Tag Archives: featherweight

LAST-MINUTE REPLACEMENT IN FEATHERWEIGHT FIGHT AT NEF XVIII

Lewiston, Maine (June 8, 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,” this Saturday night, June 13, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.   Earlier today, the promotion announced the addition of an amateur featherweight bout to the fight card.  Carl Langston (4-8) is scheduled to meet Alex Johnson (2-1) at the featherweight limit of 145-pounds.

 

A fixture of NEF MMA amateur cards, Langston, of Young’s MMA in Bangor, Maine, replaces Johnson’s original opponent, and Langston teammate, Aaron Lacey (5-1), who was injured last week.  The Lacey-Johnson fight was scheduled to determine the first-ever NEF MMA Amateur Featherweight Champion.  The bout between Langston and Johnson, however, will be a non-title affair.

 

Langston is riding high off a victory over Sheldon Bang (2-2) last February.  It was Langston’s first victory in the NEF MMA cage. Likewise, Johnson is looking to extend his own streak of two wins in a row to three in NEF action.  A member of Ruthless MMA & Boxing of Benton, Maine, Johnson submitted Dustin Shorey (0-1) at “NEF XVII” this past April.

 

NEF officials further announced today that the Langston-Johnson contest is currently scheduled to open the show at “NEF XVIII” this Saturday.

 

Tickets for “NEF XVIII: MADE IN AMERICA” 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.

FEATHERWEIGHT BATTLE ADDED TO NEF XVIII FIGHT CARD

 

Lewiston, Maine (May 21, 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 an amateur featherweight bout to the fight card.  The matchup will feature Jeremy Tyler (4-3) facing Johnny Crafts (3-0) at the featherweight limit of 145-pounds.

 

Jeremy Tyler will be making his return to the NEF cage after an extended absence of nine months.  A member of Marcus Davis’s famed Team Irish gym in Brewer, Maine, Tyler will look to rebound from the first back-to-back losses of his career.  Both of those losses came to Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ) competitors.  It is a gym affiliated with Johnny Crafts’ team New England United (NEU), so the June 13 fight will be an opportunity for Jeremy to gain a measure of revenge as well.  Like his opponent at “NEF XVIII,” Tyler has proven himself a submission specialist with all four of his victories coming by way of capitulation.

 

“I’m very excited to be stepping into the NEF cage for the first time in 2015,” said Tyler.  “I am looking forward to the opportunity to fight John Crafts who is a highly ranked MMA fighter with a very good Jiu Jitsu game.  I believe the NEF fans will be very happy with the match-up and feel this will make for an entertaining fight. Expect to see an improved performance from me. I took some time off after my last fight to focus, build upon my technique and add to my overall skill sets.  I am ready to unleash the game I’ve been developing in the cage so June 13th can’t get here fast enough.”

 

Originally scheduled to challenge for the NEF MMA Amateur Bantamweight Championship at “NEF XVIII,” Johnny Crafts was left without a fight after his original opponent pulled out due to injury. That was until Jeremy Tyler stepped up to the challenge this week. This fight will mark the first time Johnny Crafts, who holds a brown belt in BJJ, has competed above the bantamweight limit of 135-pounds.  Crafts was voted the “2014 Rookie of the Year” by NEF fans.

 

“I’m very excited to be fighting Jeremy Tyler,” said Crafts.  “He’s a well-rounded fighter with good experience.  I’m looking to test the waters at 145 for my first time and see how I feel fighting up.  I was pretty disappointed in the title fight falling through, but I assure everyone that this fight will be just as exciting to watch.”

 

Tickets for “NEF XVIII: MADE IN AMERICA” 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.

Bellator MMA continues to strengthen its roster with addition of Brazilian featherweight Gleristone “Toninho Furia” Santos

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (April 14, 2015) – Bellator MMA officials are proud to announce the addition of exciting Brazilian featherweight prospect Gleristone “Toninho Furia” Santos (27-4), who has signed an exclusive, multi-fight deal.

 

Santos’s debut date and opponent will be announced in the near future.

