[NEF PRESS RELEASE]
Portland, Maine (July 3, 2023) – New England Fights returns to Merrill Auditorium in Portland with its next mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, “NEF 53: American Valor,” this Saturday, July 8, 2023. Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the addition of an amateur catchweight bout to the card. Sean Wakefield (2-2) will meet Jake Silver (0-0) at a fight weight of 180 pounds.
Sean Wakefield will make his first appearance in the NEF cage this Saturday, but he has been competing in combat sports for close to a year now. Wakefield debuted in a Muay Thai bout on a card in Massachusetts in the summer of 2022. He would make his official amateur MMA debut later that fall. Wakefield has gone 2-2 in MMA with one win by submission and the other by unanimous decision. He represents Evolution Athletix based in Saco, Maine.
“I’m excited to be able to fight with my whole team so close to home,” said Wakefield. “I’m hoping to be able to put on a show in front of a local crowd!”
Jake Silver will make his amateur MMA debut this Saturday at “NEF 53.” He took the fight with Wakefield on short notice. Silver represents Silver MMA.
“I took the fight on short notice, but I have been training for this opportunity for a long time,” noted Silver. “Martial arts have been a passion of mine for a long part of my life and I have been waiting for an opportunity to test myself.”
“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.