Lewiston, Maine (August 19, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America's number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its nineteenth mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, "NEF XIX: HOMECOMING," on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. That night, Team Irish's Ricky Dexter (3-1) is scheduled to meet CJ Ewer (3-2) in an NEF MMA Amateur Welterweight Title eliminator. Recently, Dexter was the guest on the NEF Podcast hosted by NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson.
A veteran of the United States Navy, Dexter joined Marcus Davis's Team Irish gym after moving home to Bangor, Maine at the conclusion of his military service. Eventually, Dexter took over the fitness program at the gym, now known as "207 Athletes." Dexter touched on his progression from joining the gym to becoming a trainer.
"I wanted to keep working out and keep in good shape," said Dexter of his return home to Maine from military service. "I figured I'd go work out with the guys at Team Irish. I started doing their workout regimen. I dabbled a little bit with MMA training. Slowly I got more into it over time. It was a good workout. As time went on, I got better at it. I got more addicted with the more I learned, with Marcus's knowledge, I got addicted to it. He hired me to run his fitness class. After that, I figured I'd take a fight. I was in pretty good shape."
Earlier this year, Dexter engaged in a grueling slugfest with Cory Trial (1-1) at "NEF XVI." It was just Dexter's second fight in the MMA cage. The bout ended in a knockout victory for Dexter. The highlight-reel knockout will, no doubt, be in the running for a nomination for "KO of the Year" at the "NEF 2015 Year-End Awards."
"The first round I pretty much remember," recalled Dexter. "The second round I kind of went into a trance. I don't really remember much of it, just from watching the video. When you get to that point your training takes over. You kind of black out and, before you know it, you're getting your hand raised."
In all, Dexter finished his first three amateur bouts on his way to getting a shot at the NEF MMA Amateur Lightweight Championship at "NEF XVIII" this past June against Josh Harvey (4-1). Dexter would lose the bout by first-round submission. At "NEF XIX" on September 12, Dexter will have a chance to avenge that loss when he meets Havey's Young's MMA teammate CJ Ewer in a bout that will be a title eliminator for the NEF MMA Amateur Welterweight Championship.
"He's a really good wrestler, a big guy," Dexter said of Ewer. "He looks like he's pretty skilled. He comes from a respected school in Young's. We all know what he's gonna do, and we all know what I have to do."
You can listen to the entire NEF Podcast interview at www.NewEnglandFights.com/Podcasts/
For more information on the Team Irish Fitness Academy, please visit their website www.TeamIrishMMA.com. You can also follow "207 Athletes" on Facebook to learn more about Ricky Dexter's training program.
New England Fights' next event, "NEF XIX: HOMECOMING," takes place on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. Tickets for "NEF XIX: HOMECOMING" start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée 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.”