Trial trains under coach Josh Parker at Ruthless MMA & Boxing in Benton, Maine. He is confident that he will repeat his knockout performance on Velado at “NEF XIX.”
“I’m excited to get back in the cage,” said Trial. “Having a seven second knockout and breaking the NEF record was nice, but it wasn’t enough. I’ve been busting my ass in the gym with the best coach and I’m ready for anything – but it’s inevitable. This fight will end the same way the last one did.”
While Rafael Velado may be making his official MMA debut at “NEF XIX,” he is no stranger to combat sports. Velado is an accomplished practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). Training in the sport since 2005, Velado earned his black belt in 2012 from world famous BJJ legend, and UFC veteran, Joe Moreira. He was raised in Skowhegan, Maine and now resides in neighboring Norridgewock. Velado represents John Raio’s First Class Fitness & MMA of Brunswick, Maine.
“It’s been hard finding an amateur that will take a fight against a BJJ black belt, so I decided to call out the guy who is riding high from an impressive victory,” said Velado. “I’m sure he feels unstoppable right now, and that should make this fight very interesting. I don’t know if I would call it a classic striker versus grappler match-up, but if that’s how it’s billed, I’m not mad at that.”
New England Fights’ next event, “NEF XIX,” takes place on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. Tickets for “NEF XIX” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée 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.