NEF 22 4/23/2016 LIVE REVIEW

We made the hike up north in just the nick of time.  The weather is nice outside so it made the drive much more pleasant.  NEF is set for 16 fights total tonight as one fight dropped off, the Ken Dunn fight.  Crowsneck Boutin was in the hospital so he has been switched out in his boxing fight and Jarod Lawton has stepped up to fill in!  Pete Czymbor is the host of the night and the refs are John English, Kevin MacDonald and Alan Lau.  The NEF ring girls are looking beautiful and did I mention she sings the national anthem with her twin sister?  Very solid crowd here at NEF tonight.  Follow along as I recap the night.

140 AM Angela Young 0-1 (Young’s) vs Hannah Sparrell 1-0 (First Class)

They clinch up and Angela gets the takedown via trip.  He is in half guard and trying to free her leg to move to full mount.  She gets it and Hannah gives up her back.  Angela hook the legs and is trying to get the finish.  Hannah fights it and gets some space.  She turns and is now on top in half guard.  She gets in a few punches before the round ends.

Young 10-9

Rd 2:  They are swinging away at the start and they clinch up against the cage.  Hannah has the outside and Angela reverses.  Hannah trips her and gets the takedown.  She has the side and gets in a few punches from the top.

Young 10-9

Rd 3:  Once again they come out swinging.  Angela pushes Hannah up against the cage looking for the takedown.  Not much action and the ref breaks it up.  Hannah is working her leg kicks and Angela ties her up by pressing her up against the cage.

Sparrell 10-9

Angela Young defeats Hannah Sparrell via unanimous decision.

265 AM Matt Glover 1-0 (Berserkers) vs Ras Hylton 1-0 (First Class)

They clinch and Glover gets the takedown.  He has Ras’s back and Ras rolls and pushes him off.  They are back standing and swinging away.  Matt connects with a right that sends Ras back to the cage.  Matt gets the takedown and is on top in guard.  Matt gets in a few hammerfists.  He moves to the side and is looking for an arm triangle.  Ras sweeps and is now on top working the side.  Ras is getting in some knees to the side as the round ends.

Glover 10-9

Rd 2:  Ras is working his kicks.  He goes up high and it connects clean.  Matt is rocked and falls back out flash knockout.

Ras Hylton defeats Matt Glover via ko (head kick) at 35 seconds in Rd 2.

155 AM Cory Trial 1-2 (Ruthless) vs Angelo Rizzitello 0-0 (Shatterproof)

Cory is looking for the knockout.  He connects with a few punches and Angelo goes to the mat trying to bait him down.  They press up against the cage and Cory gets in a couple of punches to the body.  Cory connects with a few more punches and Angelo goes down to the mat.  He covers the side and gets in a few hammerfists before letting him back up.  Angelo connects with a punch before the round ends.

Trial 10-9

Rd 2:  Angelo connects with a front kick.  Angelo gets a nice takedown and the crowd roars.  Cory rolls him over and they are back to their feet.  Not  much action and the ref breaks them up.  Cory has a guillotine as the round ends.

Angelo 10-9

Rd 3:  Angelo gets the takedown and is on top in half guard.  He postures up and gets in a few hammerfists.  The crowd erupts!  He moves to full mount and is getting in more punches as the round ends.

Angelo 10-9

Cory Trial defeats Angelo Rizzitello via split decision.

265 AM Dave Smith 2-1 (Berserkers) vs Nick Gulliver 2-0 (First Class)

They come out swinging.  Nick catches him with a few punches.  Nick overpowers him with some more punches and Smith turns his back to the cage.

Nick Gulliver defeats Dave Smith via tko stoppage to strikes at 28 seconds in Rd 1.

145 AM TITLE Caleb Hall 6-3 (Choi) vs Erik Nelson 2-2 (CMBJJ)

Caleb starts the round off with a pair of leg kicks.  Caleb presses Erik up against the cage looking for the takedown.  Caleb slams him down and Erik bounces right back up.  They collide and Caleb gets the takedown again.  Erik works his way up and gets in a knee to the body.  Caleb takes him down again and moves to full mount.  Erik bucks him off and takes the side in the scramble.  They scramble and are back to their feet.  Erik gets in a knee at the end.

Hall 10-9

Rd 2:  Erik gets in a knee to the body from the clinch.  Hall is looking for the double leg and gets its.  He moves to full mount and gets in some hammerfists.  He gets pushed off and works the d’arce for the tap.

Caleb Hall defeats Erik Nelson via tapout to d’arce choke  at 2 minutes in Rd 2.

145 PRO Aaron Lacey 0-0 (Young’s) vs Derek Shorey 3-5 (Shatterproof)

Derek goes for a spinning backfists and closes the distance.  He gets the takedown and is working the half guard.  Aaron works his way up and gets the takedown.  He is working the side and looking for some ground and pound.  Lacey works a d’arce for the tap.

Aaron Lacey defeats Derek Shorey via tapout to d’arce in the middle of Rd 1.

155 PRO Zenon Herrera 0-3 (Independent) vs Tollison Lewis 0-5 (CMBJJ)

Zenon works a takedown and Tollison works an armbar from the bottom for the tap.

Tollison Lewis defeats Zenon Herrera via tapout to armbar at 28 seconds in Rd 1.

140 PRO BOXING Brandon Berry 11-1 (West Forks) vs James Lester 10-9 (Kronk)

This fight resulted in a majority Draw.

150 PRO Josh Harvey 0-0 (Young’s) vs Matt Denning 2-1 (CMBJJ)

Josh starts us off with a kick.  They clinch and Matt is looking for armbar.  Josh slams him to the mat.  He looks for the leg but can’t get it.   Josh goes for a triangle and locks it up for the tap.

