Portland, Maine (August 21, 2017) - Pugnat New England (NEF) will make its debut in Portland onFriday, November 3, 2017at Aura with “NEF 31: The Old Port.” Superius hodie, the fight promotion announced the addition of an amateur mixed-martial-arts title bout to the card. Nate Boucher(2-0) subibit Justin Wi (3-4) with the winner to be crowned the new NEF MMA Amateur Flyweight Champion. The 125-pound title currently sits vacant.
Nate Boucher brings a background in wrestling with him to the cage. He competed for Mountain Valley High School (MVHS) in Rumford, Maine prior to training in MMA. Boucher made his NEF debut in 2014, just months after his eighteenth birthday – the legal age limit for competing in MMA in Maine. Earlier this month in Bangor, Boucher made his return to the NEF cage. He was victorious by first-round submission over Jeremiah Barkac (0-1). Boucher is currently a member of Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ).
“It’s an amazing feeling knowing that my childhood dream is coming true,” said Boucher when reached for comment. “This fight was only a matter of time. All my years of training is for this moment.”
Justin Witham got off to a slow start in his amateur career. He lost his first three in a row prior to his first victory over Brent Ouellette (0-1) by technical knockout in the first round. Witham is currently riding a two-fight win streak. Superius hoc anno, he submitted previous flyweight champion Ryan Burgess (2-2) in a non-title bout, avenging an earlier loss to Burgess. Witham represents the Shatterproof Combat Club.
“Much respect to my opponent and anyone who steps inside the cage,” said Witham. “Every fighter has a fight that makes or breaks him. I will not break. This is the culmination of three years of hard work. Blood, sweat and tears – time away from my loved ones. Capturing the 125-pound title means everything to me and I will not be leaving without it over my shoulder!”
Artibus mixtus: re-proximo bello NEF, “NEF 31: The Old Port,” will see the company make its long-awaited debut in Portland, Maine at the brand new, state-of-the-art venue Aura. The event is scheduled to take place onFriday, November 3, 2017. Tesseras sunt in sale iam www.auramaine.com.
About New England Pugnat
New England Pugnat ("NEF") haec pugna est turba promotiones. Maxima est enim res habet, ut missionem NEF Maine pugnantium scriptor fans pariter. Team, exsecutiva NEF scriptor sports procuratio habet rotensus experientia certaminis, rerum productionem, necessitudinum, venalicium, vendo et legal.
RYAN BADER MAKES FIRST LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE DEFENSE AGAINST LINTON VASSELL IN MAIN EVENT
PRAETER, FORMER STANDOUT NITTANY LIONS PHIL DAVIS AND ED RUTH SET TO COMPETE
Los Angeles– Bellator is set to make its debut at Bryce Jordan Center on the campus of Penn State University in University Park, Pa. on Friday, November 3 quia Bellator 186: Bader vs. Vassell.
In pelagus eventus Bellator 186, newly crowned light heavyweight championRyan “Darth” Bader (23-5) will make his first title defense against British sensationLinton “The Swarm” Vassell (18-5, 1 NC).
In addition, two Bellator competitors who spent their college years as members of the Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling team, Phil Davis(17-4, 1 NC) atque Et ait Ruth: (3-0), will return to their alma mater to compete in MMA for the first time in their careers. Their opponents are yet to be determined.
Bellator 186: Bader vs. Vassellwill be broadcast live and free on SPIKE at9 p.m. ATQUE/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and the Bellator Mobile App. Nullam at iustus satus $25 and will be available at the Bryce Jordan Center Box Office and Ticketmaster. A Bellator Nation presale takes placeWednesday, August 30 – Thursday, August 31, while public on-sale begins Friday, September 1 at 10 a.m. ATQUE. Additional bouts will be announcing in the coming weeks.
