Tag Archives: Mixed Martial Arts

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

NEF DROWNS PORTLAND WITH RIPTIDE BEFORE CAPACITY CROWD; CHOI INSTITUTE SHINES IN PRO FIGHTS

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Portland, Maine (April 15, 2018) – New England Fights (NEF) made its return to Portland on Saturday night with the fight promotion’s latest mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 33: Riptide.”  For the second time in as many events at the venue, NEF packed Aura with a sold-out crowd.

On the amateur portion of the card, Kam Arnold (3-0) continued his winning ways with a highlight-reel, one-punch knockout of David Thompson (1-3).  Arnold, a hot prospect out of Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in nearby Lewiston, Maine, dropped Thompson with a right hand in the first round to remain undefeated.

Walt Shea (3-1) and Nate Boucher (2-3) met in the amateur headliner at a catchweight of 130-pounds.  Both athletes were looking to bounce back from losses in their last respective NEF appearances, but it was Shea who took the victory late in the third round when referee Kevin MacDonald stopped the fight due to strikes.  Earlier in the evening, Shea’s First Class MMA teammate, Ben Murtiff (1-0) won his amateur debut, making for a perfect 2-0 night for the Topsham, Maine-based team.

On the professional side of the card, Ernesto Ornelas (3-7) picked up the win over Carl Langston (0-1) via unanimous decision. Moments later, Ornelas’s teammate at the Choi Institute Caleb Hall (1-0) was successful in his pro debut with a first-round submission of veteran John Ortolani (8-13).

The main event of the evening saw longtime Maine MMA veteran Bill Jones (13-11) defeat Matt Denning (5-8) via technical knockout in the second round.  Denning announced his retirement from cage competition immediately following the bout.  Jones’ win capped a successful night for Nostos MMA of Somersworth, New Hampshire.  The team went 3-0 on the night with Zac Richard (1-0) and Killian Murphy (1-0) taking home wins on the amateur card.

NEF announced that its next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 34: Home of the Brave” would take place back at Aura in Portland onJune 16, 2018.  Already announced for that card, Ross Dannar (1-1) and Devin Corson (1-1) will square off in an amateur lightweight contest, while Aaron Lacey (5-1) returns to the NEF cage to take on Da’mon Blackshear (4-1) in a professional featherweight bout.

The results from Portland, Maine:

PROFESSIONAL

Bill Jones def. Matt Denning via TKO, round 2

Caleb Hall def. John Ortolani via Von Flue Choke, round 1

Ernesto Ornelas def. Carl Langston via unanimous decision

 

AMATEUR

 

Walt Shea def. Nate Boucher via TKO, round 3

Killian Murphy def. Krishna Scott via TKO, round 1

Ben Murtiff def. James Lewis via TKO, round 1

Kam Arnold def. David Thompson via KO, round 1

Mark Gardner def. Brandon Schwinck via rear-naked choke, round 1

Duncan Smith def. Taylor Bartlett via standing guillotine, round 1

Zac Richard def. Gabriel Diaz via TKO, round 1

Liam Fagan def. Curtis Ouellette via unanimous decision

Carol Linn Powell drew Chelsea Tucker (Grappling Match)

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 34: Home of the Brave,” will take place at Aura in Portland, Maine on Saturday, June 16, 2018.  Tickets are on-sale now online at www.AuraMaine.com.

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Paramount Network

BELLATOR 197: CHANDLER vs. GIRTZ RESULTS & PHOTOS

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FULL EVENT PHOTOS 

 

Michael Chandler (18-4) defeated Brandon Girtz (15-8) via technical submission (head & arm choke) at 4:00 of round one

A.J. McKee (11-0) defeated Justin Lawrence (11-5) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Logan Storley (8-0) defeated Joaquin Buckley (8-2) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)

Baby Slice (2-1) defeated Devon Brock (1-1) via submission (rear-naked choke) at :34 of round one

Juliana Velasquez (7-0) defeated Rebecca Ruth (6-3) via TKO (body kick) at :19 of round three

Derek Anderson (15-3) defeated Zak Bucia (18-10) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Dominic Mazzotta (14-2) defeated Josh Sampo (11-6) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Eric Ellington (5-0) defeated Jordan Howard (10-5) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Adam Cella (9-8) defeated DeWayne Diggs (2-2) via TKO (punches) at 4:27 of round one

Cort Wahle (3-3) defeated Joe Roye (1-5) via submission (guillotine) at :21 of round one

