Orono, Maine (July 15, 2019) – New England Fights (NEF) will debut in Orono on September 7, 2019 at the Collins Center for the Arts with the promotion's next mixed-martial-arts event, "NEF 40: School of Hard Knocks." Earlier today, NEF announced the first amateur fight signed for the card. Jason Landry (2-0) will take on Mike Bezanson (2-0) in a battle of undefeated welterweights.
Jason Landry has been one of the breakout stories of 2019 in NEF. A virtual unknown at the time, Landry burst on the scene this past spring at "NEF 38" in his debut fight with a dominant submission victory over veteran Justin Boraczek (4-3). It was a bout that an overwhelming majority of 78% of Tapology.com voters predicted Boraczek, a member of Spero's MMA, would win over the independent fighter. After scoring the upset that evening, Landry returned to the cage at "NEF 39" in Lewiston, Maine. In maybe the most brutal, violent and bloody seven seconds in promotion history, Landry laid out Dan Siegars (0-1), completely decimating Siegars' nasal cavity in the process, and ending the bout in near-record time.
“In this business, the term ‘independent fighter’ has a certain connotation, but Team Landry is changing that stigma," stated NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson. "Jason begins his days before the sun comes up by joining his brothers in his modest basement and putting in hours of sweat-work before most people are even out of bed. A family of skilled laborers and craftsmen, these guys have always brought a high-level of discipline and Yankee ethic to every pursuit that they’ve invested their time in—and now they’ve turned their attention to mixed martial arts. Opting for the trusted, reliable confines of training with family versus through a traditional gym, the results, so far, speak for themselves. Two wins, two first round finishes—the last even more impressive and devastating than the first.”
It has been over three years since New Hampshire's Mike Bezanson was last in the NEF cage, but he left the promotion's fans with two of the most memorable performances they could ask for. In his debut at "NEF 18" in 2015, it quickly became apparent to all in attendance that Bezanson had outclassed his opponent in standup skills. Rather than finish him quickly, Bezanson seemed to drag the bloody beating out, showboating to the crowd and drawing the ire of some observers. It was a performance the likes of which no one had ever seen before, or since, in NEF. Bezanson, a member of Team Kaze, returned a year later and ran through Shawn Bang (1-2) in less than a minute. And while the talented Bezanson has been away from the cage for several years due to an injury, he is just as confident in his abilities as ever.
“My name is Mike Bezanson. Now, at this point in time, said name is just another name to be heard and, perhaps to some, it sounds familiar. But, shortly, it will be a name you will not forget. I have been dormant—preserved, if you will—for far too long since my last fight due to an injury. I guess one would call it the ‘Achilles' heel’ to my story. Most importantly, anyone that may be reading this should know that although I've been training for this fight, this particular fight is just one of many in my path, as I strive to reach the goal set forth for myself: to pursue a career in fighting. So, I suggest you buy tickets now, while you can, because one day soon enough, you'll be paying just to watch it on PPV. Best of luck to my opponent. The only thing he needs to know is that I'm starving, and I'm only bringing a fork and a plate to this fight."
“Few fighters have managed to turn heads in their debut the way that Mike Bezanson did when NEF fans met him for the first time over four years ago back at 'NEF 18' in 2015," declared Peterson. "Fast, dynamic, inventive and unpredictable, ever since his last fight in 2016, I’ll be randomly asked by fans: ‘When will Bezanson be back?’ Well, the wait is over. A fitting return for a fondly remembered fighter, Kaze’s Bezanson is back in the NEF cage on September 7th against another undefeated, destructive welterweight, Jason Landry. It’s the perfect matchup. Two big, strong, stud strikers both riding impressive double-win streaks. This fight has all the perfect pieces in place for something spectacular to emerge on September 7th.”
New England Fights' next mixed-martial-arts event, "NEF 40: SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS," will take place Saturday, September 7, 2019 at the Collins Center for the Arts at the University of Maine as the promotion debuts in Orono, Maine. Tickets are on sale now at www.collinscenterforthearts.com.