Monthly Archives: October 2013
Undefeated CJ Ewer Looks for Fourth Straight Victory in Lewiston on November 9
[NEF Press Release]
Lewiston, Maine (October 31, 2013) –New England Fights Mixed Martial Arts (NEF MMA) returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee on November 9, 2013 with the fight promotion’s “NEF XI” event. Among other contests, the fight card will feature a 165-pound catchweight amateur bout between CJ Ewer (3-0) and Wayne Ahlquist (2-5).
“It’s such an overused cliché in the sport, but CJ Ewer is a ‘beast’ in every sense of the word,” said NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson. “He’s a powerhouse, and he’s got a bright future ahead of him in the fight game. And he’s with the team that can take him to the top.”
That team is Bangor, Maine’s Young’s MMA. Under the guidance of head coach Chris Young, the Young’s camp has produced NEF MMA professional stars such as “THE” Ryan Sanders (5-4), Damon “The Omen” Owens (2-0), Bruce “Pretty Boy” Boyington (3-6) and current Maine State Featherweight Champion Ray “All Business” Wood (4-0).
“I enjoy completing in the NEF,” said Ewer, “and feel very fortunate to be able to have a gym like Young’s MMA in my corner.”
Having made his debut this past July in Bangor at “NEF VIII Nations Collide: Canadian Invasion,” Ewer has been on a tear through the NEF MMA amateur ranks, racking up three victories with the promotion in a span of just two months. The first victory, in Bangor, was a unanimous decision win over Steve Erland (1-2). It was a close fight that saw both athletes trying to grind out a victory on the mat.
Just three weeks after his successful debut, Ewer returned to the cage at “NEF IX” to defeat Steven Fontaine (0-1) in Biddeford, Maine, this time via second round submission. Not one to rest on his laurels, Ewer was back in the NEF MMA cage a few weeks later at “NEF X” where he chalked-up an impressive second-round technical knockout (TKO) victory over the always-tough Crowsneck Boutin (3-5). On November 9 in Lewiston, Ewer will look to make Ahlquist his fourth victim in as many months. Ahlquist is a veteran of the New England amateur ranks, fighting out of Lakes Region Vale Tudo in Laconia, New Hampshire.
“From the footage I watched, he seems to be a really tough kid who is not afraid to get in there and do battle,” said Ewer of Ahlquist.
NEF MMA’s next event, “NEF XI,” is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 9, 2013 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine with a bell time of 7:00 pm. Maine State MMA Bantamweight Champion Paul Gorman (9-8) is scheduled to defend his title that night against Tateki Matsuda (8-4). John Ortolani (7-7) will meet Tony Christodoulou (9-4) for the vacant Maine State Lightweight Championship. Tickets start at just $10 and are on sale now at http://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 http://www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF MMA videos at http://www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”
Dom Cofone Makes Big Cut to Face Vovka Clay in Lewiston
Lewiston, Maine (October 25, 2013) – When New England Fights Mixed Martial Arts (NEF MMA) returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee on November 9, 2013 with the fight promotion’s “NEF XI” event, it will do so with one of the most-anticipated amateur contests of the year. In that bout, “Dangerous” Dom “Hands of Stone” Cofone (4-2) will battle Vovka “KGB” Clay (5-2) in the featherweight division.
“In addition to putting on high-profile pro fights over the course of the past two years, NEF MMA has also put together some very high-profile amateur bouts,” said NEF MMA co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo. “This match between Dom and Vovka is the perfect way for us to close out the amateur portion of our 2013 season.”
Cofone, a native of Westbrook, Maine, trains out of Balanced Ground MMA in Windham, Maine under the tutelage of Nate Charles (1-6). Prior to joining the camp, he had a strong background in wrestling. In 2001, Cofone won a Class A State Championship in wrestling for Westbrook High School. He amassed an impressive record of 117-28 and placed multiple times at the state championships over the course of his high school career. Cofone entered MMA competition in the 170-pound welterweight division in early 2013. Since that time, he has made the weight cut down to the 155-pound lightweight division, and will now make the cut all the way down to the 145-pound featherweight division for his matchup with Clay on November 9.
“It’s a great honor to compete against such a tough school and a very skilled opponent like Vovka,” said Cofone. “This is going to be the best amateur fight on the card and I’m looking forward to winning a lot of fights at 145-pounds. Hope everyone can make it out for a great night of fights!”