Jordan Dowdy (5-4) defeated Jeff Crotty (1-1) via submission (rear-naked choke) at :29 of round one

A.J. Siscoe (3-2) defeated Justin Robbins (14-19) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:34 of round two

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA

BELLATOR 197: CHANDLER vs. GIRTZ WEIGH-IN RESULTS & PHOTOS

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EVENT AIRS ON PARAMOUNT NETWORK AT 9 P.M. ET / 8 P.M. CT

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WEIGH IN PHOTOS

 

Bellator 197: Chandler vs. Girtz takes place tomorrow, Friday, April 13 at The Family Arena in St. Charles MO. The event will be broadcast live and free on Paramount Network (formerly Spike) at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and globally on the Bellator Mobile App.

 

Complete Bellator 197: Chandler vs. Girtz Weigh-in Results:

Lightweight Main Event: Michael Chandler (155.3) vs. Brandon Girtz (156)

Featherweight Co-Main Event: Justin Lawrence (145.8) vs. A.J. McKee (145.8)

Welterweight Main Card Bout: Devon Brock (160) vs. Baby Slice (159.8)

Welterweight Main Card Bout: Joaquin Buckley (168.3) vs. Logan Storley (170.6)

141-Pound Catchweight Preliminary Bout: A.J. Siscoe (140.6) vs. Justin Robbins (135.6)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Jeff Crotty (170.8) vs. Jordan Dowdy (170.3)

Women’s Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Juliana Velasquez (126) vs. Rebecca Ruth (125.3)

165-Pound Catchweight Preliminary Bout: Zak Bucia (164.9) vs. Derek Anderson (164.2)

Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Josh Sampo (135.4) vs. Dominic Mazzotta (135.4)

Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Eric Ellington (135.4) vs. Jordan Howard (136)

189-Pound Catchweight Preliminary Bout: DeWayne Diggs (186.8) vs. Adam Cella (189)

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Cort Wahle (144.9) vs. Joe Roye (151)*

LFA, mixed martial arts, MMA

LFA RETURNS TO MINNESOTA  WITH LIGHTWEIGHT SHOWDOWN LFA 41 – MOISÉS vs. PETERSON

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MAIN EVENT:

THE FINAL RFA LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION

THIAGO MOISÉS

vs.

“THE ADMINISTRATOR”

JEFF PETERSON

 

 

 

LIGHTWEIGHT SHOWDOWN

 

 

FRIDAY, JUNE 1st LIVE on AXS TV

 

 

 

LIVE at the MINNETONKA BALLROOM

inside the new 

MYSTIC LAKE CENTER

 

 

 

PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA

 

 

 

Tickets are on sale NOW through MysticLake.com

 

 

 

 

HOUSTON, Texas – Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) CEO Ed Soares announced today that LFA will return to Minnesota on the first day of June with a lightweight showdown between the final RFA lightweight champion and a surging upset artist.

 

 

 

The main event of LFA 41 will feature the return of the final RFA lightweight champion Thiago Moisés when he faces the division’s biggest upset machine Jeff “The Administrator” Peterson. LFA 41 – Moisés vs. Peterson takes place Friday, June 1st at the Minnetonka Ballroom inside the new Mystic Lake Center in Prior Lake, Minnesota. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

 

 

 

“I am excited to bring LFA back to the Minnetonka Ballroom inside the state of the art Mystic Lake Center”, stated Soares. “We brought four LFA events to Mystic Lake last year. LFA 41 will be the second of four live nationally televised MMA events to take place inside Mystic Lake’s new world-class facility in 2018. Mystic Lake has been a great partner and will now host the return of Thiago Moisés when he faces Jeff Peterson on June 1st.”

 

 

 

Tickets for LFA 41 – Moisés vs. Peterson are available for purchase NOW at MysticLake.com.

 

 

 

Moisés (9-2) recently turned 23-years-old, but has long been considered one of the most exciting lightweight prospects in the world. The Brazilian dynamo submitted Javon Wright in his RFA debut at RFA 28. The win earned Moisés a shot at RFA gold in his next outing at RFA 35. Moisés used this opportunity to secure one of the most memorable submission wins in MMA history. He executed an electrifying and ultra-rare Helicopter Armbar to submit David Castillo. The submission made him the second youngest champion in RFA history, went viral on the internet, and earned him a nominee for “Submission of the Year” at the annual World MMA Awards.

