We arrived at the fights with plenty of time to spare and by that I mean about 5 minutes to find our seat. Darcie and NEF hooked us up with good seats. Kelly Mac and Warchild are here taking photos. The one and only Pete Czymbor is announcing for the evening. Bree is the lovely ring girl for the night. Mark Oliveri is cranking out the sounds and the fights are about to start. Tonight's show has 17 fights scheduled. The two refs are Patrick Allen and John English. A solid crowd for this cold night but the Maine-iacs are hungry for some action. Brett Raio did a great job on the national anthem as usual. One thing I noticed right off the bat is NEF's new LED lights for the show. They are a nice bright white light and we will see how the pictures look afterwards but so far I am liking them. Follow along with me below.
145 AM Sheldon Bang (1-0 CMBJJ) vs Henry Clark (0-0 Choi Institute)
Henry starts us out with a quick jab. Henry connects with a solid right that drops Sheldon. He covers and tries to get the quick finish but Sheldon comes to and ends up on top in the guard after the scramble. Sheldon is working his way up and Henry takes his back. He is looking to sink in the rear naked choke but can't get the finish. Sheldon does a good job at defending the rear naked choke.
Clark 10-9
Rd 2: Sheldon shoots for a takedown and gets the double leg. Henry is thinking triangle but can't quite get it. Henry gives up his back briefly but spins and gets dropped again. He is thinking triangle again and this time can lock it in for the tap.
Henry Clark defeats Sheldon Bang via tapout to triangle at 1:27 in Rd 2.
180 AM Jacob Cameron (1-3 Team Nitemare) vs Ricky Dexter (0-0 Team Irish)
Both fighters start us out with a pair of kicks. Ricky gets the takedown and is now working the side. Jacob pushes him off and gets back to his feet. Ricky gets in a body kick and they clinch. Ricky gets in a pair of uppercuts from the clinch. Ricky connects with a big right that drops Jacob and gets the ref stoppage.
Ricky Dexter defeats Jacob Cameron by tko stoppage to strikes at 2:29 in Rd 1.
145 AM Nick Spencer (5-4 Choi Institute) vs Caleb Serra (0-0 Team Kaze)
Nick is pushing Caleb up against the cage and gets in a good knee. They break and are throwing kicks. Caleb gets in an inside leg kick. Nick catches the leg and gets in a counter right. Caleb gets in a right. Nick gets the double leg takedown and gets in two straight rights as the round ends.
Spencer 10-9
Rd 2: Nick starts us out with an outside leg kick. Caleb gets in a nice spinning back kick. Nick gets the takedown and is working the guard. Caleb tries for an armbar but doesn't quite have it locked and Nick pulls his arm through. Nick is standing over Caleb and gets in some punches from the top. Caleb gets back to his feet and gets knocked down with a kick as the round ends.
Spencer 10-9
Rd 3: Caleb gets in a nice kick to the body. Nick pushes him to the ground and is laying down some heavy bombs. He gets the ref stoppage.
Nick Spencer defeats Caleb Serra by tko to strikes at 1:05 in Rd 3.
135 AM Carl Langston (3-5 Balanced Ground MMA) vs Fred Lear (1-0 Young’s MMA)
Fred rushes in and is looking for the single leg. Fred grabs the knee and yanks him down for the takedown. He is working the guard. Carl bucks him off and they are back to their feet. Carl gets the takedown and Fred bucks him off and they are back up after the scramble. Fred is fighting hard for a takedown and gets it with a hammerfist as the round ends.
Lear 10-9
Rd 2: Fred misses with a high kick and Carl gets the suplex. Fred bounces right back to his feet and now Fred is looking for the takedown. He gets the takedown but they bounce right back to their feet. Carl gets in a high kick to the chest. Fred gets in a clean right hand. Carl gets the takedown and is trying to hold him down. Lear uses the cage and gets back to his feet. Lear gets the takedown and has the back as the round ends.
Lear 10-9 but a much closer round
Rd 3: Lear gets the hip toss and is trying to finish the takedown. Carl works his way back up and Fred takes him right back to the ground. Fred has the side and is trying to get in some hammerfists as the round ends.
Fred Lear defeats Carl Langston via unanimous decision.
155 AM Alex Johnson (0-1 Ruthless Boxing & MMA) vs Rick Matthews (0-0 Team Irish)
Alex gets the takedown and picks Rick up and he stands up and they are back to their feet. Rick gets in a nice uppercut from the clinch. Rick slips and Alex pushes him down against the cage. Alex is caught in a guillotine but it doesn't look too threatening. Alex gets pushed off and backs off and lets Rick up. They are clinching up against the cage and Alex is looking for the takedown. They are both swinging for the fences as the round ends!
