Lewiston, Maine (October 3, 2016) – The CES and NEF co-promotion scheduled for November 4 in Lewiston is no more. Executives from both companies announced today that the mixed-martial-arts event had been canceled due to matchmaking issues.
With several fighters pulling off the AXS TV portion of the card, and others turning down fights offered by matchmakers, and with the 30-day deadline to submit the fight card to the state commission for approval looming, the two companies were left with no choice but to call the event off.
“We are disappointed that this event didn’t materialize as planned,” said CES Vice President and Director of Legal Affairs Jimmy Burchfield, Jr. “But we are optimistic that we can make it happen in 2017.”
Details will follow for CES 39.
“It’s unfortunate, but we had no other option,” said NEF promoter Nick DiSalvo. “When one door closes, another opens.”
The door that has opened is Saturday, November 19 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee. NEF will present “NEF 26,” and it will feature the promotion’s fighters who had already been scheduled to compete on November 4 plus many others. Doors will open at 6 pm with first fight at 7 pm. NEF chose to push the event date back two weeks in order to give new fighters added to the card more time to prepare.
“Once we made the mutual decision to cancel the event,” said NEF matchmaker Matt Peterson, “I got on the phone and immediately started making calls. Within hours we had already assembled a spectacular card that we’ll be sharing with fans this week. No one will be disappointed when they make the trek to the Colisee on November 19th. We have an explosive event planned.”
For those who have already purchased tickets for November 4 through the Colisee box office, they will have the option of either a full refund or using their ticket for November 19. Fans will have until this Friday, October 7 at 4 pm EDT to call the box office at 207-783-2009 x 525 to request a full refund. The box office cannot refund tickets purchased from fighters. Any fan who purchased a ticket from a fighter and would like a refund will have to return their ticket to the fighter for the refund. Fans who choose to keep their tickets for November 19do not have to do anything. All tickets printed with the “November 4” date will be honored at the door on November 19.
For more information on both promotions’ upcoming events, please visitwww.CESMMA.com and www.NewEnglandFights.com.