Josh Harvey defeats Matt Denning via tapout to triangle at 2:00 in Rd 1.

205 PRO Mike Hansen 3-3 (Berserkers) vs Jesse Baughman 0-1 (Link)

Both fighters are being cautious.  Jesse clinches up and they slam into the cage.  They break and Jesse connects with with an uppercut as they break.  Matt gets hit in the cup and takes a minute.  Next is another cup shot by a knee.  A point is deducted, well done John English.  They collide and Jesse takes his back looking for rear naked choke.  Mike weathers the storm and turns into it.  Jesse fires some shots from the bottom and the crowd goes nuts.  Matt has the side after the scramble and works an armbar for the tap.

Mike Hansen defeats Jesse Baughman via tapout to armbar  at 4:21 in Rd 1.  Mike Hansen will be facing Brendan Battles for NEF on May 14th.

155 PRO TITLE Devin Powell 5-1 (Nostos) vs Jesse Erickson 6-4 (CMBJJ)

Devin goes high and Jesse fires right back and Devin goes to the mat.  Jesse is kicking him from standing.  Devin is looking for the upkick and just misses.  Jesse lets him up  and gets the takedown via trip.  Jesse is bleeding a little and he gets untangled and is back up.  He lets Devin up and Devin unloads on Jesse.  Jesse  goes down and Devin is firing elbows looking for the finish.  Jesse goes down again and Devin gets the ref stoppage.

Devin Powell defeats Jesse Erickson via ref stoppage to strikes at 4:00 in Rd 1.

265 AM Joe Krech 0-1 (Independent) vs Bryce Bamford 1-0 (First Class)

Bryce closes the distance and slams Joe to the mat.  He is in half guard and posturing up laying down bombs.  He moves to full mount and gets the stoppage after some hammerfists.

Bryce Bamford defeats Joe Krech via technical knockout to strikes at 1:48 in Rd 1.

CATCH AM Jake Denham 1-0 (Lawton BJJ) vs Ryan Daley 0-2 (Team Irish)

Jake rushes in and gets the hip toss takedown.  Jake slammed him to the mat twice and then Ryan gets the sweep.  Ryan postures up and drops some hammerfists.  He is looking for the stoppage but runs out of time.

Daley 10-9

Rd 2:  Ryan rushes in and lets out a barrage of strikes and the ref stops the fight.

Ryan Daley defeats Jake Denham via tko stoppage to strikes at 10 seconds in Rd 2.

170 AM Tom Burgess 1-0 (Berserkers) vs Alex Payson 1-0 (First Class)

Alex starts us off with a leg kick.  Tom manhandles him and tosses Alex down.  He gets in a solid punch as Alex stands up.  Alex gets in a head kick and they clinch up against the cage.  Tom does a jumping kick and falls to the mat.  They both work their way up and are swinging away again.  Alex gets a takedown and a punch as the round ends.

Payson 10-9

Rd 2:  Alex gets in an inside leg kick.  He gets in few more and Tom counters with a punch.  Tom is going high with his kicks.  Tom connects with a right that stuns Alex.  He connects with one more that sends Alex to the mat.

Tom Burgess defeats Alex Payson via knockout (punch) at 1:49 in Rd 2.

145 AM Glenn Kasabian 0-0 (Choi) vs Matt Marshall 2-5 (Team Last Day)

They are swinging and Matt connects with a right that briefly stuns Glenn.  They are back to slugging away.  Matt connects with another right sends Glenn back.  Glenn looks for a takedown but can’t get it.  They break and he connects with a right that sends Matt down.  He finishes him off with some ground and pound for the ref stoppage.

Glen Kasabian defeats Matt Marshall via ref stoppage to strikes at 2:45 in Rd 1.

FIGHT OF THE NIGHT:  Powell vs. Erickson
KO/TKO OF THE NIGHT: Ras Hylton and his head kick KO
SUB OF THE NIGHT:   Lacey D’arce

Next NEF that is taking place in Maine is June 18th NEF 24 as NEF 23 is taking place in Hyannis Mass as they invade Massachusetts for the first time.  It was a solid night of fights and the fight fans were loud in the Colisee.  Even though the card was shorter, that didn’t stop the NEF fans from coming out.  The show started at 7pm and the last fight ended by 10:45PM so people had plenty of time to make it home for the UFC main event.  One thing I want to mention is that during the Cory Trial/Rizzatello fight, John English took a punch to the face.  I missed it but I definitely want to go back and watch the stream to see that.  He told me it woke him up.  All of our photos will be uploaded to our facebook.  Special thanks to NEF and the crew for their hospitality, it is always worth the trip to see the fights and the NEF family.  No way would I just sit home to watch the stream and miss the NEF experience.

NEF 22 4/23/2016 TEASER

NEF returns with their 22nd show this Saturday April 23rd at the Androscoggin Colisee in Lewiston Maine.  This event will be a pro and amateur mixed martial arts event mixed with a couple of pro boxing fights hybrid style.  NEF is also doing what they did last time and having the main event fights moved into earlier in the night and then having a post prelim fights at the end.  As with any card there were some fights that dropped off and NEF is down to 17 fights.  The doors will be opening at 6pm and the first fight is set to start at 7:00pm.   This should be the final fight card order below so follow along as I preview each fight minus the boxing fights.

