Tag Archives: Caleb Hall

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

A PRO DEBUT AND THE RETURN OF A POPULAR ATHLETE AT NEF 33

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Portland, Maine (February 5, 2018) – New England Fights (NEF) returns to Aura in Portland on April 14, 2018 with the fight promotion’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 33: Riptide.”  Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of a professional lightweight bout to the card.  John Ortolani (8-11) will meet Caleb Hall (0-0) at a fight weight of 155-pounds.

 

 

 

 

John Ortolani, a native New Englander now residing in Florida, is one of the most popular athletes to ever step into the NEF cage. Ortolani has made his mark both in MMA and on the lacrosse field where he has played for several teams in the Major League Lacrosse circuit over the years.  Having competed regionally in MMA since 2009, Ortolani made his NEF debut in the fall of 2012 with a submission win over Bruce Boyington (14-11).  The upcoming fight with Hall will be Ortolani’s fifth trip to the NEF cage, not counting one further appearance in the NEF boxing ring.  He currently trains with Robson Moura Nations United (RMNU) in Tampa, Florida.

 

 

 

 

“I’m excited for the fight with Caleb,” said Ortolani. “He’s had a great amateur career and has a lot of experience. I can’t wait to perform in front of the NEF fans again and welcome Caleb to the pro ranks the hard way!”

 

 

 

 

Caleb Hall has had a prolific amateur MMA career with an impressive record of 8-3.  Prior to entering the MMA ranks, he was a two-time Maine state champion wrestling for Dirigo High School in Dixfield.  Hall later wrestled for both Plymouth State University (PSU) in New Hampshire and the University of Southern Maine (USM).  He captured the NEF Amateur Featherweight Title in the spring of 2016 with a submission of Erik Nelson (2-3).  He later successfully defended that title against Johnny Crafts (4-1) at “NEF 25” in the fall of that year.  Hall is a member of the Choi Institute in Portland, Maine.

 

 

 

 

“Every fighter’s goal is to get to the UFC,” said Hall.  “To get there, you have to beat the toughest guys you can find on the regional circuit. Beating Ortolani, a 20-fight pro veteran, is a step towards my goal of where I want to go in this sport.”

 

 

 

 

NEF returns to Portland, Maine, at Aura on Saturday, April 14, 2018. Tickets are on sale now at www.AuraMaine.com.  For more information on the event, please visit www.NewEnglandFights.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.

boxing, mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

VELADO CAPTURES GOLD, HALL RETAINS AT NEF 25

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Lewiston, Maine (September 10, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF) held its most-recent event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS” Saturday night at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  The event featured both mixed-martial-arts and professional boxing bouts.

 

On the boxing portion of the card, John Webster (9-7-1) defeated Zenon Herrera (0-3) via unanimous decision on the eve of Webster’s 48th birthday.  Webster’s last boxing victory came back in 2004, also in Lewiston, prior to his taking off a decade from active competition.

 

Also in the boxing ring, Casey Kramlich (5-0-1) remained undefeated as he stopped John Ortolani (0-1) in the fourth round via technical knockout.  Likewise, Brandon Montella (5-0) kept his pro record perfect with a second-round stoppage of Tollison Lewis (2-2).

 

Rachael Joyce (2-0) won a unanimous decision over Jessica Borga (2-2) in a highly-anticipated women’s amateur bout.  Rafael Velado (4-0) captured the amateur lightweight title with a first-round submission of Jimmy Jackson (3-3).  Caleb Hall (8-3) retained the amateur featherweight title, and in doing so handed bantamweight champion Johnny Crafts (4-1) the first loss of his career, in a very close split decision on the judges’ scorecards.

 

Aaron Lacey (3-0) kept his unbeaten streak alive with a first-round submission of Cory Trial (0-1) on the professional MMA portion of the card.  Mike Hansen (5-4) handed Matt Andrikut (2-1) the first loss of his career in the co-main event, while Jesse Erickson (8-5) submitted Crowsneck Boutin (2-3) in the main event of the evening.