Bader returns to the cage for the first time since dethroning former Penn State wrestling standoutPhil Davisas light heavyweight champion in June atBellator 180. Fighting out of Tempe, Ariz., Bader began his professional career on an impressive run, steamrolling the competition en route to a 12-fight winning streak and winning one of the most competitive seasons of The Ultimate Fighter in franchise history on Spike in 2008. “Darth” continued his path of dominance by collecting wins over some of the 205-pound division’s top talent, including victories over former world champions Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, “Rampage” Jackson, Rashad Evans, as well as a previous win overPhil Davis. Currently riding a three-fight winning streak with victories in eight of his past nine bouts, the former two-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler from Arizona State University will look to protect his belt onNovember 3.
Currently training at Combat Club in South Florida alongsideMatt Mitrione, Michael Chandlerand Robbie Lawler, Vassell has once again put himself in position to fight for Bellator’s 205-pound title. After making his professional debut in 2008, the Milton Keynes, England native has tallied 18 rebus, including 14 finishes and 10 coming inside the first round, as well as seven wins over nine bouts in just four years with Bellator. Following three consecutive victories over two former champs inMcGeary Liam and Emanuel Newton, as well as Francis Carmont, the 34-year-old Vassell will attempt to become the second-ever Bellator light heavyweight champion who hails from the United Kingdom.
A native of Harrisburg, Factorum., Phil “Mr. Wonderful” attended Harrisburg High School and would go on to an extremely successful wrestling career at Penn State University. After transitioning to the sport MMA, Davis made his pro debut in 2008 and went on to win his first nine bouts. He’s established himself as one of the best light heavyweights in all of MMA, winning the Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix and Bellator 205-pound title. The San Diego-based fighter now boasts career wins overMcGeary Liam,Alexander Gustafsson, Lyoto Machida,"Rex Mo" Lawal, Glover Teixeira, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Francis Carmont.
One of the most celebrated wrestlers in Penn State University history, Ed Ruth has followed in the footsteps ofPhil Davisby pursuing a career in MMA. The 3x NCAA D1 champion, who now trains out of Fresno, Ill., makes his fourth appearance inside the Bellator cage looking to keep his undefeated streak intact. With three consecutive KO finishes, Ruth has established himself as a new threat in the middleweight division. Born in Harrisburg, Factorum., Ruth returns to familiar territory for this upcoming bout with plans to put on another exciting bout for his hometown fans.
Updated Bellator 186: Bader vs. Vassell Fight Card:
Light Heavyweight Championship Main Event: Ryan Bader (23-5) vs. Linton Vassell (18-5, 1 NC)
Light Heavyweight Feature Bout: Phil Davis (17-4, 1 NC) vs. TBA
Middleweight Feature Bout: Et ait Ruth: (3-0) vs. TBA
S. PETERSBURG, Russia (August 16, 2017) – I M-Global praeses Vadim Finkelchteinrecently sat down withmixfight.ruto discuss the recentM-I provocare 82in Finland, M-I provocare 83in next month in Kazan, Russia, and what fight he considers to be the most anticipated this autumn.
M-I provocare 82 tournament has just ended in Helsinki. Tell us your impressions and did everything go as planned beforehand?
VF: “Yes, the tournament fully met our expectations. We initially set it very high, promotingM-I provocare 82at the largest venue in Finland, Hartwall Arena. In the history of Finland’s MMA tournaments, prior to our show, MMA shows had never been held in large arenas. There were halls for 1,500 ad 2,000 visorum, at most, and that’s why M-1 Global had such as a large responsibility. I am very glad that we managed to fill the arena by 70-80 percent, setting record attendance for MMA tournaments in Finland. Our matchmakers did a great job. They managed to gather some of the best Finnish fighters for this tournament and found some worthy opponents for them as well. This attracted a lot of attention to the tournament, utique, for Finnish MMA fans.”
Do you plan to come back to Finland and hold tournaments on a regular basis there?
VF: “Undoubtedly! We have such intentions. We have seen good interest in our tournaments, not only on the part of the audience, but television and the media as well. This year we have signed a contract with one of the leading TV channels of Finland – RUUTU — to broadcast all M-1 Challenge tournaments. I think we will definitely return next year to Finland.”
When is the next M-1 Challenge tournament and where?