 

 

 

Moisés then defended his RFA lightweight title twice. The first title defense came against Jamall Emmers at RFA 38. The win came with UFC President Dana White sitting cageside and was featured on the seventh episode of Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight. The second title defense came against Zach Freeman in Freeman’s hometown at RFA 44. During that fight, Moisés broke his hand. The American Top Team product still managed to cruise to a Unanimous Decision victory, but he missed nearly a year of action waiting for his surgically repaired hand to heal. Moisés then re-injured his hand vying for the inaugural LFA lightweight title last summer at LFA 17. Now the BJJ black belt is back and ready to remind the world, that when he is at 100%, he is the top lightweight prospect in the world.

 

 

 

Peterson (9-4) is currently riding an impressive six-fight win streak and hasn’t tasted defeat in over three years. However, the Alliance MMA product really started to make a name for himself last year after signing with LFA. Peterson did this by winning all three of his fights for the promotion against heavily favored opposition. The first win came against top undefeated prospect Bobby Lee via Unanimous

Decision at LFA 12. The second win came against local fan favorite Brandon Jenkins via Split Decision at LFA 20. The third and biggest win came against longtime Bellator star and fellow U.S. Marine Mike Richman via Unanimous Decision in the co-main event of LFA 29.

 

 

 

 

Now the 28-year-old known as “The Administrator” will be looking to add the final RFA lightweight champion to his list of upsets. This is the next necessary step he will need to take if the Peterson regime plans on taking over as the new ruling administration atop the LFA lightweight division. He has gotten to this point by defying the odds. Peterson has administered his rugged, no-nonsense style of fighting to upset an undefeated prospect, a local favorite, and a popular vet. Now he will up the ante by facing his biggest test to date. When the opening betting odds are released for this fight, expect Peterson to once again be the underdog. He wouldn’t want it any other way. That is where he thrives. A devil dog, seen as an underdog, in a prime time headlining fight is a scary thing. Oorah.

 

 

 

 

Currently Announced Main Card (Televised on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Main Event | Lightweight Bout (155 lb)

– Thiago Moisés (9-2) vs. Jeff Peterson (9-4)

 

 

 

 

 

Co-Main Event | Lightweight Bout (155 lb)

– Killys Mota (10-0) vs. Bobby Lee (8-1)

 

 

 

 

 

Featherweight Bout (145 lb)

– Nate Jennerman (11-3) vs. Kevin Croom (18-8)

 

Welterweight Bout (170 lb)

 

 

 

– Ben Neumann (12-5) vs.  Bobby Cooper (14-7)

 

 

 

 

 

Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)

– Raufeon Stots (9-1) vs. Emeka Ifekandu (6-0)

 

 

 

 

 

In September 2016, RFA and Legacy FC officials announced that they would be merging to form LFA. This new powerhouse promotion would serve as the premier developmental organization in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) starting in January 2017. RFA and Legacy FC have launched the careers of over 130 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC.

 

 

 

 

LFA 41 will be the seventh LFA event to take place in the state of Minnesota. RFA and Legacy FC hosted a combined nine events in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” before the merger. Six of those events took place under the RFA banner inside the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel. The entire main card of LFA 41 will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

 

 

 

 

Please visit LFAfighting.com for bout updates and information. LFA is on Facebook at Legacy Fighting Alliance. LFA is also on Instagram at @LFAfighting and Twitter at @LFAfighting.
Amateur MMA, Combate Americas, mixed martial arts, MMA

COMBATE AMERICAS ANNOUNCES TRIO OF LINEUP CHANGES FOR FIRST-EVER LIVE MMA EVENT ON UNIVISION ON FRIDAY, APRIL 13 FROM LOS ANGELES

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Detached retina forces Marc Gomez out,

John Castaneda now faces Jose Alday

in new “Combate Estrellas I” bantamweight main event

 

 

Five-division world boxing champion Amanda Serrano battles Corina Herrera in new flyweight co-main event

 

 

“Froggy” Estrada collides with new opponent Rudy Morales

in first live televised, main card bout
 

 

Los Angeles (April 11, 2018) – Combate Americas, the premier Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise, today announced a trio of lineup changes, including a new bantamweight (135 pounds) main event between John “Sexi Mexi” Castaneda (16-3) of the U.S. and Jose “El Pochito” Alday (10-3) of Mexico, for “Combate Estrellas I,” live on Univision and Univision Deportes Network (UDN) from Los Angeles on Friday, April 13.