 

NEF also announced that it would co-promote its next event with Classic Entertainment & Sports (CES).  The two largest fight promotions in New England will present a joint card titled “Supremacy” on November 4 in Lewiston at the Colisee.

 

The results from Lewiston, Maine:

PROFESSIONAL MMA

 

Jesse Erickson def. Crowsneck Boutin via rear-naked choke, round 1

Mike Hansen def. Matt Andrikut via armbar, round 1

Taylor Trahan def. Matt Denning via armbar, round 1

Aaron Lacey def. Cory Trial via rear-naked choke, round 1

Walter Smith-Cotito def. Elias Leland via D’arce Choke, round 2

 

AMATEUR MMA

 

Caleb Hall (c) def. Johnny Crafts via split decision (145 Title)

Rafael Velado def. Jimmy Jackson via Kimura, round 1 (155 Title)

Frank Johanson def. Caleb Swoveland via armbar, round 1

Rachael Joyce def. Jessica Borga via unanimous decision

Walt Shea def. The Slenderman via unanimous decision

 

PROFESSIONAL BOXING

Casey Kramlich def. John Ortolani via TKO, round 4

Brandon Montella def. Tollison Lewis via TKO, round 2

John Webster def. Zenon Herrera via unanimous decision

 

NEF and CES present “SUPREMACY,” a night of mixed-martial-arts cagefights, on November 4, 2016 in Lewiston, Maine. Tickets start at $25 and are available at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisee box office at 207.783.2009, extension 525.

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

HALL AND CRAFTS PREPARE FOR ONE LAST AMATEUR SCRAP BEFORE THE PROS

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By: Kalle Oakes

It is hard to believe that Caleb Hall and Johnny Crafts’ paths have not crossed in the New England Fights mixed martial arts hexagon before now.

Separated by only two years in age and only a handful of pounds on the scale, the two former high school athletes made the transition to the cage from other combat pursuits at around the same time. Hall was a champion wrestler, while Crafts was a decorated grappler in the jiu-jitsu realm.

They are even considering a jump to the professional ranks at the same time … after one final stop to stand toe-to-toe with one another in a clash of amateur champions at “NEF 25: Heroes and Villains.”

NEF amateur featherweight champion Hall (7-3) of Portland by way of Dixfield will collide with NEF amateur bantamweight titleholder Crafts (4-0) of Lisbon this Saturday, September 10.

“I’d say my days in the amateur ranks are numbered,” Hall said. “I feel at this point, as tough as the fights are getting, I might as well be a pro. I just didn’t want to do it too early. I wanted to be a legitimate pro athlete.”

Hall took a measured approach to his ascent through the ranks. Not many fighters stick around for a double-digit number of amateur bouts before either taking prize money or returning to the safety of spectator-hood.

Then again, not many debut in the sport as early as Hall. He remembers getting his first recruiting call from NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson while helping a friend, Josh Thornton, train for an NEF appearance.

“He called me out of nowhere and tried to get me a fight on short notice. Then he saw me filling out the information sheet and noticed that I was still only 17,” Hall said, noting that the rules prohibit minors from entering the fray. “So I ended up fighting in September, a month after my 18th birthday. I was hooked from the first time I watched it. I knew it was something I wanted to do.”

Hall won his first three fights, largely on the strength of his wrestling acumen, while bouncing between his hometown in the Western mountains of Maine and Plymouth State University in New Hampshire.

While sparring at First Class MMA in Topsham, Hall heard NEF mainstay John Raio rave about the merits of the Choi Institute in Portland. Hall took the advice and quickly discovered a place where his boxing and striking skills improved exponentially.

“Most of my training has been stand-up. I’ve tried to improve on it,” Hall said. “I figure that I’ve wrestled so long that I can kind of put it down when it comes to training and put more effort in the areas where I need to improve my skills.”

Hall carries a two-fight winning streak. The latter victory was a second-round submission over Erik Nelson for the vacant 145-pound strap in April.

He has stayed busy, rarely skipping back-to-back NEF cards during his time with the organization. By contrast, Crafts had been out of the cage for a year prior to his third-round TKO of Henry Clark for the 135-pound title in February.