140 AM Angela Young 0-1 (Young’s) vs Hannah Sparrell 1-0 (First Class)

First fight of the night is Angela Young against Hannah Sparrell at a catch weight of 140 lbs.  Young trains out of Young’s MMA and comes into this fight with an 0-1 record.  Angela’s first fight was against Rachel Reinheimer in which she lost a unanimous decision.  She is ready to return and looking to get her first amateur debut of her career.  Her opponent is Hannah Sparrell and she trains with First Class MMA.  Hannah comes into this fight with a 1-0 record with a decision win over Kira Innocenti.  This is going to a great first fight as the ladies always bring the crowd on their feet.  I see this fight being a stand up battle and coming down to a decision.

155 AM Ken Dunn 0-3 (W. ME Budo Arts) vs Frank Johanson 0-1 (CMBJJ)

Next match up is between Ken Dunn and Frank Johanson at 155 lbs amateur.  Dunn trains with W. ME Budo Arts and comes into this fight with an 0-3 record with 2 losses by ko/tko and 1 by submission.  His opponent is Frank Johanson and he trains with Central Maine BJJ.  Frank comes into this fight with an 0-1 record with 1 loss by ko/tko to strikes.  As you can see both fighters are looking for their first W and fortunately for one of them, they will get it this Saturday!

265 AM Matt Glover 1-0 (Berserkers) vs Ras Hylton 1-0 (First Class)

In a heavyweight match up Matt Glover will take on Ras Hylton in an amateur battle.  Glover trains with Berserkers and he comes into this fight with a 1-0 record with 1 win by ko/tko over Gravin Guillen at the last NEF show.  His opponent is Ras Hylton and he trains with First Class MMA.  He also comes into this fight with a 1-0 record with 1 win by ko/tko.  As you can see both fighters won in similar fashion by ko/tko to strikes and they were all in the first round.  I am curious to see how Glover handles Ras’s big reach and I can just about guarantee that this fight will not be going to a decision with these finishers.

155 AM Cory Trial 1-2 (Ruthless) vs Angelo Rizzitello 0-0 (Shatterproof)

At 155 lbs amateur Cory Trial will take on Angelo Rizzitello.  Trial trains with Ruthless MMA and comes into this fight with a 1-2 record with his big win being a 7 second knockout.  For his 2 losses, he lost 1 by ko/tko and 1 by submission.  His opponent is Angelo Rizzitello and he trains with Team Shatterproof.  Angelo will be making his amateur debut with NEF this weekend.  This one is a really good match up as both of these teams are brawlers and explode right from the get go with lots of energy.

175 PRO BOXING Crowsneck Boutin 0-0-1 (Choi) vs Brandon Montella 3-0 (The Way)


265 AM Dave Smith 2-1 (Berserkers) vs Nick Gulliver 2-0 (First Class)

In another heavyweight battle Dave Smith takes on Nick Gulliver.  Smith trains with Team Berserkers and comes into this fight with a 2-1 record with 1 win by ko/tko and 1 win by submission.  His sole loss came by a ko/tko against Brendan Battles.  His opponent is Nick Gulliver and he trains with First Class MMA.  Nick comes into this fight with a 2-0 record with 1 win by ko/tko and 1 win by submission.  Again, another great match up as both fighters have wins the exact same way which should make for another solid fight.

145 AM TITLE Caleb Hall 6-3 (Choi) vs Erik Nelson 2-2 (CMBJJ)

Next up is the 145 amateur title fight between Caleb Hall and Erik Nelson.  Hall trains out of Choi’s Institute and and comes into this fight with a 6-3 record.  In the win column, he has 3 wins by ko/tko and 3 wins by submission.  For his losses, he has 1 by ko/tko, 1 by sub and 1 by decision.  His opponent is Erik Nelson and he trains with CMBJJ.  Erik comes into this fight with a 2-2 record with one win by submission and 1 win by decision.  For his 2 losses, he lost both of them by way of decision.  This is a solid title fight as both fighters have earned it fighting for NEF multiple times and are at the top of the division for NEF but I give the slight edge to Hall due to his extra fight experience.

145 PRO Aaron Lacey 0-0 (Young’s) vs Derek Shorey 3-5 (Shatterproof)

In the first pro fight of the night Aaron Lacey will take on Derek Shorey.  Lacey is of course from Young’s MMA and will be making his long awaited pro debut.  As an amateur he went 6-1 with 4 finishes in which 3 of them were by submission.  His opponent is Derek Shorey and he trains with Shatterproof.  Shorey comes into this fight with a 3-5 record with 2 wins by ko/tko and 1 win by submission.  For his losses, he lost 1 by ko/tko and 4 by way of submission.  Shorey in this fight has the 8 fight experience in the pro division over Lacey.  However, Lacey has 7 amateur fights under his belt to get him ready in being a pro and I feel he will adjust very smoothly.

155 PRO Zenon Herrera 0-3 (Independent) vs Tollison Lewis 0-5 (CMBJJ)

Second pro fight of the night is between Zenon Herrera against Tollison Lewis.  Zenon is an independent fighter who comes into this fight with an 0-3 record.  For his losses, he lost 1 by ko/tko and 2 by submission.  His opponent is Tollison Lewis and he trains with CMBJJ.  Lewis comes into this fight with an 0-5 record with the majority of his losses by submission.  Now these guys just fought a boxing match together and Lewis won by ko/tko.  Now they are both fighting for the coveted first pro W and as the saying goes, someone’s O has got to go!

140 PRO BOXING Brandon Berry 11-1 (West Forks) vs James Lester 10-9 (Kronk)

150 PRO Josh Harvey 0-0 (Young’s) vs Matt Denning 2-1 (CMBJJ)

In another pro fight Josh Harvey will take on Matt Denning at a catch weight of 150 lbs.  Harvey trains with Young’s MMA and will be making his pro debut.  As an amateur Harvey went 5-1 with his only loss coming by submission.  For his wins he has 4 finishes, 2 by ko/tko and 2 by submission.  Harvey will be more than ready for his pro debut.  His opponent is Matt Denning and he trains with CMBJJ.  Denning comes into this fight with a 2-1 record with 2 wins by submission and his one loss by ko/tko.  This is going to be an explosive fight as I see it being a slug fest.

