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October 25, 2013

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 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 www.NewEnglandFights.com.  In addition, you can watch NEF MMA videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”