“Injuries are what have screwed me over. I should have a lot more fights for as long as I’ve been at it,” Crafts said. “If I’m healthy, win or lose, I think this is probably my last fight as an amateur. I’m 24. I don’t want to drag it on too long.”

Crafts agreed with Hall’s assessment that whichever of the two fighters is able to step out of his comfort zone on the mat will gain the upper hand.

“Caleb is a really good wrestler. I never wrestled in high school, just jiu-jitsu. But with jiu-jitsu, you learn how to wrestle,” Crafts said. “I think people are going to be surprised by my wrestling, and I think everybody’s going to be impressed with my boxing. I feel more confident. I think he’s going to be surprised when I punch him in the face.”

Hall has fought all but two of his fights at 145 pounds and said that he considers that weight class “home.” Crafts dismissed any disadvantage in having to step up, noting that his walking-around weight is in the 160s.

“This is my first time fighting at 145. I’m really excited about it. Getting down to 135 is a really big cut for me. I felt it in the last fight. I could just tell. I really shouldn’t have been as tired as I was,” Crafts said. “And Henry was a good opponent. I was working on things, using more of my stand-up. That kind of prolonged it.

“He’s definitely the best at 145 in my opinion,” Crafts added in reference to Hall. “He’s one of the most experienced amateurs out there. He’s definitely the best guy for me to fight.”

The opening bell this Saturday, September 10 is set for 7 p.m. The current docket for “NEF 25: Heroes and Villains” includes three professional boxing matches, five pro mixed martial arts bouts and six amateur MMA scraps. Tickets start at $25 and are available at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisee box office at 207.783.2009, extension 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.

boxing, mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

THREE WOMEN’S FIGHTS, TWO TITLE FIGHTS AND NEW FACES FIND A HOME ON NEF 25 CARD

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Lewiston, Maine (August 19, 2016) –New England Fights (NEF) today announced the full fight card for the promotion’s next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS.”  It is scheduled to take place onSaturday, September 10, 2016 in Lewiston.   The dynamic card will feature professional boxing bouts, as well as both professional and amateur mixed-martial-arts (MMA) contests.

 

On the boxing portion of the card, Brandon Montella (4-0) will meet Tollison Lewis (2-1) in a four-round light-heavyweight contest, while longtime Maine middleweight John “Rumble” Webster (8-7-1) returns on the eve of his 48th birthday to battle Zenon “K-Bar” Herrera (0-2).  Rounding out the pro boxing portion of the card will be Casey “Buzzsaw” Kramlich (4-0-1) and Connor Barry (0-1) in a four-round bout.

 

The professional side of the MMA card will feature a total of three Bellator and one Invicta veterans.  Jesse “The Viking” Erickson (7-5) and Jon Lemke(5-6) will rematch their previous bout won by Lemke at Bellator 93 in 2013.  Bellator 144 competitor Walter Smith Cotito (3-4) returns to Maine after a three-year absence to meet Elias “Danger Mouse” Leland (2-1), while Valerie “Valociraptor” Aspaas (0-0) herself returns to Maine after three years to make her pro debut against Invicta 16 veteran Sarah “SwitchKick” Click (0-1).

 

The amateur MMA card will be headlined by two title fights.  Rafael “Deez Nuts” Velado (3-0) takes on Jimmy Jackson (3-2) for the vacant amateur lightweight title.  Amateur bantamweight champion Johnny Crafts (4-0) steps up in weight to challenge Caleb Hall (7-3) for Hall’s featherweight crown.

 

The amateur card will also feature two women’s bantamweight bouts with Brianne Genschell (0-0) and Melissa Trahan (0-0) making their respective cage debut against one another, while Jessica “The Black Widow” Borga(2-1) is scheduled to meet Rachael Joyce (1-0).