205 PRO Mike Hansen 3-3 (Berserkers) vs Jesse Baughman 0-1 (Link)

At 205 lbs Mike Hansen will face off against Jesse Baughman.  Hansen trains out of Berserkers MMA and comes into this fight with a 3-3 record.  In the win column, he has 1 win by ko/tko and 2 wins by submission. For his losses, he lost 2 by ko/tko and 1 by submission.  He suffered a loss in his last fight and is looking to turn his record around and pull above .500.  His opponent is Jesse Baughman and he trains out of Team Link.  He comes into this fight with an 0-1 record with 1 loss by ko/tko to Matt Andrikut at a previous NEF show.  I see this one being a wrestling and ground battle.  Both fighters I think are pretty even in that aspect so this should be a good battle.

155 PRO TITLE Devin Powell 5-1 (Nostos) vs Jesse Erickson 6-4 (CMBJJ)

In the main event Devin Powell will fight Jesse Erickson for the coveted 155 lb Pro Title.  Powell trains with Nostos MMA and comes into this fight with a 5-1 record.  For his wins, he has 1 win by ko/tko, 2 by sub and 2 by decision.  His sole loss came by a decision to Bruce Boyington.  His opponent is Jesse Erickson and he trains with CMBJJ.  He comes into this fight with a 6-4 record with 1 ko/tko and 5 by submission.  For his losses, he lost 2 by ko/tko and 2 by submission.  Both of these fighters are very even from what I have seen in the cage so I am anxious to see how they match up.  I think this one will be a real treat for the jiu jitsu fans as I see most of the fight taking place on the ground.  Who will take home the belt??  We will find out this Saturday!

265 AM Joe Krech 0-1 (Independent) vs Bryce Bamford 1-0 (First Class)

Now to the post fights and the first one is the amateur battle between Joe Krech and Bryce Bamford.  Krech is an independent fighter that comes into this fight with an 0-1 record.  He lost his first fight by submission against Mike Williams at NEF 20.  He is still looking for that first W.  His opponent is Bryce Bamford and he trains with First Class.  He comes into this fight with a 1-0 record with his first win by ko/tko in just 19 seconds.  He would love another quick W this Saturday.  I think this one will be another quick battle so don’t leave after the main event folks!

125 AM Jake Denham 1-0 (Lawton BJJ) vs Ryan Daley 0-2 (Team Irish)

Next up is a 125 battle between Jake Denham and Ryan Daley.  Denham trains out of Lawton BJJ and comes into this fight with a 1-0 record with his first win by submission.  His opponent is Ryan Daley and he trains with Team Irish.  He comes into this fight with an 0-2 record with both losses by submission.  In this fight Daley will have his work cut out for him going up against a BJJ guy.

170 AM Tom Burgess 1-0 (Berserkers) vs Alex Payson 1-0 (First Class)

At 170 lbs Tom Burgess will take on Alex Payson.  Burgess trains with Berserkers MMA and he comes into this fight with a 1-0 record.  He won his first bout against Caleb Swoveland with a unanimous decision.  His opponent is Alex Payson and he trains with First Class.  He comes into this fight with a 1-0 record with 1 win by ko/tko.  Both fighters records are identical which should make this a battle for sure.

145 AM Glenn Kasabian 0-0 (Choi) vs Matt Marshall 2-5 (Team Last Day)

In the last fight of the night Glenn Kasabian will take on Matt Marshall at 145 lbs.  Kasabian trains with Choi’s Institute and comes into this fight making his amateur debut.  His opponent is Matt Marshall and he trains with Team Last Day.  He comes into this fight with a 2-5 record with some losses by submission.  He hasn’t fought in 2 years but he is back and ready for war.  On paper, you can see that Matt has the 7 fight experience which he will try to use in his favor.  Kasabian is from a great school up in Maine so I know he will be battle tested so this should be a solid match up.  Summer is almost here and this one is going to be a hot one!

Well, I hope you all enjoyed the breakdown of New England Fight’s 22nd show.  NEF and company have put together a great card and they have been working double duty with another event in May as they look to invade Hyannis Mass.  Warchild and I will be making the trip north to cover the event for you all so stay right here as we keep you all up to date.

RAZZLE DAZZLE AND DUSTIN VEINOTT PREPARE TO CAGE THE CAPE ON MAY 14

Hyannis, Massachusetts (April 8, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will bring Cape Cod its first sanctioned mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event this spring.  The event, entitled “NEF 23: CAGE THE CAPE,” will take place on May 14, 2016 at the Hyannis Youth & Community Center (HYCC) in Hyannis, Massachusetts.  Both professional and amateur MMA bouts will be presented that evening.  Earlier today, NEF announced the first amateur bout on the fight card.  Ryan “Razzle Dazzle” Kane (4-3) will meet Dustin Veinott (4-4) in a three-round amateur flyweight bout at a fight weight of 125-pounds.

At age eighteen, Ryan Kane burst onto the New England MMA scene in early 2014.  And while eighteen may seem like an early start, Kane had already established himself in combat sports at a younger age.  In 2011, and then again in 2012, Kane medaled in the World Pankration Championships in Greece.  The Plymouth, Massachusetts-native trains with Team Juniko and Sityodtong.  Kane will be looking to rebound from a first-round loss in his last MMA bout earlier this year.

