Tag Archives: NEF 34

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

CRESPO OUT, MURPHY IN AGAINST ARNOLD IN NEF TITLE FIGHT

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Portland, Maine (May 31, 2018) – Earlier this week, New England Fights (NEF) officials were informed that Mike Crespo had been injured during his fight camp and would be unable to compete at “NEF 34: Home of the Brave” on June 16 in Portland.  Crespo had originally been scheduled to face Kam Arnold (3-0) for the vacant NEF MMA Amateur Bantamweight Championship.  Killian Murphy (1-0) has stepped up to replace Crespo and take on Arnold at Aura for the 135-pound title in a scheduled five-round affair.

 

 

 

Murphy made his debut at “NEF 33” last month in Portland with an impressive victory over Krishna Scott (0-1) via first-round technical knockout.  He is no stranger to the winner’s circle.  Murphy is a former Maine state wrestling champion, having captured a class-A title for Marshwood High School in Elliott in 2015.  Today, he trains with Nostos MMA in Somersworth, New Hampshire under the guidance of UFC signee, and former NEF Professional Lightweight Champion, Devin Powell (8-3).  Murphy was originally scheduled to compete against Gabriel Diaz of Florida at “NEF 34,” but Diaz pulled out of that fight earlier this month.

 

 

 

“It’s an exciting turn of events to end up fighting for the 135-pound belt,” said Murphy. “The goal when I started this journey was to win that belt – and I am thankful for this opportunity. I want to thank NEF, my coaches, my teammates and supporters. June 16th, I’m taking that belt home to Nostos.”

 

 

 

Perhaps no other member of the NEF roster has had the run in the last twelve months that Kam Arnold has had.  He has cut through three opponents in the first round like a hot knife through butter including an eleven-second knockout of veteran David Thompson last month at “NEF 33.”  Arnold is a member of Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu of Lewiston, Maine.

 

 

 

“First off, I just want to say ‘thank you’ to Killian for accepting this fight, and also to Matt Peterson for finding me another opponent,” said Arnold when reached for comment. “Killian’s an up-and-coming, exciting fighter – and I’m excited to clash with him. I know he’s going to come ready and he’s going to be looking to shake up this division and make a statement. I’m going to continue to work hard, make an adjustment to the strategy and go balls-to-the-wall from there. This will be a great fight – and I will be NEF’s next 135-pound champ.”

 

 

 

“Nothing excites me more than when an athlete steps up on short notice and seizes an opportunity to grab glory – and that’s what Killian Murphy has done by agreeing to take this bout against an undefeated animal like Kam Arnold,” declared NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson. “Kam has looked unstoppable since he debuted less than a year ago – and now we get to see him test himself against a decorated wrestler for a chance at NEF gold. As if this card wasn’t already summer fireworks – now we get to see two undefeated studs try to knock each other off over the course of a five-round championship fight. It doesn’t get any better than this!”

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

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

BANTAMWEIGHT REMATCH SIGNED FOR NEF 34 IN PORTLAND

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Portland, Maine (April 30, 2018) – New England Fights (NEF) returns to Aura in Portland, Maine with its next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 34: Home of the Brave,” on Saturday night, June 16, 2018.  Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the addition of a professional bantamweight bout to the card.  Ernesto Ornelas (3-7) has signed to face Carl Langston (0-1) at a fight weight of 135-pounds.

 

 

 

The bout will be a rematch of their fight in Portland earlier this month.  Ornelas and Langston initially met at “NEF 33” on April 14 at Aura. Ornelas, a member of Portland’s The Choi Institute, put on an impressive showing for the duration of three rounds on his way to a unanimous decision win on the judges’ scorecards.  The victory was Ornelas’ first in the NEF cage with four previous attempts since the promotion’s inception in February 2012.  (He holds a record of 1-0 as a professional in the NEF boxing ring as well.)  Not only is Ornelas predicting another win over Langston on June 16 – he promises to finish his foe this time.

 

 

 

“Carl said his nerves got the better of him that night. No, they didn’t – I got the better of him, once I stepped into that cage and took the center and looked him in the eye,” said Ornelas imperatively.  “I saw fear. A true fighter has no fear. June 16, he will see what a true fighter looks like, as he looks up at me from the flat of his back.”

 

 

 

The “NEF 33” bout with Ornelas was Langston’s pro debut after a lengthy amateur career that spanned 16 fights and more than four years.  Many of his friends and family had turned out for the event in his hometown of Portland.  And while Langston did force Ornelas to the scorecards, the Young’s MMA member was disappointed in his own performance, blaming the loss on nerves.  He immediately asked NEF matchmakers for a rematch against Ornelas on the June 16 Portland card.

 

 

 

“I couldn’t be more excited about getting this rematch,” declared Langston. “I asked for this rematch the same night I lost to Ernie. I just wasn’t me that night. It was my first pro fight and my nerves got to me. I just didn’t feel like myself in there. That being said, I still took him to a decision being that he had nine pro fights and I was making my pro debut. He still doesn’t bring the skill set and talent that I bring to the cage. This was a big mistake for Ernie to accept this rematch. He got lucky the first time, and I promise I will finish him this time. I know what it feels like being in there with him now, and I will make him fold without a doubt in my mind. He’s a mouthpiece, and I’m going to silence him and his groupies.” 

 

 

 

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.

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights, women's MMA

THIRD WOMEN’S MMA FIGHT ADDED TO NEF 34 CARD IN PORTLAND

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Portland, Maine (April 27, 2018) – New England Fights (NEF) returns to Aura in Portland, Maine with its next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 34: Home of the Brave,” on Saturday night, June 16, 2018.  Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the addition of an amateur women’s catchweight bout to the card.  Chelsea Tucker (0-2) will return to the NEF cage to take on the debuting Glory Watson (0-0) at a fight weight of 130-pounds.

 

 

 

Chelsea Tucker, a member of First Class MMA of Brunswick, Maine, is a native of Williamsburg, Virginia.  She has served her country as a veteran of the United States Coast Guard.  Tucker has twice entered the NEF cage to compete in MMA bouts.  She lost to Sarah Matulis (1-0) via TKO last fall at “NEF 31.”  She returned to meet Catie Denning (1-0) in February at “NEF 32.”  Tucker forced Denning to a decision, but lost on the judges’ scorecards.  Earlier this month, Tucker entered the NEF cage for a third time to grapple Carol Linn Powell (0-1) on the opener of “NEF 33.”  Tucker and Powell went to a five-minute draw. 

 

 

 

“I look forward to stepping into the cage with Glory,” said Tucker.  “It’s always an honor to step into the cage with anyone who puts in the time and work. She comes from a very good gym and so do I.  I have some great sparring partners and coaches. I’m excited to show what I have learned every time I make an appearance.”

 

 

 

“NEF 34” will be the debut of Glory Watson in the MMA cage.  Watson is a product of Young’s MMA of Bangor, Maine where she is a teammate of Catie Denning who defeated Chelsea Tucker earlier this year.  She is eager to test the skills she has picked up from her team in the cage this June.

 

 

 

“I’m looking forward to stepping into the cage to represent Young’s MMA,” said Watson.  “I love this sport, and am excited to show what I can do. I am thankful to the NEF for this opportunity to put the skills I have learned to the test.”

 

 

 

 

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.