 

The full “NEF 25” fight card (subject to change):

 

PROFESSIONAL BOXING

 

175 POUNDS: Brandon Montella vs. Tollison Lewis

160 POUNDS: John Webster vs. Zenon Herrera

155 POUNDS: Casey Kramlich vs. Connor Barry

PROFESSIONAL MMA

 

205 POUNDS: Mike Hansen vs. Matt Andrikut

155 POUNDS: Jesse Erickson vs. Jon Lemke

145 POUNDS: Matt Denning vs. Taylor Trahan

135 POUNDS: Elias Leland vs. Walter Smith Cotito

125 POUNDS: Sarah Click vs. Valerie Aspaas

 

AMATEUR MMA

155 POUND*TITLE: Rafael Velado vs. Jimmy Jackson

145 POUND*TITLE: Caleb Hall (c) vs. Johnny Crafts

155 POUNDS: Caleb Swoveland vs. Frank Johanson

135 POUNDS: Walt Shea vs. Joel Downing

135 POUNDS: Brianne Genschell vs. Melissa Trahan

135 POUNDS: Jessica Borga vs. Rachael Joyce

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS,” takes place on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée 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, MMA, New England Fights

IT WILL BE CHAMPION VS. CHAMPION ON SEPTEMBER 10 IN LEWISTON

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Lewiston, Maine (August 9, 2016) – In a rare occurrence, two champions from two different weight divisions will square off onSeptember 10, 2016 when New England Fights presents “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS” in Lewiston.  Reigning NEF MMA Amateur Bantamweight Champion Johnny Crafts (4-0) will come up in weight to challenge Caleb Hall (7-3) for Hall’s NEF MMA Amateur Featherweight Title.

 

Caleb Hall was a two-time Maine state champion wrestling for Dirigo High School in Dixfield.  He would go on to wrestle for Plymouth State University in New Hampshire, as well as the University of Southern Maine.  At “NEF 22” this past spring, Hall captured the vacant featherweight title by submitting Erik Nelson (2-3) in the second round.  In the upcoming bout with Crafts, Hall will be looking to not only retain his title, but to also gain a measure of revenge against Crafts who defeated Hall’s teammate Henry Clark (3-2) last fall.

 

“Johnny’s making a big mistake coming up in weight trying to take my belt,” said Hall.  “I will avenge my teammate, Henry Clark, and put him away early.”

 

Johnny Crafts is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt with Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ).  As mentioned, Crafts defeated Henry Clark of the Choi Institute last fall to claim the amateur bantamweight title.  On September 10, Crafts hopes to make history by becoming the first competitor to simultaneously hold two championships in two different weight divisions.

 

“I’m honestly just excited to get in there and have a brutal, fun fight,” said Crafts. “It’s going to be a guaranteed war versus Caleb. It’s less focus on cutting weight at 145 for me and more on the training camp. I’m going to be the most technical and strong I have ever been for this fight.”

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS,” takes place on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at 207.783.2009 x 525.  Tickets will also be available at the door the night of the event.

 

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, boxing, mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

NEW CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT NEF 22 IN LEWISTON

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Lewiston, Maine (April 23, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, held its most recent event, “NEF 22: ALL ROADS LEAD HERE,” Saturday night at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  More than 3,000 fight fans were on hand for the event, making it one of the largest crowds ever to witness an NEF event.

 

On the boxing portion of the card, Brandon “The Cannon” Berry  (11-1-1) fought to a majority draw in a six-round contest with James Lester (10-9-1).  Many of Berry’s supporters in attendance felt that he won the fight, but two of the judges had it even on the scorecards.

 

The headliner of the amateur MMA card saw Caleb Hall (7-3) captured the vacant amateur featherweight title with a second-round submission of Erik Nelson (2-3).  On the professional side of the MMA card, Devin Powell (6-1) took home the lightweight championship by defeating Jesse Erickson (6-5) in the first round via technical knockout.

