FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Lewiston, Maine (May 6, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its eighteenth mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, “NEF XVIII: Made in America,” on Saturday, June 13, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine. Earlier today, the promotion announced the addition of a professional bantamweight bout to the fight card. “Shatterproof 2.0” Derek Shorey (2-1) will make his debut in the 135-pound division against Canadian Jeremy DiChiara (1-0).
Shorey is a fitting choice to face the native Ontarian on the patriotic-themed event. A 2000 graduate of Foxcroft Academy in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, where he won a Class-C state wrestling title in 1998, Shorey is a veteran of the United States Navy. He served four years of active duty in the branch, and did a tour of Iraq as a member of SEABEE Battalion NMCB 27.
Currently the head coach of the Shatterproof Combat Club, Shorey is coming off a victory over John Raio (2-7) last month at “NEF XVII.” The win gave Shorey the upper hand in the three-fight rivalry between the two athletes dating back to their amateur days. While he has gotten off to a good start to his professional career, Shorey will be the first to admit he has more work to do, and the upcoming battle with DiChiara will be a real test of his skills, especially on the mat.
“It is truly an honor to fight in front of the NEF fans and represent this rapidly growing brand against a very dangerous opponent,” said Shorey. “I feel that I still have a lot to prove to the fans, as well as myself in regards to the fighter I’m becoming, and distancing myself from my amateur days. Jeremy is an undefeated purple belt in Jiu-Jitsu, which everyone knows has been my biggest weakness. I see this as an opportunity to show everyone that I’m fixing the problem, and hand a very game opponent his first loss.”
Holding a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), DiChiara will undoubtedly test Shorey should the fight go to the ground. DiChiara is undefeated in MMA competition, having gone 2-0 as an amateur and now 1-0 as a professional. He is accustomed to fighting in hostile territory with previous bouts in Michigan and half a world away in Thailand. While in Thailand, DiChiara trained with Phuket Top Team. He is presently a member of Canadian team Wulfrun MMA.
NEF’s next MMA event, “NEF XVIII: Made in America” will originate from the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine on June 13, 2015. Tickets for “NEF XVIII” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.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.