Johnson 10-9
Rd 2: Rick gets the takedown and is moving Alex to the center of the cage. Rick moves to the other side. Rick is getting in short punches but nothing too damaging. Alex slips through and they are back to their feet. They are both swinging for the fences and Alex connects with a few right hooks.
Matthews 10-9
Rd 3: Alex gets in a solid leg kick. They are swinging away and Rick gets hit in the cup. He takes a few minutes and the fight resumes. Alex pushes the pace and is looking for the single leg. He is stuffed and they are at a stale mate. The ref stands them up and Alex gets in some good combos as the round ends.
Johnson 10-9
Alex Johnson defeats Rick Matthews via split decision. 29-28 Johnson, 29-28 Matthews 29-28 Johnson
S.HWT AM Gravin Guillen (0-1 Independent) vs Mladin Holman (0-0 Choi Institute)
They are swinging for the fences! Mladin connects with a nasty right. Gravin is getting in kicks to the body. Gravin connects with a right. Gravin is pushing him up against the cage and they break. Gravin gets in a jab before the round ends.
Guillen 10-9
Rd 2: Gravin starts us off with a kick to the body. Mladin connects with a right and Gravin loses his mouth piece. Gravin connects with a right and was stunned. Mladin was covering and ready to take the guard of Gravin as the ref stops the fight. John English stopped the fight because Mladin was rocked and by the time he could get in between the two behemoths it just looked worse than it was for the stoppage. The crowd is booing and this could be an instant rematch if the people/fighters want it!
Gravin Guillen defeats Mladin Holman via ref stoppage to strikes at 1:51 in Rd 2.
130 AM Justin Witham (0-1 Team Nitemare) vs Dustin Venoitt (1-3 CMBJJ - NEU)
Justin connects with a quick right. Justin dives in for the takedown and Dustin defends it nicely. He gets in a knee from the clinch and gets his own takedown. He has the side and passes to full mount. Witham has a guillotine but it doesn't look too threatening. Dustin pulls his head out and works a rear naked choke for the tap.
Dustin Venoitt defeats Justin Witham via tapout to rear naked choke at 2:55 seconds in Rd 1.
170 AM Adam Nielsen (1-0 Team Irish) vs Heath Hanson (0-0 3Ronin Athletics)
Heath misses with a right and Nielsen pushes him to the ground and takes the back. He sinks in the rear naked choke and Heath is pounding his fist on the mat twice and the ref stops the fight.
Adam Nielsen defeats Heath Hanson via tapout to rear naked choke at 35 seconds in Rd 1.
135 AM Doug Bailey (0-0 Independent) vs Dave Brown (0-1 White Mountain BJJ)
Brown gets the takedown and is looking to take the back if offered. He moves to full mount and is trying to posture up. He gets in a few hammerfists. He gets pushed to the side and Dave gets in a few shots to the body as the round ends.
Brown 10-9
Rd 2: Doug connects with a right that stuns Brown. Doug rushes in and Dave scoops him up and slams him down. He covers and finishes him off with a barrage of ground and pound.
Dave Brown defeats Doug Bailey via ref stoppage to strikes at 1:17 seconds in Rd 2.
160 AM Pat Kelly (1-0 Young's MMA) vs Steven Bang (3-1 CMBJJ - Team NEU)
Pat dives for a takedown but is stuffed. Pat backs his way up and is looking for the takedown. Both fighters are working their knees from the clinch. Pat gets the takedown and is getting in some hammerfists as the round ends.
Kelly 10-9
Rd 2: Kelly goes for a takedown and they sprawl. They are back up and Kelly misses with a right. He dives for another takedown but is stuffed again. Kelly gets in a good combo. They are swinging away!!
Real close round I give slight edge to Kelly 10-9
Rd 3: Kelly connects with a combo. Kelly takes the back and is laying down some ground and pound. He gets the ref stoppage.
Pat Kelly defeats Steven Bang via tko stoppage at 1:25 in Rd 3.
151 AM Dom Cofone (5-4 Balanced Ground MMA) vs Caleb Hall (4-1 Choi Institute)
Dom starts us off with some leg kicks. Caleb gets the takedown and is in half guard. Dom sweeps an they are back to their feet. Caleb catches a kick and gets the takedown once again. Dom slips through and is now in half guard. Caleb is working a kimura. They roll and now Caleb has the side. Dom bucks him off and they are back to their feet. Caleb gets the takedown and is in full mount as the round ends.