 

 

 

The 90-minute, live Univision (12 a.m. ET/12 a.m. PT) and UDN (12 a.m. ET/9 p.m. PT) broadcast of “Combate Estrellas I” from The Shrine marks Univision Deportes’ first-ever live MMA program.

 

 

Originally slated to face off with rival Castaneda in the headlining bout, Marc “Lufo” Gomez was declared medically unfit to compete due to a detached retina that was discovered during the pre-fight physical exam required by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC).

 

 

 

In the women’s flyweight (125 pounds) co-main event, five-division world boxing champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (0-0), representing Puerto Rico, will battle a new opponent in veteran Corina Herrera (3-4) of the U.S., after Serrano’s original opponent, Erendira “Aketzaly” Ordonez of Mexico was unable to secure a work visa for the commitment.

 

 

 

Additionally, knockout artist Jose “Froggy” Estrada (4-1) of the U.S. will square off with “Ruthless” Rudy Morales (5-5), representing Guatemala, in the first, live televised main card bout, after Estrada’s original opponent, Pablo Sabori of Mexico, was forced to withdraw from the commitment due to a shin injury.

 

 

 

The three-bout, live televised “Combate Estrellas I” main card will be preceded by a five-fight preliminary bout card.

 

 

 

Priced from $30, tickets for “Combate Estrellas I” are on sale at Ticketon.com.

 

 

 

“Combate Estrellas I” marks Combate Americas’ first live television event of 2018, and the first event of a two-part series featuring a collection of the organization’s top estrellas, or “stars.”

 

 

# # #

 

 

ABOUT COMBATE AMERICAS

Combate Americas is the premier Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise, rapidly becoming the number two sport, after soccer, for Spanish speaking sports fans worldwide.  The Combate Americas franchise includes reality TV programming, live events and mobile programming. The company’s CEO, Campbell McLaren, is universally recognized as the co-founder/co-creator of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). New York Magazine described McLaren as “the marketing genius behind the UFC” and Yahoo! Sports proclaimed that he “knows more about the sport than just about anyone in it today.” With an unprecedented product and a blue-chip ownership and management team, Combate Americas is poised to break new ground and bring about a new era in world championship level MMA competition.

Bellator, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, MMA

ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME; BELLATOR HOSTS FIRST EVENT IN THE ANCIENT CITY ON JULY 14

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PATRICIO ‘PITBULL’ DEFENDS FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE AGAINST DANIEL WEICHEL, WHILE ITALY’S ALESSIO SAKARA RETURNS TO ACTION

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IL CENTRALE LIVE ROMA – FORO ITALICO ALSO HOSTS BELLATOR KICKBOXING 10, WHERE TWO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE ON THE LINE

 

 

 

 

LOS ANGELES – Bellator is primed for a summer return to Italy, this time in the country’s capital city of Rome at the Il Centrale Live Roma – Foro Italico on Saturday, July 14.

 

 

 

 

In a double main event, the card sees a rematch between Patricio “Pitbull” (26-4) and Daniel Weichel (39-9) for the featherweight title, as well as Italy’s most famous mixed martial artist, Alessio Sakara (19-12), taking on Jamie Sloane (8-3) at light heavyweight. Bellator Romewill air on Paramount Network and marks the promotion’s first trek to Rome, after hosting multiple events in both Torino and Florence.

 

 

 

 

Kickboxing will also be on display, as Giorgio Petrosyan (85-2-2) seeks to become the inaugural Bellator Kickboxing lightweight champ when he meets Chingiz Allazov (53-2), while Bellator Kickboxing’s featherweight champion, Kevin Ross (45-13), will defend his crown against Gabriel Varga (21-6).

 

 

 

 

Bellator Rome will be broadcast Saturday, July 14 free on Paramount Network at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while details about Bellator Kickboxing 10, including additional matchups will be announced in the coming days. Tickets are on sale now at Bellator.com and Oktagon.it.

 

 

 

 

“From the beginning of Bellator’s international expansion, Italy has always played an integral role in our growth,” Bellator President Scott Coker said. “Following successful events in the gorgeous cities of both Florence and Torino, it only made sense to bring a card to Rome, the home of the Colosseum, a city that has seen warriors do battle since 80 AD.”

 

 

 

 

“Pitbull” reclaimed the 145-pound championship by defeating Daniel Straus via unanimous decision in April of last year, notching his 14thBellator victory and becoming the winningest athlete in promotional history in the process. On July 14, the 30-year-old Natal, Brazil-native will bring into the Bellator cage his impressive record of 19 stoppages in 25 opportunities against a man he has defeated once already, coming from behind on the judges’ scorecards to knockout Daniel Weichel at Bellator 138.