 

Long considered one of Brazil’s top prospects, the 26-year-old Santos debuted in 2005, when he was just 16 years old and earned victories in his first nine professional bouts. Born in Campina Grande, Paraiba, Santos currently boasts a nine-fight winning streak and is an incredible 16-1 in his past 17 appearances. “

 

Toninho” joins several other talented Brazilian fighters on the Bellator roster including Featherweight World Champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire, Welterweight World Champion Douglas Lima, Bantamweight World Champion Marcos Galvao, Eduardo “Dudu” Dantas, Patricky “Pitbull” Freire, Rafael Carvalho, Neiman Gracie, Goiti Yamauchi amongst others.

Speight delighted to secure Home Advantage

 

 

26 year old “The Genius” Jamie Speight has a wish come true on 16th May 2015 when he co-headlines the massive Goodwin Boxing “Master Class” bill at York Hall defending his Southern Area Featherweight title against Ian Bailey.

 

“I am over the moon at signing with Steve Goodwin” said Jamie “With everything he has done for me so far I could not be happier. This is the first time in years I have not had to go on the road and be the away fighter and have waited to be promoted as the home fighter for so long”.

 

Speight has had an up and down career but being sent as the away fighter meant that to Speight he never had the rub of the green or the advantage given to other fighters. Only two years ago Speight took Josh Warrington the distance in Warrington’s back yard and then subsequently lost a contentious decision to Lewis Pettitt once again in the opponent’s corner.

 

May 2014 and Speight once again was in the opponents corner when he stopped Craig Whyatt to win this belt he is now defending but now the time has come for Speight to enjoy home advantage.

 

“I just want a fair crack of the whip and with Steve now in control of my career I know I will get that. I need to win this title as the next day I am flying with the Goodwin team to Turkey for a training camp and that needs to be a celebration.” Speight added “My aim is the British title at Featherweight and provided I keep winning Steve has promised he will deliver that to me.”

 

“This is a tough fight. Ian Bailey does not receive the credit he deserves. Like myself Ian has taken short notice fights and yet stops people with winning records. We have given him 2 months notice so he can prepare as well as myself and may the best man win.”

 

The Speight v Bailey clash is one of four 50/50 intriguing Southern Area title fights on the bill with three masters titles as well making this one of the best non TV shows seen in London for a long time.

 

Adam Dingsdale defends his Southern Area Lightweight title against Prizefighter finalist Michael “Chunky” Devine.

 

Philip “Quicksilver” Bowes (9-1) challenges for the Light-Welterweight version against the unbeaten former Prizefighter Champion Johnny Coyle whilst Johnny Garton makes his second defence of the Welterweight version against former English title challenger Martin Welsh.

 

The charismatic Danny Connor competes for the International Masters Lightweight title whilst Hampshire’s “Dangerous” Danny Goode fights for the Masters Super Middleweight Title. Adam Salman completes the trio of Masters title bouts when he competes for the Light Welterweight version.

 

Two of Ricky Hatton’s “Upton Clan” Paul and Anthony continue their rise to the top with 6 round contests.

 

The exciting Light Middleweight Joey Vaughan (1-0) has his first contest since signing with the Goodwin’s whilst the show sees the eagerly awaited debuts of Andrew Joicey (Welterweight) and Mwenya Chisanga (Light-Welterweight).

 

Jamie Arlain (1-0) also has his first contest after a long year break from the sport and after signing with the Goodwin’s whilst exciting unfefeated Light-Middleweight John Cash (4-0) has a six round contest.

 

The card is completed with Ben Hall (6 rounds) Dean Byrne (4 rounds) and David Leo (4 rounds) all facing selected opposition.

 

Tickets are available from any of the boxers directly or on line at www.iboxingtickets.com

 

Bellator MMA continues to grow women’s featherweight roster with Roberta “Crusher” Paim, Alexis “Sneaky Zebra” Dufresne and Iony Razafiarison

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (March 12, 2015) – Bellator MMA remains committed to developing the top women’s featherweight division in mixed martial arts, and the latest additions to the company’s roster include Roberta “Crusher” Paim (4-0), Alexis “Sneaky Zebra” Dufresne (5-2) and Iony Razafiarison (2-0).

 

Debut dates and opponents will be announced for all three fighters in the near future.

Paim, Dufresne and Razafiarison join Arlene “Angerfist” Blencowe (5-4), Julia “The Jewell” Budd (7-2),Marloes “Rumina” Coenen (22-6), Holly “Lil Bear” Lawson (0-1) and Talita “Treta” Nogueira (6-0) on the Bellator MMA women’s featherweight roster.