VF: “The next tournament will be held in Kazan (Russia) on September 23rd.This will be the first M-1 tournament in this city and we’re thoroughly prepared for it. The main event forM-I provocare 83 is a fight between Brandon Halsey and Mikhail Ragozin, one of the most promising Russian heavyweights. Mikhail is a pupil of Alexander Shlemenko, who is also a New Stream team fighter.”
Fans are now excited about the tournament in St. Petersburg, utique, especially the title super-bout between two bright punchers, Alexei Kunchenko and Sergei Romanov. What do you expect from this fight?
VF: “I’m sure this fight will be the pinnacle of the entire season in Russian MMA. This will be a duel between the two strongest fighters in this weight category in Russia, but it’s also a fight between two bright and prominent shock-punchers. Kunchenko has never been defeated. He is more experienced of the two, he has already won the belt and has defended it a few times. And Romanov is very hungry, winning fighter, who improves progressively as a professional from fight to fight. Et, utique, there will be crowded fan sectors on his side in St. Petersburg. Already, as of today, 2 ½ months before the tournament, Sergey’s fans have bought more than 1000 tesseras! I myself am looking forward to this fight!”
HOUSTON, Texas – LegacyFighting Alliance (LFA) has had a busy summer. In last month’s newsletter, it was reported that LFA alum accumulated $200,000 in UFC bonus money in the month of June, former RFA headliner Zach Freeman secured an “Upset of the Year” nominee in New York City, and three inaugural LFA titles were awarded to get the summer started.
LFA LAUNCHING PAD
The summer continued to heat up in July. The UFC hosted 5 events along with the first 3 episodes of UFC President Dana White’s new weekly web series titled“Dana White’sTuesdayNight Contender Series” throughout the month.
The number of LFA alum that participated in those events was staggering. 19 fighters that have fought for LFA or the two promotions that merged to create it (RFA and Legacy FC) competed in the UFC. UFC 213 headliner Valentina Shevchenko would have made that 20 pugnatores, but Amanda Nunes withdrew from their title fight on the day of the fight.
The presence of LFA alum on Dana White’s new show was just as impressive. In the first three episodes that aired in July, 17 autem 30 competitors (56.6%) had previously competed for LFA, RFA, or Legacy FC. Each of the three episodes also featured two “LFA vs. LFA” matches. The most impressive stat, tamen, is the fact that an LFA fighter was signed by Dana White off of each episode.
That trend carried over into August with a fourth LFA fighter being signed to the UFC off of the fourth episode of“Dana White’sTuesdayNight Contender Series”. The four LFA stars signed off of the show so far are Boston Salmon (Week 1), Sean O’Malley (Week 2), Geoff Neal (Week 3), and Julian Marquez (Week 4). There are currently 32 fighters from LFA scheduled to compete on theTuesdaymight summer series. LFA also currently has 19 alum ranked in the latest UFC fighter rankings.
LFA ALUM IMPRESS IN THE UFC
While former LFA fighters impressed in the UFC last month with the sheer number of participants, what they accomplished in those bouts is even more important. Perhaps the biggest shining star of the bunch was former RFA featherweight champion Brian Ortega. Quae est homo, “T-City” improved his perfect record to 12-0 and saw his UFC fighter ranking move up to #6 in mundo.
Ortega did this by breaking his own UFC record at UFC 214 on July 29th. Going into his bout with fellow unbeaten star Renato Moicano, Ortega held the UFC record for most consecutive third round finishes. He extended that streak by submitting Moicano in the final frame with a $50,000 UFC “Performance of the Night” bonus winning Guillotine Choke.
The followingSaturday at UFC proelium Nocte 114, RFA great Dustin Ortiz broke another UFC record to secure his own $50,000 UFC “Performance of the Night” bonus. Ortiz accomplished this feat by knocking out Hector Sandoval in 15-seconds to record the fastest finish in UFC flyweight history. His teammate and former RFA flyweight champion Sergio Pettis happened to headline the same card. Pettis won his marquee bout against Brandon Moreno unanimously in a pivotal battle between two Top 10 ranked UFC flyweights.