 

 

 

 

Quietly running rampant through Bellator’s featherweight division during his nine-fight promotional tenure, Daniel Weichel’s only Bellator defeat took place at the hands of his upcoming Bellator Rome opponent. Since the loss, Weichel has climbed the ranks once again, besting notable fighters within the division such as Emmanuel Sanchez, Georgi Karakhanyan and John “Macapa” en route to his current number one contender status. Now, with an opportunity to right the loss, “Drake” will take the two-hour flight from Germany to Rome, with the hopes of winning championship gold on his mind.

 

 

 

 

The pride of Italy, Alessio Sakara is set to make his fourth appearance for Bellator, a promotion where he has already defeated both Joey Beltran and Brett Rogers via knockout, as well as challenged for the Bellator middleweight title. Prior to joining the Viacom-owned organization, “Legionarius” spent the majority of his career with UFC, where he built his reputation as a powerful knockout artist. With 33 fights as a professional, Sakara has collected 19 career victories, including 15 finishes and 10 first-round knockouts.

 

 

 

 

Sloane will be making his Bellator debut when he looks to play the role of spoiler in Sakara’s home country. With a winning record of 8-3, the BAMMA veteran has also made appearances at heavyweight and middleweight since beginning his professional career in 2014.

 

 

 

 

Referred to by his fans as “The Doctor,” Petrosyan is one man you do not want an appointment with. The top-ranked Armenian-Italian striking ace has put together an incredible 46-fight unbeaten streak, cultivating an extensive trophy case that includes multiple championship belts as well as “Kickboxer of the Year” accolades in both 2011 and 2012.

 

 

 

 

Currently in the midst of a 27-fight winning streak of his own, the 24-year-old Allazov has not suffered defeat since 2014, winning the K-1 super middleweight championship along the way. Hailing from Belarus, Allazov brings a Thai boxing style to the Bellator Kickboxing ring, a discipline that has helped him defeat fighters the likes of Bellator Kickboxing veteran Mustapha Haida, amongst others.

 

 

 

 

With four wins under the Bellator Kickboxing umbrella, Kevin Ross recently added the promotion’s inaugural featherweight belt to his already impressive list of accolades. Throughout his 58-fight career, Ross has previously held the WBC Muay-Thai USA welterweight, WBC Muay-Thai International super lightweight and Lion Fight super lightweight titles.

 

 

 

 

A two-time Glory featherweight champion, Gabriel Varga signed with Bellator in March of 2017, immediately making it clear that his sights were clearly set on competing against Ross. Italian fans may remember the 32-year-old Canadian from his Bellator Kickboxing 8 appearance, where he stopped Roberto Gheorghita in the second round of action.

 

 

 

 

Updated Bellator Rome Main Card:

Featherweight World Title Bout: Patricio “Pitbull” (26-4) vs. Daniel Weichel (39-9)

Light Heavyweight Feature Bout: Alessio Sakara (19-12, 2 NC) vs. Jamie Sloane (8-3)

 

 

 

 

Updated Bellator Kickboxing 10 Card:

Lightweight World Title Bout: Giorgio Petrosyan (85-2-2) vs. Chingiz Allazov (53-2)

Featherweight World Title Bout: Kevin Ross (45-13) vs. Gabriel Varga (21-6)

 

 

 

 

 

*Card subject to change

 

 

 

 

 

Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.

 

 

 

****

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

CALEB HALL REACHES MILESTONE IN MIXED-MARTIAL-ARTS CAREER

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Portland, Maine (April 10, 2018) – We all celebrate certain milestone birthdays in our youth that furnish a new level of freedom.

 

 

 

Perhaps the possibility of getting a driver’s license was the be-all, end-all at one point. Some eagerly await the option to vote or to serve their country through the military. And yes, many count the days to when they can toast responsibly with an adult beverage.

 

 

 

Caleb Hall’s grown-up goal, before he knew there were any restrictions against it, was to enter the mixed martial arts cage. He was 17, a senior wrestler and football player at Dirigo High School, when he learned of an upstart enterprise known as New England Fights.

 

 

 

“Ever since I started wrestling, I started watching MMA and became obsessed with it,” Hall said. “Then when I found out the promoter (Matt Peterson) was from my area and that there were actually fights in Lewiston, I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t even know I had to be 18.”

