Tag Archives: Keegan Hornstra

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

HORNSTRA ON FIGHT WITH CUSHING: “BRING UMBRELLAS, BECAUSE I’M SENDING TEETH INTO THE CROWD”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Portland, Maine (January 17, 2020) – New England Fights (NEF) will hold its next mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, “NEF 42: Symphony of Destruction,” on Saturday, February 8, 2020, at Merrill Auditorium in Portland.  Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of a professional catchweight bout to the card.  Keegan “The Flu” Hornstra (4-11) will take on Ryan “The Roosta” Cushing (0-0) at a fight weight of 160 pounds.

Keegan Hornstra is a longtime veteran of the New England MMA fight scene, having made his amateur debut a decade ago.  He returned to the cage last April after a three-year absence and defeated Zenon Herrera (1-8) by first-round submission at “NEF 38.”  Hornstra had a quick turnaround for his next fight, taking on Dom Jones (2-3) just a few weeks later at “NEF 39.”  Unfortunately for Hornstra, he was on the losing end of that contest.  He will look to get back in the win column on February 8.  Hornstra currently represents Evolution Athletix based in Saco, Maine.

“He won’t show,” predicted Hornstra of his opponent.  “If he does, bring umbrellas, because I’m sending teeth into the crowd.”

Ryan Cushing will make his professional debut at “NEF 42.”  He is an independent fighter based out of Massachusetts.  Cushing was a perfect 2-0 as an amateur with both victories coming by way of first-round submission.

“Keegan is a fantastic person and a veteran that I really respect,” said Cushing.  “He also has really turned himself around lately and looks better than ever, and he is someone I always got along with when I crossed paths and spoke with him, so it’s going to be pretty cool sharing the cage with him. I’m excited to test myself against him in the cage and in the ‘best facial hair’ battle at weigh-ins.”

New England Fights’ next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 42: Symphony of Destruction,” will take place on Saturday, February 8, 2020, at Merrill Auditorium in Portland, Maine. Tickets are on sale now at www.PortTix.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.

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

NEF TURNS THE OLD PORT INTO KING’S LANDING FOR A NIGHT OF NONSTOP MMA BATTLES

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Portland, Maine (April 28, 2019) – New England Fights (NEF) returned to Aura in Portland on Saturday night with its latest mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 38: STORMBORN.”  The event was in homage to the HBO series Game of Thrones complete with ring girls attired as the “Mother of Dragons” Daenerys Targaryen and Sansa Stark, as well as a cello player opening the event with music from the hit show’s soundtrack.  A capacity crowd of over 1100 was on hand for the action.

In the main event, Ras Hylton (4-2) defeated Charles Penn (0-1) in a heavyweight contest.  The ringside physician stopped the bout in the first round when a cut on Penn’s forehead could not be closed.  Hylton landed a perfectly-placed straight right hand that opened the gash on Penn’s head and left blood pouring to the mat in a gruesome stream of crimson.

Caleb Hall (3-0) remained undefeated to start his professional career with his third straight win.  Hall submitted journeyman Jay Ellis (15-86) in the first round of the co-main event of the evening.

On the amateur portion of the fight card, four titles were at stake.

In the first championship bout of the evening, Tom Pagliarulo (3-1) captured the vacant NEF Amateur Featherweight strap with a unanimous decision victory over Zac Richard (3-1-1).  In doing so, Pagliarulo, a native of Haverhill, Massachusetts, handed Richard the first loss of his career.

Duncan Smith (5-3) defended the NEF Amateur Welterweight Title against Jon Tefft (2-1).  After five hard-fought rounds, Smith was declared the winner on all three judges’ scorecards.  It was a good night for Smith’s team of Evolution Athletix.  The Saco, Maine-based team went 4-0 on the evening with Smith’s teammates Adina Beaudry (3-0), Keegan Hornstra (4-11), and Megan Rosado (1-1) all picking up wins.

Taylor Thompson (4-0) made short work of Michigan’s Andrea Howland (2-1) to become the first-ever NEF Women’s Amateur Bantamweight Champion.  Thompson submitted Howland in the first round with an armbar.  The fight was brought to Portland by NEF in conjunction with Queen MMA Media.

In the fourth, and final, championship bout on the amateur card, Kam Arnold (5-0) kept his knockout streak alive with a first-round downing of Henry Clark (5-5).  It was the fifth straight knockout for Arnold who retained the amateur bantamweight belt.

The fight promotion also announced several fights for its long-awaited return to Lewiston on June 22 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.  The event is titled “NEF 39: ALL-AMERICAN.”