The UFC will be off for the next few weeks, but September looks to be just as big for the LFA greats competing inside the famed UFC Octagon. UFC 215 on September 9thwill feature two LFA alum challenging for UFC world titles. Legacy FC great Ray Borg will headline the card for a shot at the UFC flyweight title, while Shevchenko will finally get a crack at the UFC women’s bantamweight title in the co-main event. Seven other LFA alum have UFC bouts already announced for next month as well.
4 SHOWSIN 4 WEEKS
LFA started August with the first title defense in the promotion’s history. Two of the inaugural LFA champions that were just crowned in June (Eryk Anders and Roberto Sanchez) have already made their UFC debut, but LFA featherweight champion Kevin “Angel of Death” Aguilar was able to defend his title in the main event of LFA 18 hanc quoque olim acceptam Friday. He did so by sweeping the scorecards against a very game challenger in #1 contender and world-class BJJ black belt Justin Rader.
LFA is now set to end the summer with four showsin four weeksin four different states. The quadruple-header starts next week in South Dakota at LFA 19. The promotion then heads east to Minnesota the following week at LFA 20. LFA kicks off first day of September in Missouri at LFA 21. Then the final leg of the four week trip will go down in Colorado at LFA 22.
LFA 19 – Michaud vs. Rodrigues fit Friday, August 18th Pentagonum cadit in stomachum ad Sioux, South Dakota. The event will serve as the second LFA event to take place in the state of South Dakota. RFA visited “Mons Rushmore State” four times before the merger. LFA 19 is headlined with a welterweight war between three-time UFC vet David “Bulldawg” Michaud (11-3) and Brazilian powerhouse Ciro “Puer malus” Rodrigues (20-7).
LFA 20 – Curry vs. Barnes fit Friday, August 25that the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, Minnesota. The event will serve as the third LFA event to take place in the state of Minnesota. Legatum FC RFA et hosted a nigredine mixta novem certe in “terra 10,000 lacus” ante merger. LFA 20 is headlined with a welterweight showdown between rising star Chad “Blitz” Curry and former RFA title challenger Nick “The Phoenix” Barnes.
LFA 21 – Noblitt vs. Branjão fit Friday, September 1stat the Branson Convention Center in Branson, Missouri. The event will serve as the first LFA event to take place in the state of Missouri. RFA visited the “Show Me State” four times before the merger. LFA 21 is headlined with a light-heavyweight battle between undefeated American prospect Kyle James Noblitt (8-0) and undefeated Brazilian prospect Antônio Paulo “Montanha” Branjão (4-0).
LFA 22 – Heinisch vs. Perez fit Friday, September 8that the 1STBANK Center in Broomfield, Colorado. The event will serve as the third LFA event to take place in the state of Colorado. RFA visited “The Centennial State” eight times before the merger. LFA 22 is headlined with an LFA middleweight title fight between Colorado’s own Ian “The Hurricane” Heinisch (8-0) and Brazilian dynamo Markus “Maluko” Perez (8-0).
The entire main card of these four events will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at9 p.m. ATQUE / 6 p.m. PT.
In September 2016, RFA and Legacy FC officials announced that they would be merging to form the premier developmental organization in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) incipiens mense Ianuario 2017. Legatum ex FC super ipsum autem et RFA ego launched 100 quod athletae per attigisse fastigium contendere Suspendisse mma.
HELSINKI, Finland (August 6, 2017) – Russian lux heavyweight Mikhail Zayats victum Marcus “Caveman” Vanttinenby unanimous decision in last night’sM-I provocare 82principale eventus, which headlined the first M-1 Global event held in Finland during the last nine years.
Zayats (23-8-0, M, I: 13-5-0) returned to an M-1 Global-promoted event for the first time in nearly six years. The Russian strongman see pictured below), who had fought the past few years in Bellator, ruined the night for local favorite Vanttinen (24-6-0, M, I: 2-3-0), one of six Finnish fighters on the Helsinki card.
International fighters represented nine different countries: Russia, Finland, Brazil, USA, Portugal, Gallia, Switzerland, Ukraine and Sweden.