 

The full results from Lewiston, Maine:

 

PROFESSIONAL BOXING

 

Brandon Berry fought James Lester to a majority draw

 

PROFESSIONAL MMA

 

Devin Powell def. Jesse Erickson via TKO, round 1 (Powell wins lightweight title)

Mike Hansen def. Jesse Baughman via arm triangle, round 1

Josh Harvey def. Matt Denning via triangle choke, round 1

Tollison Lewis def. Zenon Herrera via armbar, round 1

Aaron Lacey def. Derek Shorey via D’Arce Choke, round 1

 

AMATEUR MMA

 

Glenn Kasabian def. Matt Marshall via TKO, round 1

Tom Burgess def. Alex Payson via KO, round 2

Ryan Daley def. Jake Denham via TKO, round 2

Bryce Bamford def. Joe Krech via TKO, round 1

Caleb Hall def. Erik Nelson via D’arce Choke, round 2 (Hall wins featherweight title)

Nick Gulliver def. Dave Smith via TKO, round 1

Cory Trial def. Angelo Rizzitello via split decision

Ras Hylton def. Matt Glover via KO, round 2

Angela Young def. Hannah Sparrell via unanimous decision

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 23: CAGE THE CAPE,” takes place Saturday, May 14, 2016 at the Hyannis Youth and Community Center in Hyannis, Massachusetts.  Tickets are on sale now atwww.NewEnglandFights.com.

 

NEF returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine on June 18, 2016 with “NEF 24: THE PROMISED LAND.”  Tickets for “NEF 24” 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 events 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, boxing, mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

ALL ROADS LEAD TO MONUMENTAL FIGHT CARD IN LEWISTON

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Lewiston, Maine (March 31, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its next event, “NEF 22: ALL ROADS LEAD HERE” on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  The fight card will feature a mix of mixed-martial-arts (MMA) and professional boxing bouts.  Earlier today, NEF announced the full fight card for the event.  The fight card is scheduled to feature three professional boxing matches, six professional MMA bouts, and twelve exciting amateur MMA contests.

 

On the professional boxing side of the card, Northeast Junior Welterweight Champion, and the pride of West Forks, Maine, Brandon “The Cannon” Berry(11-1, 7 KOs) returns to the ring for a six-rounder with Detroit, Michigan’s James Lester (10-9, 4 KOs).  Berry, one of the most popular boxers to ever come out of Maine, will look for his fourth consecutive victory since returning from a shoulder injury last year.

 

That will prove easier said than done with Lester standing in the opposite corner.  Lester is a product of the world-famous Kronk Gym in Detroit where world champions like Thomas “Hitman” Hearns (61-5-1, 48 KOs), Oscar De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KOs), Lennox Lewis (41-2-1, 32 KOs) and Wladimir Klitschko (64-4, 53 KOs) have trained under the late Emmanuel Steward.  Lester was ranked number-two nationally as an amateur.  He presents a dangerous threat to Berry, one that could very well play the role of “spoiler” to “The Cannon” and his legion of fans.

 

After a bloody war of a professional boxing debut at “NEF 21” last month, NEF MMA regular Crowsneck Boutin (0-0-1) will once again step into the boxing ring, this time facing Brandon Montella (3-0, 2 KOs).  Montella, now a resident of Massachusetts, grew up in Maine and served in the United States Marine Corps.

 

Headlining the professional MMA portion of the fight card will be Jesse “The Viking” Erickson (6-4) and Devin Powell (5-1) in a lightweight contest.  Both fighters are currently on a three-fight win streak.

 

“I try to focus on what is right in front of me,” said Erickson during a recent interview on The MMA Report Podcast.  “I never looked past my opponents but I like to think what the reward is going to be when I beat this guy.”

 

Neither athlete can afford to overlook the other, but a win for either could very well mean a call from one of the national promotions.  Erickson has been there before with Bellator.  Powell is an all-around talent with some slick finishes to his credit.

 

“This is the type of MMA fight we absolutely love,” said NEF co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo.  “You have two guys who match up so well.  They’ve both been racking up the wins.  They’ve faced some of the same opponents.  They’re both solid on the mat and on their feet.  I expect this to be yet another crazy, wild NEF MMA main event!”

 

“Crazy” and “wild” do not even begin to describe the grudge that has developed between Josh “Hook On” Harvey (0-0) and Matt “Ken Doll” Denning (2-1).  The bitter rivals will meet at a fight weight of 150-pounds at “NEF 22” in an MMA bout.  The bout will be Harvey’s professional debut after a stellar 5-1 amateur career that saw him capture the NEF MMA Amateur Lightweight Title, as well as the northeast regions number-one ranking.  The well-publicized personal issues between Harvey and Denning will be settled in the cage on April 23rd.