Hometown favorite Jesse Erickson (9-7) will take on Lewis Corapi (8-5) that evening in a lightweight contest.  Erickson is a mainstay of the NEF cage and a perpetual top contender to the promotion’s professional 155-pound title.  Massachusetts’ Corapi is a seasoned veteran of the New England MMA circuit, finally making his NEF debut on June 22. 

Josh Harvey (6-0-1) announced that he would return to the cage at “NEF 39” to take on Jordan Downey (5-4) from Fort Wayne, Indiana.  Harvey will defend the NEF Pro Featherweight Title that evening looking for his first successful defense since capturing the belt last February in Bangor.  Downey is on a two-fight win streak.

Nate Boucher (4-3) will take on Robert Presley (5-4) for the vacant NEF Amateur Flyweight Title.  Boucher has finished his last two opponents in the first round to move himself back into contention for another shot at the 125-pound belt.  Presley represents the Lancaster Academy of MMA in Lancaster, Ohio.

In a solemn moment to open the event, NEF paid tribute to longtime staff member Casey Main with a ten-bell salute.  The Wiscasset, Maine resident passed away unexpectedly late last week.  The promotion dedicated the event to his memory.

The full results from Portland, Maine:

PROFESSIONAL

Ras Hylton def. Charles Penn via doctor stoppage, round 1
Caleb Hall def. Jay Ellis via submission, round 1
Keegan Hornstra def. Zenon Herrera via submission, round 1
Bryant Bullock def. Fred Lear via submission, round 2

AMATEUR

Kam Arnold def. Henry Clark via KO, round 1
Taylor Thompson def. Andrea Howland via submission, round 1
Duncan Smith def. Jon Tefft via unanimous decision
Tom Pagliarulo def. Zac Richard via unanimous decision
Arii Fernandez def. Ryan Savage via submission, round 1
Titus Pannell def. Justin Philbrook via TKO, round 2
Brian Cosco def. Garry Carr via TKO, round 1
Megan Rosado def. Amanda Bennett via split decision
Jason Landry def. Justin Boraczek via submission, round 1 
Brandon Maillet-Fevens def. Jesse Fitzsimmons via submission, round 1
Jordan Norman def. Greg Ishihara via TKO, round 2
Nate White def. Clifford Redman via tapout to strikes, round 1
Schuyler Vallaincourt def. Dillon Henry via ref stoppage, round 2
Adina Beaudry def. Traci Baldwin via TKO, round 2

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 39: ALL-AMERICAN,” will take place on Saturday, June 22, 2019 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine with a bell time of 7 pm.  Tickets are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com.

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

HORNSTRA AND HERRERA SPOILIN’ FOR A FIGHT AT NEF 38

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Portland, Maine (February 27, 2019) – New England Fights (NEF) will present its next mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, “NEF 38: STORMBORN,” on April 27, 2019 at Aura in Portland.  Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the addition of a professional lightweight bout to the card.  Keegan “The Flu” Hornstra will take on Zenon “K-Bar” Herrera at a fight weight of 155-pounds.

Hornstra, who fought on the first three NEF cards in 2012, has not competed in the promotion’s cage in nearly seven years.  A veteran of more than 20 MMA bouts over the course of his amateur and professional careers, Hornstra is 3-3 over the course of his last six with all three wins being finishes.  He last competed on a card in Massachusetts in November 2016.  Hornstra currently represents Evolution Athletix based in Saco, Maine.

“I’m excited to be back in the NEF cage,” said Hornstra, “it’s been about seven years since my last outing in Maine. I’m fighting one of the NEF regulars in Zenon, the guy is super tough and I don’t think he’s ever said no to anyone. He’s coming off a dominant win and has found areas of success against some of NEF’s bigger names. I’m going to get in and put him out quickly and move on to the next.”

After several attempts in the NEF cage, Zenon Herrera finally picked up his first win as a professional at “NEF 32” last year with a unanimous decision victory over Nate Charles.  He returned to the cage later in the year in a losing effort to Ernesto Ornelas.  Herrera will look to bounce back from that loss on April 27 against Hornstra.  He is a member of Team Smog.

“Everything I’ve seen thus far leads me to believe that this is going to be a great and tough match,” said Herrera.  “I’ve had that moment of the glory that comes with getting my hand raised in victory and will strive to get it back.  As for Keegan, he’s one of those guys who brings his best every time he comes out, and I know this match will be no different.  I guess all I can really say is don’t look away once it starts, I have a feeling this one’s gonna end with a bang.”

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 38: STORMBORN,” will take place on Saturday, April 27, 2019 at Aura in Portland, Maine with a bell time of 7 pm.  Tickets are on sale now at www.AuraMaine.com.