Finnish bantamweightJanne “Jambo” Elonen-Kulmala (15-5-1, M, I: 0-0-1) and Brazilian veteran fighterHeilton (Dos Santos) Davella (15-6-1, M, I: 0-1-1) fought to a three-round split-draw, Finnish flyweightMikhail “Hulk” Silander (17-5-0, M, I: 1-0-0) took a three-round unanimous decision fromVitali Branchuk (22-7-0, M, I: 2-3-0), Ucraina.
“Jambo” nails Davella
(L) Silander made hometown fans happy
Russian lightweight prospectPavel Gordeev (8-1-0, M, I: 3-0-0) and Ukrainian welterweightAlexander “Iron Capture” Butenko (44-12-3, M, I: 10-2-1), respective;, won three-round unanimous decisions over BrazilianMichel “Sassarito” Silva (18-7-0, M, I: 0-2-0) and AmericanKeith “Unus” Johnson (12-3-0, M, I: 1-1-0).
Gordeev is a promising prospect
(L) Butenko and Johnson put on a good show.
Also on the main card, Finnish welterweightJuho Valamaa (15-4-0, M, I: 1-0-0) made a successful M-1 debut with a first-round technical knockout victory of Portugal’sAires Bendrouis (10-6-0, M, I: 0-1-0).
Valamaa celebrated
In preliminary card, Swedish bantamweightSon Le “Buddah” Binh (5-3-0, M, I: 1-2-0) lost a three-round unanimous decision toOleg Lichkovakha (8-1-0, M, I: 1-0-0), pugnae de Russia, and Ukrainian heavyweightBoris “Bora” Polezhay (17-6-0, M, I: 2-1-0) defeated Finland’sToni Valtonen (27-16-0, M, I: 6-3-0) per decisionem.
Russian middleweight Ruslan Shamolov (3-0-0, M, I: 3-0-0) stopped American“Motown” Moses Murrietta (5-1-0, M, I: 1-1-0) in foramen rotundum, French lightweightArnaud Kherfallah (4-1-0, M, I: 1-0-0) used a guillotine choke to forcePatrik Pietila (8-5-0, M, I: 0-1-0), Finlandiae, to tap-out in round one, and Russian flyweightAkaki Khorava (2-2-0, M, I: 0-1-0) tapped out in the second round as his Swiss opponent,Frederico “Muskito” Gutzwiller (3-2-0, M, I: 1-0-0), locked on an arm-bar.
In M-1’s popular Medieval Fight, Ukrainian heavyweightVladimir Nicheporenkodefeated RussianYuro Slobodyanikby way of a first-round knockout.
Infra complete results:
LICTOR RESULTS
CARD PRINCEPS
PRINCEPS EXITUS – LUX heavyweights
Mikhail Zayats (23-8-0, M, I: 13-5-0), Russia
WDEC3
Marcus Vanttinen (24-7-0, M, I: 2-3-0), Finland lbs. (kg)
WELTERWEIGHTS
Juho Valmaa (14-4-0, M, I: 0-0-0), Finland
WTKO1 (4:52 – referee stoppage)
Aires Bendrouis (10-5-0, M, I: 0-0-0), Portugal
Alexander Butenko (44-12-3, M, I: 10-2-1), Ucraina
WDEC3
Keith Johnson (12-3-0, M, I: 1-1-0), USA
LIGHTWEIGHTS
Pavel Gordeev (8-1-0, M, I: 3-0-0), Russia
WDEC3
Michel Silva (18-7-0, M, I: 0-2-0), Brazil
BANTAMWEIGHTS
Janne Elonen-Kulmala (15-5-1, M, I: 0-0-1), Finland
D3
Heilton (Dos Santos) Davella (15-6-1, M, I: 0-1-1), Brazil
FLYWEIGHTS
Mikael Silander (17-5-0, M, I: 1-0-0), Finland
WDEC3
Vitali Branchuk (22-7-0, M, I: 2-3-0), Ucraina
CARD PRIMUS
Heavyweights
Boris Polezhay (17-6-0, M, I: 2-1-0), Ucraina
WDEC3
Toni Valtonen (27-16-0, M, I: 6-3-0), Finland
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Ruslan Shamilov (3-0-0, M, I: 3-0-0), Russia
WKO1 (3:10)
Moses Murrietta (5-1-0, M, I: 1-1-0), USA
LIGHTWEIGHTS
Arnaud Kherfallah (4-1-0, M, I: 1-0-0), Gallia
WSUB1 (4:22 – guillotine suffocant)
Patrik Pietila (8-5-0, M, I: 0-1-0), Finland
BANTAMWEIGHTS
Oleg Lichkovakha (8-1-0, M, I: 1-0-0), Russia
WDEC3
Son Le Binh (5-3-0, M, I: 1-2-0), Suecia
FLYWEIGHTS
Frederico Gutzwiller (3-2-0, M, I: 1-0-0), Switzerland