 

The professional portion of the MMA card will also feature the pro debut of Harvey’s Young’s MMA teammate Aaron “Relentless” Lacey (0-0) as he takes on veteran “Shatterproof 2.0” Derek Shorey (3-5) in a featherweight bout.  Lacey vacated the NEF MMA Amateur Featherweight Title in order to turn professional.

 

That title will not stay vacant very long as Caleb Hall (6-3) and Erik Nelson (2-2) face off to determine a new champion at the top of the amateur MMA card.  Hall is coming off a first-round submission win at “NEF XX” last fall, while Nelson recently picked up a unanimous decision victory at “NEF 21.”

 

The amateur MMA card will also feature a women’s fight between Angela Young(0-1) and “Hollywood” Hannah Sparrell (1-0).  Young and Sparrell made their respective debuts last year at “NEF XIX.”

 

The full “NEF 22” fight card (subject to change and approval of the Combat Sports Authority of Maine):

 

 

PROFESSIONAL BOXING

175 Crowsneck Boutin 0-0-1 (Choi) vs Brandon Montella 3-0 (The Way)

140 Brandon Berry 11-1 (West Forks) vs James Lester 10-9 (Kronk)

140 Josh Parker 0-2-1 (Ruthless) vs Evincii Dixon 7-13-1 (Lancaster)

 

 

PROFESSIONAL MMA

 

205 Mike Hansen 3-3 (Berserkers) vs Jesse Baughman 0-1 (Link)

170 Jarod Lawton 4-2 (Lawton/NEU) vs Aaron Aschendorf 2-2 (ABCC)

155 Devin Powell 5-1 (Nostos) vs Jesse Erickson 6-4 (CMBJJ)

150 Josh Harvey 0-0 (Young’s) vs Matt Denning 2-1 (CMBJJ)

155 Zenon Herrera 0-3 (Independent) vs Tollison Lewis 0-5 (CMBJJ)

145 Aaron Lacey 0-0 (Young’s) vs Derek Shorey 3-5 (Shatterproof)

 

AMATEUR MMA

 

145 *TITLE Caleb Hall 6-3 (Choi) vs Erik Nelson 2-2 (CMBJJ)

265 Dave Smith 2-1 (Berserkers) vs Nick Gulliver 2-0 (First Class)

265 Matt Glover 1-0 (Berserkers) vs Ras Hylton 1-0 (First Class)

265 Joe Krech 0-1 (Berserkers) vs Bryce Bamford 1-0 (First Class)

185 Anthony Spires 0-1 (Independent) vs Mike Williams 1-1 (CMBJJ)

170 John Hansen 0-0 (Berserkers) vs Alex Payson 1-0 (First Class)

155 Ken Dunn 0-3 (W. ME Budo Arts) vs Frank Johanson 0-1 (CMBJJ)

150 Cory Trial 1-2 (Ruthless) vs Jeremy Tyler 4-3 (Team Irish)

145 Johnny Crafts 4-0 (NEU) vs Taylor Costantino 2-1 (Team Irish PTC)

145 Glenn Kasabian 0-0 (Choi) vs Matt Marshall 2-5 (MMA Athletix)

140 Angela Young 0-1 (Young’s) vs Hannah Sparrell 1-0 (First Class)

125 Jake Denham 1-0 (Lawton BJJ) vs Ryan Daley 0-2 (Team Irish)

 

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 22: ALL ROADS LEAD HERE,” takes place Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets for “NEF 22” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée 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, MMA, New England Fights

RECENTLY VACATED FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE TO BE FILLED AT NEF 22

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Lewiston, Maine (March 11, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its next event, “NEF 22: ALL ROADS LEAD HERE” on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  The fight card will feature a mix of mixed-martial-arts (MMA) and professional boxing bouts.  Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of an amateur featherweight title bout to the MMA portion of the “NEF 22” fight card.  Caleb Hall (6-3) will take on Erik Nelson (2-2) for the vacant NEF MMA Amateur Featherweight Title.  The championship was vacated earlier this week when previous champion Aaron Lacey (6-1) announced that he would enter the professional ranks at “NEF 22.”

