[NEF Press Release]
Lewiston, Maine (August 17, 2016) – For the second time in New England Fights (NEF) history, a professional women's mixed-martial-arts (MMA) bout will take to the fight promotion's cage. On September 10, 2016 when NEF returns to Lewiston with its next event, "NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS," the professional portion of the MMA card will feature a women's flyweight bout between Sarah "SwitchKick" Click (0-1) and Valerie "Valociraptor" Aspaas (0-0). Click and Aspaas will look to continue the recent tradition of women's fights taking "Fight of the Night" honors at NEF events. Judging from the extensive martial arts backgrounds of both competitors, the fight could very well do just that.
Sarah Click made her initial foray into the martial arts world at just eight-years-old when she began training in Taekwondo. Now a sergeant in the United States Army, Click began competing in MMA in 2014 after returning from a tour of Afghanistan. Over the course of her amateur career, Click captured several regional titles throughout New England and New York. She made her professional debut for national promotion Invicta last spring. Click is a member of Team Juniko of Hyannis, Massachusetts.
"I'm really excited for the opportunity to fight at one of New England's best promotions," said Click of NEF. "They are doing big things for fighters, and they are coming off one of their best shows to date. Valerie has fought some of the best 125 talent, going the distance with KGB and Kaitlyn Chookagain. I'm going to do what I do best and bring a war that you won't want to miss!"
Like her opponent, Valerie Aspaas got her start in martial arts at a young age, training in Isshin-Ryu Karate. She currently holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). In 2014, Aspaas won the Buffalo, New York version of the Golden Gloves. She made her NEF debut at "NEF IX" in Biddeford, Maine, defeating Maria Rios (2-3) via unanimous decision. The fight was a brutal bloodbath that had the capacity crowd on the edge of its collective seat for the duration. Aspaas will enter the professional ranks at "NEF 25."
"My professional debut has been a long time coming, and I am honored to have the opportunity to do it under NEF," said Aspaas when reached for comment. "I fought for them a few years back, and I believe that the promotion and the people of Maine remember the bloody, exciting battle I fought against Maria Rios. They should expect to see more of the same ferocity and grit from a more evolved version of the Valociraptor when I step back into the cage on September 10th."
New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS,” takes place on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. Tickets 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.