 

 

 

Eleven fights later, his face a tad more weathered but his spirit emboldened from taking on the top amateur competition in northern New England, Hall is turning professional.

 

 

 

Hall will step into the hexagon against 20-fight veteran John Ortolani at “NEF 33: Riptide.” The card will take place at Aura in Portland on Saturday, April 14.

 

 

 

“He’s a tough opponent. He’s been a pro lacrosse player, so he’s definitely an athlete,” Hall said of Ortolani. “He’s been knocked out nine times to strikes, so I’d say he definitely has a questionable chin. That’s something I can try to capitalize on.”

 

 

 

Teenagers and young adults approached Peterson in droves when he and Nick DiSalvo launched the local organization.

 

 

 

All were enamored with the idea of taking their athletic acumen and fighter’s heart to the cage, so Hall’s interest was nothing new to the matchmaker. Taking the next step to sign a contract was always a different story.

 

 

 

“Caleb is a special athlete,” Peterson said. “He called me when he was 17 years old and asked for a fight. I had to explain to him at that time that he was too young to compete, and to call me when he reached the legal age of 18. To my surprise, he actually called me back when he turned 18, and he’s been an NEF mainstay ever since.”

 

 

 

With family, friends and former teammates packed into the cage side seats, Hall stopped John Parker in 51 seconds that September night.

 

 

 

“That was crazy,” he said. “I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into.”

 

 

 

Hall went 8-3 as an amateur, winning his last three fights. His only NEF losses were to Aaron Lacey and Josh Harvey.

 

 

 

A run that started with a few-months-premature phone call ended with championship gold. Hall picked up the vacant NEF amateur featherweight title by submission over Erik Nelson in April 2016 and defended it by split decision against Johnny Crafts in September of that year.

 

 

 

“He never shies away from a challenge,” Peterson said. “Consistently during his time in the cage, he has embraced the opportunity to face the toughest guys. Whether it was Josh Harvey or (Brazilian jiu-jitsu) brown belt Johnny Crafts, he always goes for it. I don’t think he’s ever turned down a fight that I’ve approached him with, and that’s pretty much unheard of in the combat sporting space.”

 

 

 

Hall was set to make his pro debut when NEF made its initial Portland appearance last November, but he suffered a broken hand in training. The injury required surgery to install a plate, followed by months of physical therapy.

 

 

 

 

It all makes Ortolani (8-12), a Massachusetts native fighting out of Tampa, Florida, an interesting choice for getting those hands dirty once again. While the veteran has lost eight of his past 10 fights, he owns a win over a name synonymous with NEF, Bruce “Pretty” Boy” Boyington. Ortolani also took Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Bellator Fighting Championships veteran Des Green to the cards before dropping a unanimous decision.

 

 

 

“If you want to make it in the pros, you’ve got to beat some guys, man,” Hall said. “I think it’s a perfect situation for my first pro fight. I hope his style plays into my hands. I’m going to be head hunting and going for that knockout.”

 

 

 

The fight will take place at the 155-pound lightweight limit. With the exception of two bouts, Hall’s amateur career was contested in the featherweight (145) class.

 

 

 

Hall chalks up the change to the normal growth pattern of young adulthood, although he added that his strength and conditioning routine also played a role.

 

 

 

“He’s a rare kind of competitor, a champion, and when he digs deep and slides it into the next gear, watch out,” Peterson said. “I’m looking forward to witnessing how he will define himself in the pro ranks. If his amateur career is any indication, he’s destined to make a name for himself and turn out some lights in the process.”

 

 

 

Look no farther than Hall’s recent travel itinerary for evidence of that commitment.

Hall, who relocated to Portland to attend college and train at Choi Institute shortly after his NEF debut, recently was in Florida for a two-week stint with the renowned American Top Team.

 

 

 

The eager 17-year-old has evolved into a man with a plan.

 

 

 

“There’s a Maine connection there with (UFC veteran) Mike Brown, who is one of the head coaches. He originally trained at Choi Institute,” Hall said. “It was two weeks, just to get some training and see where I’m at. There are all kinds of UFC guys there to train and spar with. It’s a step up in the level of competition for sure.”

 

 

 

Opening bell for “NEF 33: Riptide” is set for 7 p.m. this Saturday, April 14. For tickets, call 207.772.8274 or go to www.auramaine.com.

