[NEF PRESS RELEASE]
Portland, Maine (June 30, 2023) – New England Fights returns to Merrill Auditorium in Portland with its next mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, “NEF 53: American Valor,” on Saturday, July 8, 2023. Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the addition of an amateur flyweight bout to the card. Alex Morris (1-1) will meet Timm Murray (1-1) at a fight weight of 125 pounds.
Alex “The Alley Cat” Morris is an even .500 in the NEF cage. He debuted at “NEF 48” in the summer of 2022 with a first-round technical knockout of Quinn Poirier (0-3) in what was a gritty slugfest while it lasted. Morris returned to the cage last month at “NEF 52” to face Qasim Abdulla (2-0). He lost a decision in a hard-fought contest. Morris represents Nostos MMA based in Somersworth, New Hampshire where he trains under UFC veteran and former NEF Pro Lightweight Champion Devin Powell (10-5).
“I’m looking forward to getting back on the winning side of things and set myself up for an exciting, fight-filled year in 2024,” said Morris.
Timm “The Fighting Chef” Murray will step into the NEF cage for the third time on July 8. It has been nearly two years since his last fight at “NEF 44” in Milford, New Hampshire. Murray lost his amateur debut to Randall Hathorn (1-2) at “NEF 42.” He rebounded with a leg kick knockout of Giuliano Rossi (0-2) in the summer of 2021. Murray represents Primo Bellarosa’s VisionQuest Muay Thai based in Pittsfield, Maine.
“It’s been a couple of years since my last fight. It feels like much longer than that,” noted Murray. “However, I have had the ability to spend more time at VisionQuest, with the team and Primo’s coaching second to none. We have evolved so much as a team and it’s an honor to share the cage with them on July 8th.”
“NEF 53: American Valor” takes place on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at Merrill Auditorium in Portland, Maine. Doors are scheduled to open at 6 pm with first fight taking place at 7 pm. Tickets to “NEF 53” are available now at www.porttix.com.