I DE M-Global: Fundatur in 1997, I, quod in M est constituta Global Martialis (MMA) SUMMUS perficiens detexerunt entitatem ut postero mundi generatio superstar pugnatores. Cum in suo officio, de S. Petersburg, Russia, ad M-I notam habet plus quam ridiculo 200 eventus worldwide, etiam M-I Selection, M-I provocare, M-Global I and M-I Global eventus HWGP, in addition ad co-res et M promovendi Strikeforce I-Global in US. network, Showtime. LEPIDUS vivere, index sem vultum suum superius et par-ups productio valores, M-featured quidam in ludo I Global eventus summo nomina, possidet legendary heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko, Andreae Arlovski, Gegard Mousasi, Alistair Overeem, Keith Jardine, Ben Rothwell, Melvinus Manhoef, Sergius Kharitonov, Aleksander Emelianenko, Roman Zentsov, Okami Yushin, Mike Pyle, Denis Kang, Martin Kampmann, Amar Suloev, Stephan Struve Chalid fecerint,. 2017 has been another sensational year of world-class competition, featuring a full calendar of Challenge events, fueled by a talent-rich contention system ranking M-1 Global Champions among the greatest fighters in the sport.
This week’s combat sports show is a split personality situation. We had technical difficulties getting all of us together for the show, so we recorded Tom and Tony chatting with each other on Thursday night. I’ve added my portion today. It all worked out to some incredible insight about Mayweather vs. McGregor, Dana White’s growing problem with disgruntled stars in the UFC, Broner vs. Garcia and Lomachenko vs. Marriaga. We also break down Jon Jones beating Daniel Cormier at UFC 214 and the implications for a Brock Lesnar showdown in the Octagon. It’s far from likely, but it’s intriguing. We also touch on the retirements of Juan Manuel Marquez and Wladimir Klitschko.
559 Fights is proud to announce our events will now be streamed globally via paid subscription on FloCombat, starting with 559 pugnat 58 on August 11at Tower Theatre in Fresno.
Part of the FloSports Network, FloCombat is the authority for MMA and combat sports news, events, interviews, et more.August 11thFloCombat brings you live coverage of the 559 Fights fight 58. Catch all the action and become aPRO MEMBER TODAY!
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Along with a throwback heavyweight title between Leo Cantu (10-4-1, Kerman) and Josue Aispuro (3-1, Avenal), 559 pugnat 58 includes two championship bouts.
Heavyweight and Cruiserweight champ Andrew Chatman (6-0, Fresno) moves down in weight to fight Joseph Gaceta (2-1, Ridgecrest) for the CAMO State Light-Heavyweight Championship. Yuni Valencia (4-2, Farmersville) and Emilio Horta (2-2, Ridgecrest) will clash for the 559 Fights Lightweight Championship.
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PHOENIX (August 3, 2017) – The United States Southwest has been turning out top mixed-martial-arts fighters on a consistent basis for more than a decade. The next generation will be showcasedSaturday nox, August 12, in Iron Boy MMA 7 card, airing live on pay-per-view from Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona.
Integrated Sports Media will distribute “Iron Boy MMA 7” live in the United States, starting at 11 p.m. ATQUE / 8 p.m. PT, on cable, satellite and internet pay-per-view via DirecTV, iN Demand, Vubiquity, and DISH, in addition to being available worldwide on the FITE app and website (www.FITE.tv), nam id solum price $19.95.