“We’re proud to be bringing these three talented athletes to our women’s featherweight division,” said Bellator President Scott Coker.  “I see several potential matchups that would make for some great fights.  We will continue to build and support the premiere women’s featherweight division in MMA.”

A native of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, the 5-foot-6 Paim is undefeated through the first four contests of her professional career. While comfortable in the submission game, the powerful Paim has used a strong striking game to end fights, as well. Fighting exclusively in her native country thus far, Paim has yet to find a single opponent capable of lasting past the opening round, as she has taken home first-round finishes in each of her appearances to date.

The 24-year-old Dufresne is a Team Quest fighter and five-time International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation world champion. Dufresne turned her attention to mixed martial arts in 2012 and rattled off five consecutive wins to start her career – all five results coming in the opening round and averaging just under 77 seconds in length. More recently, Dufresne dropped a pair of hard-fought decisions while making a run at 135 pounds but now returns to her more natural weight class of 145 pounds for her Bellator MMA debut.

Razafiarison is a French export who has notched victories in her first two professional contests. The 30-year-old Razafiarison, a grappling specialist who has trained in camps all over the world, fought most recently in January, when she earned a decision win over Sandra Ameziane. In her professional debut, Razafiarison scored a first-round submission.

 

About Bellator MMA

Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 400 million homes worldwide in over 120 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, the MMA television leader.  Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.  Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

 

About Spike TV:

Spike TV is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks.  A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.  Spike TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press.  Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

MARIO BARRIOS LOOKS TO HAVE BREAKOUT YEAR

 Photo By Paul Gallegos

 SAN ANTONIO, TX (January 27, 2015) – Rising star and undefeated featherweight phenom, Mario Barrios (7-0, 3 KOs), is looking to take his career to new heights in 2015.  After fighting six times in 2014, Barrios is on the fast track to accomplishing his dream of becoming a world champion.

 

Standing 6’1, Barrios has the height and reach advantage against most of his opponents.  With lighting fast hands, Barrios also possesses good footwork and power.  With adviser Al Haymon backing him, Barrios feels he’s in a fantastic position.

 

“My team and I are very excited about this upcoming year,” said Mario Barrios, “Haymon Boxing is taking the sport to a whole new level and I want to position myself as one of the best prospects.  I know with a few more fights under my belt I’ll be able to move up to 10-round bouts and hopefully fight for a regional title.  The goal is to stay busy and focused on my future.  I’m very grateful to have Al Haymon guiding my career.  He’s the best in boxing. I’m looking forward to my next fight which will be announced very soon.”

‘Axeman’ Walters Wins Jamaican Sportsman of the Year

Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing wishes to congratulate WBA Super World Featherweight Champion Nicholas “The Axeman” Walters for being named Jamaican Sportsman of the Year at the 54th RJR Sports Foundation National Awards.

 

29-year-old Walters (25-0, 21 KOs), a native of Montego Bay, Jamaica, had a spectacular 2014, stopping respected champions Vic Darchinyan (TKO 5) and Nonito Donaire (TKO 6).

 

“Getting sportsman of the year is like getting sportsman of the world,” Walters told reporters at the gala held in his honor.

“We are very proud to be part of “Team Walters” said Leon Margules. “He is a superstar fighter who had his breakout year last year.”

 

Margules says things will only get better for the Jamaican star.

 

“This will not be the last time he wins this prestigious award. There are several big fights for Nicholas on the horizon that will further cement him as one of the game’s top fighters.”

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About Warriors Boxing

 

Launched in 2003, Warriors Boxing operates under a simple philosophy-bring the best boxers in the world to fight fans, match them in competitive bouts, and in doing so help re-establish the sport of boxing for a new generation.

 

With a series of successful Pay-Per-View shows and packed houses to its credit, the Warriors business model is working wonders in a sport that was sorely in need of the innovation and energy that the company brings to the table.

 

When it comes down to it though, a promotional company is only as good as the fighters and fights it promotes. Warriors Boxing has delivered on all fronts, with outstanding bouts such as Lara-Molina, Cayo-Peterson, Abraham-Miranda I and II, Miranda-Pavlik, Miranda-Green, Ibragimov-Briggs, Ibragimov-Klitschko, Urango-Hatton, Urango-Bailey, Cayo-Maidana and Ibragimov-Holyfield.

 

For more information on Warriors Boxing, visit their website at www.WarriorsBoxing.com.