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September 22, 2015

DREAM MATCH SIGNED FOR NEF XX ON NOVEMBER 21

[NEF Press Release]

 Lewiston, Maine (September 22, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America's number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its next event, "NEF XX: A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE" on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  The event will feature a first for Maine - mixed-martial-arts (MMA) bouts and professional boxing bouts on the same event with an MMA cage and a boxing ring set up side-by-side.  Earlier today, the promotion announced the addition of a professional featherweight bout to the MMA portion of the fight card.  Former NEF MMA Professional Featherweight Champion Ray "All Business" Wood (6-1) has signed to face Vovka "KGB" Clay (3-0) in what is being dubbed a "Dream Match" of the New England region.

The careers of Wood and Clay have paralleled one another over the last three to four years.  Both traded the top ranking of the region's featherweight division back-and-forth as amateurs.  Both got off to amazing starts in their professional careers.  Both were heralded by local pundits as future national MMA stars.  A showdown seemed imminent.  Then, Wood uprooted from Maine to South Carolina in 2014, putting any hopes for a dream match between the two to rest for the time being.  With Wood set to return to Maine for "NEF XX" and Clay available to compete, the time was ripe for NEF executives to sign the long-awaited bout.


"As a fan, I've wanted to see this fight for a long time," said NEF co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo.  "Ray and Vovka are two athletes with all the tools to, not only make it to the next level, but to succeed there as well.  I would not be surprised to see these two face off again down the road on the main card of a pay-per-view.  That's how big this fight is.  It's one major piece of what is going to be the biggest event NEF has ever presented."

Wood last appeared in the NEF cage this past February, dropping the promotion's featherweight title to Bellator veteran Anthony "Cheesesteak" Morrison (17-9) in the fifth round of a hard-fought contest.  The bout took place in the middle of Wood's transition from Bangor, Maine's Young's MMA to South Carolina where he now trains with Revolution MMA.

"I'm always excited to get back in the cage no matter where or who I'm fighting," said Wood.  "The biggest thing with this fight is that I'm coming back up to Maine avenging the loss to Anthony Morrison.  I have something to prove to  myself as a mixed martial artist.  My last showing in Maine was certainly not my best, I know I am 10x the fighter I showed in that fight. I let the stress of switching camps and moving down south affect me mentally. Being a true martial artist means  being complete in  your body and mind.  I have learned a lot about myself with that loss."

After the loss to Morrison, Wood rebounded with a win on a Muay Thai kickboxing event in New York City.  He returned to the MMA cage in North Carolina last month handing Carlos Vivas (5-1) the first loss of his professional career.  Wood hopes to make it three victories in a row with a win over Clay on November 21, and Wood predicts he will get that victory in definitive fashion.

"Vovka is a tough kid and I know he is going to be hungry," continued Wood.  "He trains out of a tough camp and seems willing to challenge himself with tough fights.  When you have nothing to lose, you are a dangerous fighter.  He will be going into this fight with everything to gain.   I'm excited to finish out the year with another win.  Being knocked out by Ray 'All Business' Wood is not a bad thing to have on your record."

Clay is a member of Boston BJJ in Nashua, New Hampshire.  He made a statement in his professional debut in 2013, defeating perennial contender and veteran Bill Jones (12-9).  Clay is undefeated in the NEF cage.  He submitted both Dom Cofone (6-5) and Wood's Young's MMA teammate Damen Owens (2-0 pro) in amateur bouts.  Known for taking on tough challenges, Wood will no-doubt be the toughest challenge Clay has faced in his professional career.

"I'm excited for this fight," exclaimed Clay.  "It's one that I've wanted for some time.  I think this is a fight all fans across New England want to see.  We're two of the top guys at 145 and this should be an all out war."

New England Fights' next event, "NEF XX: A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE," takes place on November 21, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  The event will mark the first time in Maine history a mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event and a professional boxing event have taken place together on the same show.  Tickets for "NEF XX" 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.”