WELTERWEIGHT MATCHUP HAS ALL THE MAKINGS OF "FIGHT OF THE YEAR"

[NEF Press Release]

Lewiston, Maine (February 11, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America's number-one regional fight promotion, returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine on April 11, 2015 with its seventeenth mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event.  The fight card, aptly titled "NEF XVII," will feature a high-level professional welterweight contest between Jarod "Last Minute" Lawton (4-1) and Dennis Olson (12-7).

"This is the kind of fight we love to make in NEF," said NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson.  "It's two exciting fighters who come with 100% each and every time they step into that cage.  Neither of them could have a boring fight if they tried. Both of these athletes bring a rare intensity to their training regimens and fighting styles. When we look back at the end of 2015, I expect this fight to be in the discussion for 'Fight of the Year.'"




Lawton, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt out of Augusta, Maine, recently signed a long-term promotional contract with NEF.  He has been a regular in the NEF cage for three years, four of five of his professional bouts having been for the promotion.  Lawton's sole loss came to Darrius Heyliger (5-2) when the cage-side physician stopped the bout due to a cut.  He had been beating Heyliger soundly up until that point.

Lawton would go on to win his next three in a row, becoming known for his late fight finishes of opponents.  He currently owns and operates Team Lawton Martial Arts - a Team New England United (NEU) affiliate based in Farmingdale, Maine.  With the Androscoggin Bank Colisee being just down the road from his base of operations, Lawton feels that he will have the home field advantage over Olson in their April 11 bout.

"I hope the fans are as excited as I am about me getting back in the cage," said Lawton.  "I plan to make this a breakout year for myself and Team Lawton-NEU.  I am ready to take this step up in competition against Olson.  We are both very durable and I am expecting fireworks for this fight, but NEF is my home -  this guy is coming to my home, my fans' home.  When we step in that cage, it will be more than me in that cage - it will be an entire arena against him.  All my preparation will be thanks to my training partners, coaches, students and my wife and son, and NEF for all the opportunities they have given me."

Dennis Olson is one of the most-respected, and feared, athletes in the history of the New England MMA scene.  He is a product of John Fain's Team Triumph in Nashua, NH, and was, at one time, the kingpin of the region's welterweight division.  Olson is a two-fight veteran of the Bellator cage and has spent over a decade competing in MMA.  His list of opponents reads like a "who's who" of New England welterweights over the years, including a notable win over UFC veteran and Dolce Diet namesake Mike Dolce (4-9). Olson will undoubtedly look to avenge past losses by his Triumph teammates John Ortolani (7-9) and Cody Anderson (1-2) at the hands of Lawton.

"April 11, 2015, I climb into the cage for the 22nd time, Lawton for the sixth," said Olson.  "I respect every one of my opponents' ability to throw a punch or snag a choke.  However, with the level of competition that I have seen leads me to believe that there is nothing Lawton can use to surprise me or catch me off guard.  Knowing this information leaves me with only one option.  I have to take advantage of absolutely every second I have in order to prepare myself to prove that information as fact.  I am going to do my best to take every ounce of heart and soul from you.  I'm going to make you want to give up, make you want to die.  I'm going to do my best to dismantle you piece by piece.  To prove to you and I and everyone else that I am your alpha. I am above you, you cannot and will not defeat me."

NEF's next MMA event, "NEF XVII," is scheduled to take place on April 11, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.  Bruce "Pretty Boy" Boyington (10-7) will defend the NEF MMA Lightweight Title against number-one contender Jamie Harrison (5-1).  In addition, Jarod "Last Minute" Lawton (4-1) meets Dennis Olson (12-7) in a welterweight contest.  Tickets for "NEF XVII" 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.”