Hyannis, Massachusetts (March 4, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF), America's number-one regional fight promotion, announced today that it will bring Cape Cod its first-ever mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event this spring. The event, entitled "NEF 23: NEF CAGES THE CAPE," will take place on May 14, 2016 at the Hyannis Youth & Community Center (HYCC) in Hyannis, Massachusetts. Both professional and amateur MMA bouts will be presented that evening.
To date, NEF has held twenty-two events, a mix of MMA and boxing shows, in the state of Maine. The promotion was formed in 2012 by business partners Nick DiSalvo and Matt Peterson. NEF has a reputation of putting on action-packed events in venues filled with thousands of rabid fight fans. The promotion has a large, dedicated fan base unmatched by any of its competitors on the regional level. Over the years, NEF's cage has played host to UFC veterans such as Marcus Davis (22-11) and two-time UFC World Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia (31-10), among others. NEF co-promoted a nationally-televised event with Bellator in the spring of 2013. Its fight highlights have been featured prominently on AXS TV, TUFF TV and the "World's Greatest Knockouts" on Spike TV.
"The NEF brand is expanding," noted DiSalvo. "Cape Cod is hungry for an MMA event. I'm surprised it's taken this long to happen with so many great teams located in the area. NEF is honored to be the first to present an MMA show on the Cape."
One MMA team whose fighters will be featured prominently on the May 14 card will be Hyannis-based Team Juniko.
"This show will be the first MMA show on Cape Cod in Team Juniko's backyard," remarked Team Juniko coach Mike Gresh. "Congrats NEF!"
Gresh is a longtime, respected leader in the New England MMA community. Two of his team's members have been confirmed as making their professional debuts on May 14 - Erin "Fun Size" Lamonte and Brendan "Lockdown" Battles.
Scituate's Erin Lamonte put together a perfect 6-0 record as an amateur competitor. She is coming off back-to-back submission victories in Lewiston, Maine.
"I cannot wait for NEF to come to the Cape," exclaimed Lamonte. "All but one of my fights have been out of state, so I am so excited to fight in front of all my family and friends in my own backyard! Don't miss it. May 14th 'Fun Size' goes pro and makes her presence known in the women's straw-weight division!"
Brendan Battles is a native of nearby Eastham, Massachusetts where he was a three-time All-American wrestler for Nauset Regional High School. Battles won two state championships and three New England regional championships while amassing a total of 161 wins over the course of his high school wrestling career. Later, Battles played defensive end and tackle for the University of Connecticut.
"It's an honor to fight down the street from my hometown and the gym where I train," said Battles. "It gives me the chills to fight my very first professional fight on my home turf, with my family, friends, and all who supports me to see the work I've put in and the fighter I have evolved into at this point of my career."
“NEF 23: NEF CAGES THE CAPE,” takes place Saturday, May 14, 2016 at the Hyannis Youth & Community Center in Hyannis, Massachusetts. Tickets for “NEF 23” are $40 for general admission and $60 for cageside. They are on sale now at www.NewEnglandFights.com/Tickets/ .
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.”