Clay is a product of Professor John Fain’s Team Triumph in Nashua, New Hampshire. He is currently the number-seven ranked amateur featherweight in the northeast. Coming out of one of the top Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) schools in New England, it should come as no surprise that four of Clay’s five wins have come by way of submission. It was a submission win over perennial NEF MMA featherweight Damon Owens (2-0 pro) at the end of Owens’ amateur career earlier this year that earned Clay the respect of NEF MMA executives and Maine fans. That bout was Clay’s only previous appearance in the NEF MMA cage.
“These are two competitors coming close to the end of their respective amateur careers,” said NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson. “They’re both looking to go out with a bang before turning pro. It’s an interesting matchup on so many levels. I’m really looking forward to seeing just how dangerous Dom Cofone will be at 145-pounds!”
NEF MMA’s next event, “NEF XI,” is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 9, 2013 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine with a bell time of 7:00 pm. Maine State MMA Bantamweight Champion Paul Gorman (9-8) is scheduled to defend his title that night against Tateki Matsuda (8-4). John Ortolani (7-7) will meet Tony Christodoulou (9-4) for the vacant Maine State Lightweight Championship. Tickets start at just $10 and are on sale now at http://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 http://www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF MMA videos at http://www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”
Winterport, Maine’s Jeremy Tyler in Feature Amateur Bout on November 9
[NEF Press Release]
Lewiston, Maine (October 24, 2013) – New England Fights Mixed Martial Arts (NEF MMA) returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee on November 9, 2013 with the fight promotion’s eleventh event. Aptly titled “NEF XI,” the fight card is currently scheduled to feature six professional bouts and eleven amateur bouts. In the amateur mix will be Jeremy Tyler (2-1) as he meets Pat Reardon (4-1) in a lightweight contest.
Twenty-seven year-old Jeremy Tyler began his MMA career last year, following older brother Jarrod into Marcus Davis’s Team Irish camp in Brewer, Maine. No stranger to athletic competition, Jeremy had excelled in both football and track and field before playing semi-pro football. Within just a few months, he was ready to step in the cage for his first full-contact MMA contest. On May 18, 2013 Tyler made his debut taking on NEF MMA regular Tollison Lewis (4-8) of Balanced Ground MMA. He lost the bout by submission in the second round, but the loss would not derail Tyler’s dreams of making a name for himself in the sport.
While holding down the fort at Deb’s Variety in Winterport, one of two local businesses owned and operated by his family, Tyler got right back into the swing of things at Team Irish, looking to avenge the loss. Less than two months later, Tyler and Lewis would meet in a rematch, this time in Jeremy’s backyard, at NEF VIII “Nations Collide: Canadian Invasion” in Bangor, Maine. With many of his family and friends in attendance cheering him on, Jeremy Tyler defeated Tollison Lewis that night by submission in the second round.
Last month, Tyler had his third amateur bout at “NEF X” in Lewiston. Once again, Tyler came out with his hand raised in victory, this time over Shawn Bang (1-1). And, also once again, that win came by way of submission. At “NEF XI” Tyler is back in the cage to face Pat Reardon (4-1) of Young’s MMA in Bangor, Maine. The two lightweights will continue a rivalry that has raged between Young’s and Team Irish in the NEF MMA cage for over a year.
“Marcus, the team and my wife have all challenged and pushed me hard in this fight camp,” said Jeremy Tyler when reached for comment. “I have been very blessed to have such a great support system for my fights this year and truly thank everyone from the bottom of my heart. I’m really looking forward to representing Team Irish on the 9th.”
Reardon has had much success on smaller shows around the northeast prior to his pending NEF MMA debut on November 9, and now he will have the opportunity to prove himself on New England’s largest stage for combat sports. Not having competed since joining Young’s MMA a few months ago, fans should expect to see a much more disciplined and well-versed Reardon under the guidance of Young’s trainers who are regarded as some of the best in the region. Reardon’s only previous defeat has come at the hands of top prospect Taylor Trahan (3-1).
NEF MMA’s next event, “NEF XI,” is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 9, 2013 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine with a bell time of 7:00 pm. Maine State MMA Bantamweight Champion Paul Gorman (9-8) is scheduled to defend his title that night against Tateki Matsuda (8-4). John Ortolani (7-7) will meet Tony Christodoulou (9-4) for the vacant Maine State Lightweight Championship. Tickets start at just $10 and are on sale now at http://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 http://www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF MMA videos at http://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 Mixed Martial Arts (“NEF MMA”) is a Mixed Martial Arts promotions company. NEF MMA’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF MMA’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.
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