The event is aptly titled "Homecoming" as it will feature the returns of several athletes who have either been recently inactive or competing outside the NEF umbrella. One such return will feature Darrius Heyliger (5-2) from Ithaca, New York. Maine and the NEF cage became a home-away-from-home for Heyliger and several of his Bombsquad teammates during the early days of the promotion. Heyliger competed regularly for NEF in 2012 and early 2013. His last appearance in the cage was in May 2013 against Marcus "The Irish Hand Grenade" Davis (22-11) in the main event of "NEF VII." Heyliger will make his return on September 12 against Brandon Chagnon (5-4) of Sityodtong.
The professional side of the card will also feature the homecoming of Matt "Ken Doll" Denning (1-0) after a 10-month extended layoff from action. Denning made his professional debut last November with a win over Derek Shorey (2-2). He will return in front of his hometown crowd against Zenon "Ka-bar" Herrera (0-1).
Speaking of hometown fighters, Jesse "The Viking" Erickson (5-4), a native of neighboring Auburn, Maine, will look to extend his win-streak to three when he faces Ricky "Savage" Sylvester (2-1). Sylvester's previous appearance in NEF ended in controversy when many felt he held an armbar a little too long on Tollison Lewis (0-4).
On the amateur side of the card, Josh Harvey (4-1) is scheduled to headline in the first defense of his NEF MMA Amateur Lightweight Title. Harvey will meet the stiff challenge of Ryan Dibartolomeo (4-2) from John Fain's Team Triumph/Boston BJJ of Nashua, New Hampshire. Harvey won the vacant title this past June with a first-round submission of Ricky Dexter (3-1).
The amateur portion of the card will also feature not one, but two women's contests. Young's MMA of Bangor, Maine will be represented in both bouts with Angela Young (0-0) and Kira Innocenti (0-0) making their respective debuts. Angela is the wife of Young's MMA founder and head coach Chris Young. She will meet Rachel Reinheimer (1-0) from Sityodtong while Innocenti will square off against Hannah Sparrell of First Class MMA.
The full fight card (subject to change and approval of the Combat Sports Authority of Maine):
PROFESSIONAL
265 Matt Andrikut 0-0 (Conviction Martial Arts) vs Artie Mullen 1-14 (Southern Maine MMA)
205 Michael Hansen 2-2 (Berserkers MMA) vs Crowsneck Boutin 1-0 (Choi Institute)
170 Darrius Heyliger 5-2 (Bombsquad) vs Brandon Chagnon 5-4 (Sityodtong)
155 Jesse Erickson 5-4 (CMBJJ) vs Ricky Sylvester 2-1 (Team Flo)
155 Matt Denning 1-0 (CMBJJ) vs Zenon Herrera 0-1 (Independent)
150 Derek Shorey 2-2 (Shatterproof Combat Club) vs Tollison Lewis 0-4 (CMBJJ)
135 Zech Lange 2-1 (Bombsquad) vs Jay Perrin 2-0 (Boston BJJ NH)
AMATEUR
205 Ryan Glover 1-1 (Berserkers MMA) vs Zak Bergeron 0-0 (CMBJJ)
200 Chaz Gray 0-1 (Young’s MMA) vs Dominique Bailey 0-0 (Independent)
200 Ian Milligan 0-0 (Team Kaze) vs Anthony Spires 0-0 (Independent)
185 Ruben Redman 1-2 (Independent) vs Nick Shea 1-0 (First Class MMA)
185 Caleb Farrington 2-0 (Team NEU) vs Jon McNeil 1-0 (Boston BJJ NH)
170 Ricky Dexter 3-1 (Team Irish) vs C.J. Ewer 3-2 (Young’s MMA)
170 Scott Godbois 0-0 (Berserkers MMA) vs Phil Pearson 0-0 (MMA Athletix)
155*Title Josh Harvey 4-1 (Young’s MMA) vs Ryan Dibartolomeo 4-3 (Boston BJJ NH)
155 Cory Trial 1-1 (Ruthless MMA & Boxing) vs Rafael Velado 0-0 (First Class MMA)
150 David Thompson (Shatterproof Combat Club) vs Jason Lachance 1-2 (MMA Athletix)
150 Kira Innocenti 0-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Hannah Sparrell 0-0 (First Class MMA)
145 Mike Pietersen 2-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Alex Johnson 2-2 (Ruthless MMA & Boxing)
140 Fred Lear 3-1 (Young’s MMA) vs Henry Clark 2-1 (Choi Institute)
135 Clifford Redman 0-2 (Independent) vs Wil Carrero 0-1 (MMA Athletix)
130 Angela Young 0-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Rachel Reinheimer 1-0 (Sityodtong)
125 Ryan Burgess 1-0 (Independent) vs Michael Crespo 3-2 (MMA Athletix)
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.”