Lewiston, Maine (November 20, 2014) –New England Fights (NEF), America's number-one regional fight promotion, presents its sixteenth mixed martial arts (MMA) event, “NEF XVI,” on February 7, 2015 in Lewiston, Maine. The event is scheduled to originate from the Androscoggin Bank Colisee. Earlier today NEF announced the addition of a professional lightweight bout to the fight card. Jesse "The Viking" Erickson (3-4) will look to get back on the winning track after dropping two in a row when he faces John "Little" Healey (0-1).
Erickson, the former number-one contender to the NEF MMA Lightweight Title, is coming off back-to-back losses to reigning champion Bruce "Petty Boy" Boyington (9-7) at "NEF XIV" and "NEF XV" respectively. Up until that time, Erickson had never lost two fights in a row. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) coach from Central Maine BJJ in Auburn, Maine is now put in the position where he needs a win to stay in the lightweight title picture. Erickson has his sights set on Healey, and he claims to be hungry to climb back in the NEF MMA cage in the new year.
"For the first time in my career, I've tasted defeat twice in a row," stated Erickson. "I hate losing, but I'm not going to let it deter me. I'm going to use it as motivation and come back better than ever in February. John Healey better come prepared for a serious battle because I've tasted a higher level of competition and I'm hungry for more."
John Healey has had his share of frustration in the past few months. Scheduled to face Ryan "The Junkyard Dog" Cowette (2-2) last September at "NEF XIV," Healey was left at the scale the afternoon of weigh-ins when Cowette was rushed to the hospital for a medical emergency. NEF officials were quick to find Healey an opponent for "NEF XV" earlier this month, only for Healey to suffer an injury during training, forcing him to pull out of the fight. While this will be Healey's first time competing as a professional in the NEF MMA cage, Healey had quite a bit of success in that hexagon as an amateur, winning all three of his previous bouts for the fight promotion. He will look to continue that success on February 7 when he meets Jesse Erickson.
"Fighting Jesse Erickson will be a great fight and tough because Erickson is a tough kid from a good school," said Healey when reached for comment. "He's an NEF veteran having fought for the promotion multiple times, so he's no stranger to the NEF cage. But I will be ready for anything that comes at me February 7th. I know he doesn't give up and neither do I, so it's going to be a great fight. I'm excited for this fight and to finally get back in the NEF cage. I know we're both going to be ready to go and I am excited to get back into the NEF cage after having things happen the last two times I was supposed to compete, so be ready because I'm hungry and ready for this fight."
NEF's next MMA event, "NEF XVI," takes place on February 7, 2015. Ray "All Business" Wood (5-0) returns that night to defend the NEF MMA Featherweight Title. Tickets start at just $25 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 videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”