“I train with the best to become the best,” said Kane when reached for comment.  “I will outclass Dustin anywhere this fight goes.  If he’s judging me from my last fight, he’s in for a very long night.  I promise you I’m hungrier than ever and I’m ready to eat.”

Dustin Veinott began his amateur MMA career at 0-3.  Refusing to give up, Veinott came roaring back, winning his next four in a row.  In June 2015, he captured the NEF MMA Amateur Flyweight Title, losing it later that year to Ryan Burgess (2-0) in a very close split decision on the judges’ scorecards.  Veinott trains at Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ) in Lewiston, Maine.  The bout on May 14 will be Veinott’s first outside of his home state of Maine.

“Losing the title has made me more determined than I have ever been – especially after the way I lost the belt,” said Veinott of the split-decision loss to Burgess.  “I’m eager to step up in competition and get into the cage with someone who trains at the level that he trains.  Razzle Dazzle is very well-rounded, but I don’t think anyone has seen me at my full potential.  I truly hope he doesn’t underestimate me.  I have trained very hard for this fight and I am ready to showcase the things I have been working on.  I will show up prepared and ready for a war!”

“NEF 23: CAGE THE CAPE,” takes place Saturday, May 14, 2016 at the Hyannis Youth & Community Center in Hyannis, Massachusetts.  Tickets for “NEF 23” are $40 for general admission and $60 for cageside.  They are on sale now at http://www.NewEnglandFights.com/Tickets/ .

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 videos at http://www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

ALL ROADS LEAD TO MONUMENTAL FIGHT CARD IN LEWISTON

Lewiston, Maine (March 31, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its next event, “NEF 22: ALL ROADS LEAD HERE” on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  The fight card will feature a mix of mixed-martial-arts (MMA) and professional boxing bouts.  Earlier today, NEF announced the full fight card for the event.  The fight card is scheduled to feature three professional boxing matches, six professional MMA bouts, and twelve exciting amateur MMA contests.

On the professional boxing side of the card, Northeast Junior Welterweight Champion, and the pride of West Forks, Maine, Brandon “The Cannon” Berry (11-1, 7 KOs) returns to the ring for a six-rounder with Detroit, Michigan’s James Lester (10-9, 4 KOs).  Berry, one of the most popular boxers to ever come out of Maine, will look for his fourth consecutive victory since returning from a shoulder injury last year.

That will prove easier said than done with Lester standing in the opposite corner.  Lester is a product of the world-famous Kronk Gym in Detroit where world champions like Thomas “Hitman” Hearns (61-5-1, 48 KOs), Oscar De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KOs), Lennox Lewis (41-2-1, 32 KOs) and Wladimir Klitschko (64-4, 53 KOs) have trained under the late Emmanuel Steward.  Lester was ranked number-two nationally as an amateur.  He presents a dangerous threat to Berry, one that could very well play the role of “spoiler” to “The Cannon” and his legion of fans.

After a bloody war of a professional boxing debut at “NEF 21” last month, NEF MMA regular Crowsneck Boutin (0-0-1) will once again step into the boxing ring, this time facing Brandon Montella (3-0, 2 KOs).  Montella, now a resident of Massachusetts, grew up in Maine and served in the United States Marine Corps.

Headlining the professional MMA portion of the fight card will be Jesse “The Viking” Erickson (6-4) and Devin Powell (5-1) in a lightweight contest.  Both fighters are currently on a three-fight win streak.

“I try to focus on what is right in front of me,” said Erickson during a recent interview on The MMA Report Podcast.  “I never looked past my opponents but I like to think what the reward is going to be when I beat this guy.”

Neither athlete can afford to overlook the other, but a win for either could very well mean a call from one of the national promotions.  Erickson has been there before with Bellator.  Powell is an all-around talent with some slick finishes to his credit.

“This is the type of MMA fight we absolutely love,” said NEF co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo.  “You have two guys who match up so well.  They’ve both been racking up the wins.  They’ve faced some of the same opponents.  They’re both solid on the mat and on their feet.  I expect this to be yet another crazy, wild NEF MMA main event!”

“Crazy” and “wild” do not even begin to describe the grudge that has developed between Josh “Hook On” Harvey (0-0) and Matt “Ken Doll” Denning (2-1).  The bitter rivals will meet at a fight weight of 150-pounds at “NEF 22” in an MMA bout.  The bout will be Harvey’s professional debut after a stellar 5-1 amateur career that saw him capture the NEF MMA Amateur Lightweight Title, as well as the northeast regions number-one ranking.  The well-publicized personal issues between Harvey and Denning will be settled in the cage on April 23rd.

The professional portion of the MMA card will also feature the pro debut of Harvey’s Young’s MMA teammate Aaron “Relentless” Lacey (0-0) as he takes on veteran “Shatterproof 2.0” Derek Shorey (3-5) in a featherweight bout.  Lacey vacated the NEF MMA Amateur Featherweight Title in order to turn professional.

That title will not stay vacant very long as Caleb Hall (6-3) and Erik Nelson (2-2) face off to determine a new champion at the top of the amateur MMA card.  Hall is coming off a first-round submission win at “NEF XX” last fall, while Nelson recently picked up a unanimous decision victory at “NEF 21.”

The amateur MMA card will also feature a women’s fight between Angela Young (0-1) and “Hollywood” Hannah Sparrell (1-0).  Young and Sparrell made their respective debuts last year at “NEF XIX.”