 

Caleb Hall is a member of the Choi Institute of Portland, Maine.  He was a two-time Maine state champion wrestling for Dirigo High School in Dixfield.  Hall later wrestled for both Plymouth State University (PSU) in New Hampshire and the University of Southern Maine (USM).  He began competing in MMA in September 2012, making his debut at “NEF IV.”   Hall last appeared in the NEF cage this past fall, scoring an impressive first-round submission victory over Matt Tamayo (0-1).  He feels that his wrestling experience will carry him to the featherweight title on April 23rd against Nelson.

 

“I’m very excited to fight for the belt I have worked for,” said Hall.  “My wrestling and constant pressure will be a big problem for Nelson.  The scrambles and pressure will fold him and I’ll get the finish.”

 

Erik Nelson is a member of Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ) located in Lewiston, Maine where he is a jiu-jitsu instructor.  In December, he was awarded his brown belt by head coach Travis Wells.  A few weeks later, Nelson would go on to defeat Julio Martinez (0-2) at “NEF 21.”  Nelson believes his jiu-jitsu will be the deciding factor when he meets Caleb Hall for the amateur featherweight title on April 23rd.

 

“I am very excited for the opportunity to fight for a title in my hometown,” said Nelson.  “Caleb is a talented wrestler, but I feel my jiu-jitsu is far superior.  No matter where the fight goes, I see my hand being raised at the end.”

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 22: ALL ROADS LEAD HERE,” takes place Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets for “NEF 22” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée 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

RIVAL BANGOR-AREA GYMS VIE FOR FIRST-EVER AMATEUR MMA LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE

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NEF_FNVXIII_madeinUSA_FB_final+(1)Lewiston, Maine (April 16, 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 that the first NEF MMA Amateur Lightweight Champion will be crowned that evening when undefeated Ricky Dexter (3-0), representing Marcus Davis’ Team Irish, will take on Josh Harvey (3-1) of cross-town rival Young’s MMA.  The bout will be contested at the lightweight limit of 155-pounds.

 

Dexter and Harvey are regarded as two of the top prospects currently on the NEF MMA roster.   Both athletes are undefeated in the promotion’s cage.  On June 13, they will carry on a rivalry that has raged in NEF between the Young’s MMA and Team Irish gyms for several years.

 

“Both of these young athletes are a testament to their respective gyms, as well as to  how far the sport has come in Maine,” said NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson.  “They both came along after NEF was established in the state, and we have seen both of them grow over the past year.  We in the NEF front office unanimously believe that Josh and Ricky have a bright future ahead of them in MMA and look forward to this highly competitive bout set to be contested in Lewiston on June 13th.”

 

Dexter, currently the top-nine-ranked amateur lightweight in New England, is coming off a first-round submission victory over Zenon Herrera (3-6) last Saturday at “NEF XVII.”  Dexter has taken the promotion’s lightweight division by storm since debuting last November.  He has stopped all three of his opponents in the first round to earn his shot at becoming the first NEF MMA Amateur Lightweight Champion.

 

“I’m honored to be fighting for the NEF Lightweight Amateur Title,” stated Dexter. “To me there’s a lot more on the line than just a belt. On June 13th you better believe I’m bringing it.”

 

When fans last saw Josh Harvey in the NEF cage, he had his arm raised in victory after mauling Caleb Hall (5-2) in the amateur opener of “NEF XVI” this past February.  It took Harvey a mere 36-seconds to run through Hall, himself a two-time state wrestling champion for Dirigo High School in Dixfield, Maine.  Many insiders believe this will be one of Harvey’s final amateur fights before turning professional.

 

“Two top fighters from two top schools, this is a match to be excited about,” stated Harvey when reached for comment. “I have all the respect in the world for Ricky, but there is no where this fight goes that I don’t win.”

 

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 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.