Lewiston, Maine (June 29, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America's number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its nineteenth mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, "NEF XIX," on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine. Earlier today, the promotion announced the addition of a professional lightweight bout to the fight card. Jesse "The Viking" Erickson (5-4) is scheduled to meet Ricky "Savage" Sylvester (2-1) at a fight weight of 155-pounds.
Erickson, after challenging unsuccessfully twice for the NEF MMA Professional Lightweight Championship last fall, is undefeated in 2015. Erickson downed Mark DeFord (0-4) in April in under two minutes with an impressive knockout. He followed up that performance with yet another first-round victory over Zenon Herrera (0-1). Erickson will look to make it three victories in a row on September 12 in Lewiston. He is a coach at Lewiston's Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ)."I'm looking forward to the challenges Ricky presents," said Erickson of his opponent Ricky Sylvester. "He is a talented athlete with power behind his strikes. I have worked hard to develop my striking game and look forward to putting it on display against him in September. Bring your A-game Ricky because I'll be ready for a war!"
Ricky Sylvester last appeared in the NEF cage in September 2014. That night, he shocked the NEF universe with an arm bar submission win over promotion regular Tollison Lewis (0-4). A native of Lowell, Massachusetts, Sylvester relocated to Orlando, Florida where he put in time training with the world renown American Top Team (ATT). Back home in New England, Sylvester seeks to bounce back after a loss last November in New Hampshire in his previous bout.
“I’m with Team Flo now and training in the same facility as the Doughboy Wrestling Club,” Sylvester stated. “They’re taking good care of my ground game. Not to say I’m ignoring my striking, I just know that’s what I’m known for, but I want to mix it up and put some emphasis on what others might think I’m lacking and really show the double threat. Jesse Erickson is a great grappler—I would be shocked to see him just trying to stand up with me and battle hands. That being said, I know what to expect. As always, expect a great show and a hard fought fight from a savage. Live fast, die young, take chances and live reckless.”
New England Fights' next event, "NEF XIX," takes place on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine. Tickets for "NEF XIX" 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.”