The full “NEF 22” fight card (subject to change and approval of the Combat Sports Authority of Maine):

PROFESSIONAL BOXING

175 Crowsneck Boutin 0-0-1 (Choi) vs Brandon Montella 3-0 (The Way)
140 Brandon Berry 11-1 (West Forks) vs James Lester 10-9 (Kronk)
140 Josh Parker 0-2-1 (Ruthless) vs Evincii Dixon 7-13-1 (Lancaster)

PROFESSIONAL MMA

205 Mike Hansen 3-3 (Berserkers) vs Jesse Baughman 0-1 (Link)
170 Jarod Lawton 4-2 (Lawton/NEU) vs Aaron Aschendorf 2-2 (ABCC)
155 Devin Powell 5-1 (Nostos) vs Jesse Erickson 6-4 (CMBJJ)
150 Josh Harvey 0-0 (Young’s) vs Matt Denning 2-1 (CMBJJ)
155 Zenon Herrera 0-3 (Independent) vs Tollison Lewis 0-5 (CMBJJ)
145 Aaron Lacey 0-0 (Young’s) vs Derek Shorey 3-5 (Shatterproof)

AMATEUR MMA

145 *TITLE Caleb Hall 6-3 (Choi) vs Erik Nelson 2-2 (CMBJJ)
265 Dave Smith 2-1 (Berserkers) vs Nick Gulliver 2-0 (First Class)
265 Matt Glover 1-0 (Berserkers) vs Ras Hylton 1-0 (First Class)
265 Joe Krech 0-1 (Berserkers) vs Bryce Bamford 1-0 (First Class)
185 Anthony Spires 0-1 (Independent) vs Mike Williams 1-1 (CMBJJ)
170 John Hansen 0-0 (Berserkers) vs Alex Payson 1-0 (First Class)
155 Ken Dunn 0-3 (W. ME Budo Arts) vs Frank Johanson 0-1 (CMBJJ)
150 Cory Trial 1-2 (Ruthless) vs Jeremy Tyler 4-3 (Team Irish)
145 Johnny Crafts 4-0 (NEU) vs Taylor Costantino 2-1 (Team Irish PTC)
145 Glenn Kasabian 0-0 (Choi) vs Matt Marshall 2-5 (MMA Athletix)
140 Angela Young 0-1 (Young’s) vs Hannah Sparrell 1-0 (First Class)
125 Jake Denham 1-0 (Lawton BJJ) vs Ryan Daley 0-2 (Team Irish)

BLACK BELT RETURNS TO ACTION AT NEF 22 IN LEWISTON

[NEF Press Release]

Lewiston, Maine (March 24, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its next event, “NEF 22: ALL ROADS LEAD HERE” on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  The fight card will feature a mix of mixed-martial-arts (MMA) and professional boxing bouts.  Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of a professional welterweight bout to the MMA portion of the “NEF 22” fight card.  Jarod “Last Minute” Lawton (4-2) returns to the NEF cage to face Aaron Aschendorf (2-2) at a fight weight of 170-pounds.

One of the true stars of the NEF roster, Jarod Lawton last appeared for the promotion a year ago at “NEF 17.”  That night, Lawton lost  a split decision to Bellator veteran Dennis Olson (14-11) after three rounds of a brutal, physical battle.  It was Lawton’s first loss in the cage in three years.

Lawton holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ).  Along with his wife, Marcela Sorentino Lawton, he is the co-owner of Team Lawton Martial Arts and Innovative Athletics – a team New England United (NEU) affiliate based in Farmingdale, Maine.  With a reputation for pulling out late-fight submission victories, Lawton says that he will be looking for the finish against Aschendorf on April 23.

“I have been working hard on improving my game,” said Lawton.  “I am in the best shape of my life and excited to be fighting again.  I don’t know much about Aaron, but I’m always prepping to fight tough opponents and put on very exciting fights.  I will be hunting for the finish as always.”

Aaron Aschendorf is a member of the Atlantic Beach Combat Club based out of Atlantic Beach, Florida.  He began actively competing in the sport of MMA in 2004.  After a four year break, Aschendorf returned to the cage this past fall for House of Fame MMA in Jacksonville, Florida.  He is clear that he plans on coming in aggressive against Lawton when he makes the trip to Maine next month.

“All I can say about this fight is that I’m leaving it all in the cage that night,” said Aschendorf.   “I’m going to fight hard and aggressive. Jarod better be ready for a war, because I’m not holding anything back.”

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 22: ALL ROADS LEAD HERE,” takes place Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets for “NEF 22” start at just $25 and are on sale now at http://www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée 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 videos at http://www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

HEAT RISING ON UPCOMING DENNING-HARVEY FIGHT AT NEF 22 APRIL 23RD

[NEF Press Release]

 Lewiston, Maine (March 16, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its next event, “NEF 22: ALL ROADS LEAD HERE” on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  The fight card will feature a mix of mixed-martial-arts (MMA) and professional boxing bouts.  Earlier this month, NEF announced the addition of a professional lightweight contest to the MMA portion of the “NEF 22” fight card.  Matt “Ken Doll” Denning (2-1) will meet Josh “Hook On” Harvey (0-0) at a fight weight of 150-pounds.  Since the announcement, the anticipation has continued to accelerate for the upcoming bout. In a recent interview with Jason Floyd on The MMA Report, Harvey made some comments that has sent the energy around the fight into overdrive.

“I find him disrespectful as a person and I want to keep it classy on a podcast,” Harvey stated in the beginning of the interview. “I do not want to speak my full mind. You meet the guy, talk to him for a minute and you want to fight him. But it depends on which Matt you are talking to. Because he can rub people the wrong way and he can kiss their ass on the same day. That is who he is.”

The bad blood between the two rivals has been rising for a long time. The potential matchup had been talked about for years, but is scheduled to finally become a reality on April 23rd.

“In this case, I’ve wanted to fight Matt Denning since we were both amateurs,” Harvey stated to Floyd during the interview. “I couldn’t make it happen then. I guess I wasn’t the fight he wanted. At the time, I only had one or two amateur fights and he was towards the end of his amateur career.”