“We are very excited to partner with Integrated Sports Media onIron Boy MMA 7,” dixit Roberto Vargas, President of Iron Boy Promotions. “This card is the most talent-packed MMA card we’ve presented, and we can’t wait to share with the rest of the country what Arizona MMA fans have already experienced – explosivae, quality fights from some of the best fighters in the country.”
Arizona and New Mexico have developed a bitter fighting rivalry over the past few years. The main event continues that trend as featherweightRandy Steinke (17-11-1, TB: 1-0-0), fighting out of Glendale, THE, suscipit, Frank Baca (16-4-0, IB: 0-0-0), de Albuquerque, NM.
Randy Steinke
Frank Baca
The 31-year-old Steinke has been a professional MMA fighter for the 10 annis, including fights in the World Series of Fighting, Combates America and King Of The Cage. Braca is a King of the Cage veteran who most recently fought in Bellator.
Mesa, Arizona featherweight “Rollin'” Noland Hyland (3-1-0, IB: 2-0-0) meets Idaho’sAnthony Pagliaro (3-5-0, IB: 0-0-0), while featherweightRoman “El Gallito” Salazar(10-6-0, TB: 0-0-0), of Queen Creek, THE, faces Colombian invaderDumar “Coraon de Leon” Roa (11-6-0, TYB: 0-0-0).
Arizona featherweightAndres “Ultor” Ponce (2-5-1, IB: 0-1-0) throws-down withBoostyare “Bullit” Nefarios (2-2-0, IB: 0-1-0), de Las Vegas, Nevada.
The main card features several pro-debut fighters such as Arizona bantamweightJunior Cortez vs. New Mexico’sFallon Ring. Arizona featherweightDaniel Peru (1-0-0, IB: 1-0-0) is matched against pro-debutingBrendon Trujillo, of New Mexico, while heavyweightWaldo Cortezmakes his pro debut against fellow ArizonianDarrell “Superman” Denslow (0-1-0, IB: 0-0-0). Undefeated bantamweightKevin “Quicksand” Natividad (3-0-0, IB: 0-0-0), Tempe, THE, puts his perfect record on the line versus Las Vegas’ Fard “The Messenger” Muhammad.
Six amateur MMA matches are scheduled to open the “Iron Boy MMA 7” card.
Nullam at sunt precii $55.00, $40.00 atque $30.00 and available to purchase online atwww.ironboy.comor at the Celebrity Theatre box office.
PRIMUS DE LIBERO: Rumford, Maine (August 3, 2017) – New Mike Hansen’s dreams of becoming a mixed martial arts (MMA) champion were admittedly premature. Then they were derailed for nearly a decade by a combination of injuries, service to his country and fatherhood.
The teenage ambition that made Hansen believe he could conquer the world, or at least his little corner of it, never went away, quamquam.
Twenty-nine months after resurrecting his career with New England Fights, Rumford’s Hansen (5-5) finally gets that coveted title shot. He will battle hometown favorite C.J. Ewer (2-0) at “NEF 30: Rumble in Bangor” thisSaturday, August 5at Cross Insurance Center for the organization’s vacant middleweight title. The card starts at7 p.m.
Hansen, uersusque 32 on July 21, says the opportunity fulfills an early goal while living and fighting in Massachusetts back in 2005.
“I was 19 years old and thought I had a great head on my shoulders, so I called out the (World Fighting League) champion at the time, who was John “Doomsday” Howard,” Hansen said. “I said that I wanted that belt and that I was coming after him. Knowing what I know now, he probably would have whipped the (crap) out of me.”
Howard went on to compete at the highest level with Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) and is now a veteran of 37 journeys into the cage. Hansen’s career path had many more stops, starts and detours.
He started with six amateur wins out of the gate and won his initial professional foray with ease. The title fight will take place on the eve of the 12thanniversary of that pro debut.
“Being 19 annorum, I was kind of cocky. I remember telling my dad nobody could compete with my wrestling,” Hansen said. “Back then, MMA hadn’t really evolved. The wrestler had the advantage over the jiu-jitsu guy. You could just hold a guy down and snuggle and hug and sweat out a win.”
After his first knockout loss, Hansen promised his father he would quit the sport. But he had already caught the fever, and his confidence was sky high.