Bellator, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, MMA, Paramount Network

BELLATOR 196 & BELLATOR KICKBOXING 9 RESULTS & PHOTOS

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COMPLETE PHOTOS FROM BOTH EVENTS HERE


Complete Bellator 196: Henderson vs. Huerta Results:

Benson Henderson (25-8) defeated Roger Huerta (24-10-1, 1 NC) via submission (guillotine) at :49 of round two

Adam Borics (7-0) defeated Teodor Nikolov (11-2) via KO at 1:30 of round two

Denise Kielholtz (2-1) defeated Petra Castkova (3-3) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)

Brian Moore (11-6) defeated Giorgio Belsanti (7-7-1) via submission (guillotine) at 2:46 of round one

Ed Ruth (5-0) defeated Ion Pascu (17-8) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)

 

Preliminary Card:

Norbert Novenyi (2-0) defeated Mehmet Yueksel (2-4) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:42 of round one

 

Complete Bellator Kickboxing 9 Results:

Raymond Daniels (34-3) defeated Djibril Ehouo (38-10-2) via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-43)

Alexey Ignashov (86-21) defeated Dzevad Poturak (53-31-3) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Sabriye Sengul (13-1) defeated Renata Rakoczi (17-4) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Eder Lopes (12-2) defeated John Wayne Parr (99-33) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Jorina Baars (45-0-3) defeated Athina Evmorfiadi (10-4) via TKO at 2:28 of round two

 

Preliminary Card:

Enrico Carrara (38-2-2) defeated Csaba Gyorfi (25-7) via TKO at 2:06 of round one

Antoine Habash (31-5) defeated Salvatore Cicerone (12-9-1) via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

Najib Idali (39-30) defeated Adam Pokorni (28-7) via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

Combate Americas, mixed martial arts, MMA

COMBATE AMERICAS SIGNS MMA STAR GASTON “TONGA” REYNO TO EXCLUSIVE, MULTI-YEAR AGREEMENT

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Featherweight MMA star Gaston “Tonga” Reyno (7-2) of Montevideo, Uruguay has signed an exclusive, multi-year promotional contract with Combate Americas.  Photo: Scott Hirano/Combate Americas, LLC
NEW YORK – APRIL 6, 2018 – Combate Americas today announced the signing of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) featherweight (145 pounds) star Gaston “Tonga” Reyno (7-2) to an exclusive, multi-year promotional contract.

 

The 5-foot-10, 31-year-old Reyno, who hails from Montevideo, Uruguay, will make his promotional debut for Combate Americas on a May date to be announced soon.

 

“We are proud to welcome Gaston Reyno, one of the most exciting fighters from South America, to the Combate Americas roster,” said  Combate Americas CEO Campbell McLaren.

 

Reyno is a seasoned, multiple-time champion in Muay Thai, kickboxing and Tae Kwon Do, and has competed across four different continents – North America, South America, Asia and Australia.

 

To date, Reyno has notched all of his professional victories by way of (T)KO or submission, including his latest conquest, a first round (2:30) TKO (punches) of Henri Kakiuchi of Japan in a main event contest in Punta Del Este, Uruguay onFebruary 13.

 

In Combate Americas, Reyno joins a stacked and ferociously competitive featherweight division that includes knockout artists Andres “The Bullet” Quintana and Jose “Froggy” Estrada of the U.S.; recently signed Horacio “The Punisher” Gutierrez, undefeated Rafa “Gifted” Garcia and Pablo “El Gallo Negro” Sabori of Mexico; and Pablo Villaseca of Chile.

 

The 2018 Combate Americas live television event series begins on Friday, April 13 with a live Univision (12 am ET/12 am PT) and Univision Deportes Network (12 am ET/9 pm PT) broadcast of “Combate Estrellas I” from The Shrine in Los Angeles, Calif.
mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

BOUCHER AND SHEA MEET AT THE CROSSROADS FOR PORTLAND MMA FIGHT

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Portland, Maine (April 6, 2018) – Nate Boucher grew up in the world of amateur wrestling, where the rewards, penalties and path to winning and losing are cut-and-dried.

 

 

 

 

Takedown, two points. Escape, one point. Reversal, two points. The same clock that tells everyone how much time remains in the fight consistently informs the fighters where they stand.

 

 

 

 

In his two most recent sojourns as a mixed martial artist with New England Fights, Boucher, a native of Rumford and graduate of Mountain Valley High School, had no such compass. MMA is a more subjective science. That’s one of the many reasons an impressive winning percentage is harder to come by.

 

 

 

 

“MMA judging is one of the worst things to figure out. There’s not really a solid standard,” Boucher said. “The last two fights didn’t end the way I wanted, obviously. Part of being an amateur is it gives you a chance to learn what the judges want.”