“He’s backed out of fights before at the pro level,” “Harvey stated. “He’s missed weight. Is it a career? Is it a hobby? I mean, it’s for him to decide, but we’ll find out if he wants to show up to fight.”

When Floyd asked Harvey if the fight was personal, Harvey confirmed the obvious. “I think it is,” Harvey replied. “I’m not saying they’re going to want two refs in there to pull me off of him, but it’s going to finish that way.”

During the interview, Harvey also noted the difference in quality of training partners, as he sees it, and how that will impact the outcome of the fight.

“I don’t think he’s rolling with the animals that we’re bringing in every day,” Harvey stated. “The people he has submitted, I don’t think their jitz game was tight—and that’s why he took those fights.”

When asked how he would like to end the fight with Denning, Harvey explained to Floyd that a submission finish would be satisfying, but that he was prepared to create the finish wherever it presents itself.

“It would be nice to turn Ken Doll into Stretch Armstrong—that would be sweet,” Harvey stated toward the end of the interview. “But I’m going to beat him wherever the fight goes. I’m not going to force it down to beat him on the ground and I’m not going to force it to stay up. Of course, if he tries to take me down—I don’t give up takedowns for nobody. I’ll beat him wherever the fight goes.”

To listen to Josh Harvey’s complete interview on The MMA Report visit:

http://themmareport.com/2016/03/josh-harvey-on-nef-22-opponent-matt-denning-i-find-him-disrespectful-as-a-person/

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 22: ALL ROADS LEAD HERE,” takes place Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets for “NEF 22” start at just $25 and are on sale now at http://www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée 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 videos at http://www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

BARBARIAN VERSUS BERSERKER ON APRIL 23 IN LEWISTON

[NEF Press Release]

Lewiston, Maine (March 17, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its next event, “NEF 22: ALL ROADS LEAD HERE” on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  The fight card will feature a mix of mixed-martial-arts (MMA) and professional boxing bouts.  Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of a professional light-heavyweight bout to the MMA portion of the “NEF 22” fight card.  Mike “The Mustache” Hansen (3-3) has signed to face Jesse “The Barbarian” Baughman (0-1) at a fight weight of 205-pounds.

Mike Hansen is the founding member of Berserkers MMA based out of Rumford, Maine.  He is an alumni of Mountain Valley High School (MVHS) where he won a state championship wrestling as a heavyweight in 2004.  Hansen made his MMA debut shortly after graduating from high school, only to step away from the sport for a decade in order to serve his country as a combat engineer in the United States Army.  He returned to the MMA cage in 2015 as a member of the NEF roster.  After restarting his career with a record of 2-1, Hansen dropped his first bout of 2016 to Zach Elkins (1-1) last month.  He will look to rebound from that loss on April 23.

“I’m looking forward to getting back in the cage fast coming off this loss,” said Hansen.  “I wasn’t mentally in that fight, so this time around with Baughman, I’m going to be mentally focused.  Jesse is a big guy and a tough fighter – and he seems like a guy I could get along with.  So, when we are done smashing each other up, hopefully we can get a drink.”

Like Hansen, Baughman is a United States military veteran, where he served in a recon unit of the special forces and earned a level-three certification in Army combatives.  He is currently a member of Team Link based out of Hooksett, New Hampshire.  As an amateur MMA fighter, Baughman put together a perfect record of 5-0 and was the number-one ranked light-heavyweight in the northeast region prior to turning professional.  Baughman made his pro debut last November at “NEF 20” against Matt Andrikut (2-0).

“On April 23rd, I’m looking forward to getting back in there and putting on a show,” said Baughman.  “My fans from New Hampshire want to see a war – and best believe they will!  Mike Hansen is a worthy opponent.  He knows going in, this will be a bloody battle till the end.  I have the best guys around preparing me for this matchup.  Big thanks to Taylor Trahan, Kevin Haley, Brett Trahan and Rob Belliveau.”

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 22: ALL ROADS LEAD HERE,” takes place Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets for “NEF 22” start at just $25 and are on sale now at http://www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée 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 videos at http://www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

HEAVYWEIGHTS TO MAKE SOPHOMORE CAGE APPEARANCES AT NEF 22

[NEF Press Release]

Lewiston, Maine (March 16, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its next event, “NEF 22: ALL ROADS LEAD HERE” on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  The fight card will feature a mix of mixed-martial-arts (MMA) and professional boxing bouts.  Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of an amateur heavyweight bout to the MMA portion of the “NEF 22” fight card.  Ras Hylton (1-0) is scheduled to face Matt Glover (1-0) at a fight weight of 265-pounds.

Weighing in at 227-pounds and standing 6’6,” Ras Hylton towered over the top of the cage at “NEF 21” last month in his MMA debut.  It took him just over a minute to dispatch his opponent, Zak Bergeron (0-1), using his reach advantage to pummel Bergeron with a barrage of strikes.  Hylton is a member of Dragon Fire Martial Arts of South Portland, Maine, as well as First Class MMA based in Brunswick.

“I’m immensely grateful to my teams at Dragon Fire MMA and First Class MMA for helping me to prepare for this dream made real,” exclaimed Hylton.  “I expect that Mr. Glover will help provide an excellent show for the fans as we both fight for victory, making this show as memorable as my debut was for me.  All roads lead here, and I want mine to lead to victory.  Thank you for all the support folks!”