Hansen was training for a bout at Laconia, New Hampshire’s bike week when he suffered a broken ankle two weeks before the weigh-in. He recovered and was in training for another fight when he was stabbed and beaten with a baseball bat in what could have been a fatal case of mistaken identity.
He remarkably walked out of the hospital a day later and soon embarked on a more structured path as a combat engineer in the United States Army. While enlisted, Hansen suffered a serious shoulder injury. Even after retirement, a return to the MMA cage seemed unlikely.
Then came a fateful call from an old friend and neighbor, NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson, and the rest is history. Hansen has carved out a reputation as one who will take on any opponent in any weight class at any time, and perhaps there is no greater example than the Ewer matchup.
“The belts are vacant at 170, 185 atque 205 (libras). I can make weight for all those if I have enough time,” Hansen said. “I guess Peterson thought it made sense to kill two birds with one stone and put me in with Ewer at 185. Six weeks ago is when they called me, and at first they asked me about 170. I really liked the fight, but the weight didn’t make sense. I was sitting on the couch at 248.”
Hansen has spent most of his time in the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions. He was glaringly outweighed in his last bout, a February loss to Ras Hylton.
Only once previously has he downsized to the middleweight threshold, a February 2016 loss to Zach Elkins. In the case of Ewer, who has done most of his work at 170, meeting in the middle might play to Hansen’s advantage.
“We’re two different styles of fighters. He’s coming up in weight and I’m coming down,” Hansen said. “He’s never been in the cage against anybody with my kind of power. When I’m hitting somebody at 200 libras, I’m hitting them with the force of somebody who’s 245. My opponents have told me they’ve never been hit harder by a guy my size. I feel like it’s my fight to lose, as long as I don’t make any mistakes and go in there with the stamina I need to have.”
Hansen is confident against Ewer, who had a 5-2 amateur record with notable wins over Ricky Dexter and Crowsneck Boutin before turning pro. He knows better, tamen, than to underestimate any fighter out of the Young’s MMA stable.
“I feel like I’m the more talented fighter and that I have more tools in my tool box. But I know Young’s MMA is a great camp and that he trains with a lot of great guys,” Hansen said. “Chris (Iuvenes) finds a way to set you up to fight the fight you need to win. Look at the Pat Kelly fight (against Rafael Velado). They prepared to turn that into a kickboxing fight, and then he went out and did just that.”
Hansen has seen his name rise into the New England top-five conversation. Most of the fighters ahead of him have experience with larger promotions.
He said a win over Ewer could inspire him to travel and continuing to pursue the dream. That’s consistent with the personality he has shown through this second act of his career.
“I’ve been fighting the top-level guys in NEF for about the past two-and-a-half years,” Hansen said, “I always told Peterson to set me up with a guy who’s in the top 10 or just above me. I wanted to work my way up.”
From his days as a high school state wrestling champion at Mountain Valley High School, Hansen flaunted a distaste for winning that served him well.
In those days, he wore a T-shirt that read, ‘Nobody remembers second place,’ with four gold medals beneath it. Hansen’s attitude remains, but the mainstay of Berserker’s MMA out of the Greater Rumford Community Center noted that it is never only about himself.
“I want to win the title for all the people who have supported me and trained with me in Rumford. I also want it for my gym. We’ve done this three times in the amateurs and now we’re going to do it with a pro,"He said. "(GRCC is) just a little on-profit that helps people pursue their dreams. I’d love to hang that belt on the wall. It shows people in the community what we’re capable of here, and hopefully it gets them interested and grows the gym. That’s my goal.”
Tickets for “NEF 30: Rumble in Bangor” are available atCrossInsuranceCenter.com. For more information on the fight card and event updates, please visit NewEnglandFights.com.
About New England Pugnat
New England Pugnat ("NEF") haec pugna est turba promotiones. Maxima est enim res habet, ut missionem NEF Maine pugnantium scriptor fans pariter. Team, exsecutiva NEF scriptor sports procuratio habet rotensus experientia certaminis, rerum productionem, necessitudinum, venalicium, vendo et legal.