 

 

 

 

Boucher (2-2) hopes to halt a two-fight losing skid Saturday, April 14, when he takes on Walt Shea at “NEF 33: Riptide.” The card will take place at Aura in Portland.

 

 

 

 

A solid contender at the flyweight limit of 125 pounds despite those defeats at the hands of Justin Witham and Ryan Burgess, Boucher will meet Shea in the middle at a catch weight of 130.

 

 

 

 

Staying busy is part of Boucher’s strategy to learn everything he can about the sport, even if the immediate lessons are frustrating and humbling.

 

 

 

 

 

The criteria for MMA judging, in order of priority, are effective striking, effective grappling, effective aggressiveness and fighting area control. Boucher learned the hard way that his style may have cost him the ‘W’ in both the title fight against Witham and the hometown showdown versus Burgess.

 

 

 

 

“Everybody just kind of goes with whoever is throwing more punches. People don’t seem to care if you’re on top the whole time or not,” Boucher said. “But, you know, I can complain, or I can adapt.”

 

 

 

 

Boucher pointed out that the two judges who saw the fight go Burgess’ way had it two rounds to one, a 29-28 margin, while the 30-27 assessment in his favor indicated that he had won every round.

 

 

 

 

Best-case scenario, of course, is to end it early, the way Boucher did with a triangle choke in his second amateur outing against former high school wrestling legend Jeremiah Barkac.

 

 

 

 

“Even though I lost the last two fights, they couldn’t have gone any better for me as far as learning the game goes,” Boucher said. “It’s kind of opened my eyes a lot more, not necessarily to anything about myself, but as far as what the judges are looking for. It’s helping me learn more about the sport.”

 

 

 

 

Even though the fight is five pounds above Boucher’s natural weight, how he performs will have a heavy impact on whether he is still considered a viable threat in the 125-pound class or takes a huge step backward.

 

 

 

 

“Nate called me about a week after his fight with Burgess and said, straight up, ‘Get me back in there in April, and I want a tough opponent,’” NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson said. “He has a lot on the line in this one. A loss leaves him with a long climb back.”

 

 

 

 

The crossroads clash with Shea (2-1) is sure to be a learning experience. Shea, who trains of out of First Class MMA in Topsham, also lost his last fight. Fred Lear won that August battle for the vacant amateur bantamweight title on his home turf in Bangor.

 

 

 

 

No battle in the hexagon has been as daunting for Shea as his personal journey to get there. He initially followed his cousin, Nicholas, to the MMA gym as part of a fitness regimen after his weight crested at more than 270 pounds.

 

 

 

 

In other words, when he walks through the door on any given fight night, Shea is literally half the man he used to be.

 

 

 

 

“I was just going there to train a little bit in jiu-jitsu, and John (Raio) said to me, ‘Before we’re through, I’m going to get you in the cage.’ I’m thinking, ‘Yeah, right,’” Shea said. “I lost about 80 pounds right off the bat training with those guys. It got me healthy, and then it was kind of, why not take the next step?”

 

 

 

 

Shea now walks around at 155 to 160 pounds. He is making a slightly deeper weight cut this time, and fighting a natural flyweight, to find out if the title picture in that division is an attainable goal.

 

 

 

 

Win or lose, if his inspirational story helps a fan or friend make the commitment to a healthier lifestyle, Shea is all for it.

 

 

 

 

“It’s a lot better than standing on a treadmill,” Shea said of his unique path to fitness. “I tell people if you can just find one aspect of MMA that works for you – the grappling, the striking, whatever – it’s a great workout.”

 

 

 

 

Boucher said he has nothing but high esteem for Shea’s circuitous route to success in the sport. Admittedly, without a title up for grabs or a so-called grudge match in his sights, motivation could be more elusive.

 

 

 

 

The former Falcon, who trains out of Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Lewiston, insisted that won’t be a problem.

 

 

 

 

“That’s an impressive accomplishment. I’m very respectful of that. Not just anybody can start out where Walt did and get in the cage for a fight at 125, 130 pounds,” Boucher said. “Unfortunately when you’re talking MMA, not every ending is like a fairy tale. I’m going in there to win the fight, to end it early and leave no doubt, not leave it in the hands of the judges this time.”

 

 

 

 

Doors open for “NEF 33: Riptide” at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 14. For tickets, call 207.772.8274 or go to www.auramaine.com.