Hall 10-9
Rd 2: Dom gets the slamming takedown but Caleb stands back up and gets a takedown of his own. He moves to full mount and is getting in some ground and pound. The ref has seen enough and stops the fight.
Caleb Hall defeats Dom Cofone via tko stoppage to strikes at 1:12 in Rd 2.
135 PRO Elias Leland (1-0 The Academy) vs Jimmy Alexander (F2 Arena)
Jimmy connects with a right. Nice knee to the head from Leland. He takes the back and works the rear naked choke for the tap.
Elias Leland defeats Jimmy Alexander via tapout to rear naked choke at 42 seconds in Rd 1.
265 PRO Brent Dillingham (0-1 MMA Athletix) vs Artie Mullen (1-12 MMA of S. Maine)
Artie connects and Dilliingham goes to the ground. Brent pushes Artie down and is trying to finish him off with ground and pound. He gets the stoppage. Artie is complaining about shots to the back of the head.
Brent Dillingham defeats Artie Mullen via tko stoppage to strikes at 39 seconds in Rd 1.
140 PRO Derek Shorey (1-0 Independent) vs Matt Denning (0-0 CMBJJ - Team NEU)
Derek gets in an outside leg kick. Derek gets the shoulder toss and is working the side. Denning is fighting for his way back up. They are up and working their strikes. Derek gets another takedown and is now in the guard. Denning is looking for an armbar and gets the tap. The crowd is going wild!
Matt Denning defeats Derek Shorey via tapout to armbar at 2:28 in Rd 1.
160 PRO Ryan Sanders (6-6 Young’s MMA) vs Mark DeFord (0-2 F2 Arena)
Mark dives for a takedown and Sanders catches him in a guillotine. Mark fights it off and they are back to their feet. Sanders connects with a right and Deford goes for a takedown again. Sanders sinks in the signature guillotine and gets the tap.
Ryan Sanders defeats Mark DeFord via tapout to guillotine at 1:07 in Rd 1.
159 PRO Jamie Harrison (4-1 First Coast Full Contact) vs Tollison Lewis (0-2 BGMMA)
Jamie gets the takedown and moves to north south then to the other side of Tollison. Jamie works a kimura and gets the tap.
Jamie Harrison defeats Tollison Lewis via tapout to kimura at 1:17 in Rd 1.
155 PRO *TITLE Bruce Boyington (8-7 Young’s MMA) vs Jesse Erickson (4-3 CMBJJ)
Bruce gets in an inside leg kick. Erickson is fighting for a takedown but can't quite get the finish. Bruce connects with a right. Bruce dives to the ground and is looking for some ground and pound. He gets in some good hammerfists. Bruce gets in two quick elbows. Bruce is controlling the round and continues to work the elbows.
Boyington 10-9
Rd 2: Bruce just misses with a spinning kick. Jesse takes his back briefly until Bruce spins into it. Bruce is in the guard and looking for the elbows. Bruce continues to control the round on top with elbows.
Boyington 10-9
Rd 3: Bruce gets in a jab to start the round off. Bruce is finding his zone with the striking. Bruce gets in a good combo. Bruce gets in an outside leg kick. Erickson goes for a takedown but its stuffed. Bruce does a spinning kick and slips to the ground. Bruce is looking for the kimura and gets the tap.
Bruce Boyington defeats Jesse Erickson via tapout to kimura at 3:02 in Rd 3. Bruce retains his title, what an awesome battle!!
FIGHT OF THE NIGHT: Bruce Boyington vs. Jesse Erickson
KO/TKO OF THE NIGHT: Pat Kelly and his tko win
SUBMISSION OF THE NIGHT: Harrison kimura victory
NEF provided the awesome show and the fighters delivered. Everyone fought their hearts out in that cage that night. The most memorable fight for me was the rematch between Bruce Boyington and Jesse Erickson. Two True warriors in the cage battling it out for the title made for a memorable night. Ryan Hodge went into the cage and asked for a title shot with 185lb champion which translates to politely he wants to fight Mike Zichelle!! I would love to see that fight in February at NEF! Rumor has it Ray Wood is fighting at the next NEF and I also heard Boyington vs. Jamie Harrison. Looks like February is shaping up to be a huge card for NEF in February. I would also like to share with you all a feel good moment of the event. NEF gave a homeless man a job and had him selling programs and tshirts. I heard afterwards about this and that he did a fantastic job. It was real nice to keep him warm for the evening and he made some cash for it. Could this be the new NEF Mascot?? Another thing I enjoyed was the one minute of silence for all the veterans for Veterans day. Special thanks to NEF for allowing us to cover the show and thanks to Warchild for driving me up there and taking photos for us.