At “NEF 21,” Matt Glover defeated Gravin Guillen (2-5) via first-round technical knockout.  During his time at Mountain Valley High School (MVHS) in Rumford, Maine, Glover was a standout on the football field.  He is a member of Berserkers MMA where he trains under coaches Mike Hansen (3-3) and Gary Dolloff.  Glover’s younger brother Ryan (Glover, 3-1) is the reigning NEF MMA Amateur Light-Heavyweight Champion.  At 236-pounds and 6’2,” Glover realizes he will need to overcome Hylton’s height and reach advantage on April 23rd.

“I’m very excited for my next NEF battle,” said Glover.  “I think I will be even more prepared and less nervous for this fight.  My head will be clearer.  For my debut, my brother was also on the card and I was a little distracted as a result, but for this fight, my mind is all business about what’s in front of me.  Ras possesses a huge challenge with his height and reach, but I plan on neutralizing his kicks and getting inside and coming straight forward and throwing bombs.  My training is getting me better and better and getting me more prepared every day.  There will be some bloodshed on April 23rd – and I will give 110% effort, as always.”

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 22: ALL ROADS LEAD HERE,” takes place Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets for “NEF 22” start at just $25 and are on sale now at http://www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée 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 videos at http://www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHT AT NEF 22 WILL FEATURE TWO RETURNING ATHLETES

[NEF Press Release]

Lewiston, Maine (March 14, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its next event, “NEF 22: ALL ROADS LEAD HERE” on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  The fight card will feature a mix of mixed-martial-arts (MMA) and professional boxing bouts.  Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of an amateur lightweight bout to the MMA portion of the “NEF 22” fight card.  Jeremy Tyler (4-3) will take on Corey Trial (1-2) at a fight weight of 150-pounds.

On April 23rd, it will be 19-months since Jeremy Tyler’s last appearance in the NEF MMA cage.  In September of 2014, Tyler, a member of Team Irish in Brewer, Maine, lost to Matt Denning (2-1) via second-round submission.  It was a fitting finish as all of Tyler’s seven previous bouts, whether wins or losses, have ended with a submission.  Tyler’s last victory came in February of 2014 with a second-round arm triangle choke submission of Corey Hinkley (2-4).  At “NEF 22,” Tyler will look to pick up his first win in over two years.

“I’m happy to have the opportunity to get back into the NEF cage,” said Tyler.  “I have put in a lot of time into improving my skill set.  I feel amazing going into this fight with Cory Trial.  On April 23rd, everyone is going to see that I’m back.”

Like Tyler, Cory Trial’s most recent win in the NEF cage was over Corey Hinkley.  It was a stunning first-round knockout (KO) that was a finalist in the voting for NEF’s “KO of the Year” in 2015.  It was also the quickest victory ever in the NEF cage, clocking in at a mere seven-seconds.  Trial has not competed since a September 2015 loss to Rafael Velado (3-0) as he has been nursing several injuries.  Training out of Ruthless MMA & Boxing of Benton, Maine, Trial predicts another KO finish at “NEF 22.”

“First, I want to thank NEF for giving me this opportunity and thank Jeremy for taking the fight,” said Trial.  “I’ve been dealing with a couple injuries the last few months and it’s given me time to reflect and get my game right and in this fight everybody will see that I’m back!  I was dealing with a couple of injuries leading up to my last fight, but I showed up ’cause I love to fight.  I’m healthy now, training with the best team around and you’ll see the best Cory you’ve seen.  This fight won’t go to the judges – I’ll be coming for the knockout!  This is a fight you won’t want to miss!”

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 22: ALL ROADS LEAD HERE,” takes place Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets for “NEF 22” start at just $25 and are on sale now at http://www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée 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 videos at http://www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

RECENTLY VACATED FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE TO BE FILLED AT NEF 22

[NEF Press Release]

 Lewiston, Maine (March 11, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its next event, “NEF 22: ALL ROADS LEAD HERE” on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  The fight card will feature a mix of mixed-martial-arts (MMA) and professional boxing bouts.  Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of an amateur featherweight title bout to the MMA portion of the “NEF 22” fight card.  Caleb Hall (6-3) will take on Erik Nelson (2-2) for the vacant NEF MMA Amateur Featherweight Title.  The championship was vacated earlier this week when previous champion Aaron Lacey (6-1) announced that he would enter the professional ranks at “NEF 22.”

Caleb Hall is a member of the Choi Institute of Portland, Maine.  He was a two-time Maine state champion wrestling for Dirigo High School in Dixfield.  Hall later wrestled for both Plymouth State University (PSU) in New Hampshire and the University of Southern Maine (USM).  He began competing in MMA in September 2012, making his debut at “NEF IV.”   Hall last appeared in the NEF cage this past fall, scoring an impressive first-round submission victory over Matt Tamayo (0-1).  He feels that his wrestling experience will carry him to the featherweight title on April 23rd against Nelson.

“I’m very excited to fight for the belt I have worked for,” said Hall.  “My wrestling and constant pressure will be a big problem for Nelson.  The scrambles and pressure will fold him and I’ll get the finish.”

Erik Nelson is a member of Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ) located in Lewiston, Maine where he is a jiu-jitsu instructor.  In December, he was awarded his brown belt by head coach Travis Wells.  A few weeks later, Nelson would go on to defeat Julio Martinez (0-2) at “NEF 21.”  Nelson believes his jiu-jitsu will be the deciding factor when he meets Caleb Hall for the amateur featherweight title on April 23rd.

“I am very excited for the opportunity to fight for a title in my hometown,” said Nelson.  “Caleb is a talented wrestler, but I feel my jiu-jitsu is far superior.  No matter where the fight goes, I see my hand being raised at the end.”

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 22: ALL ROADS LEAD HERE,” takes place Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets for “NEF 22” start at just $25 and are on sale now at http://www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée 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 videos at http://www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”