[NEF Press Release]
Lewiston, Maine (November 14, 2012) –New England Fights! (NEF) returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine this Saturday evening to present its fifth (and final) fight card of the year in the state. Currently, five professional bouts are scheduled on the main card preceded by a dozen amateur preliminary fights.
"Maine is so heavy with mixed-martial arts talent right now, it's difficult to comprehend just how far the sport has come in the short time it's been regulated here," stated NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson. "At the top of the card we have Paul Gorman (9-9) out of Portland taking on Adam Toussaint (5-4) of North Berwick in a match that will determine the first-ever Maine State Bantamweight Champion. We have Ryan Sanders (4-2) from Brewer in a welterweight battle with Augusta's Jarod Lawton (1-1) that could very well end up being a contender for fight of the year. And then we have a double-pro debut featuring two of the state's most popular fighters in Ray Wood of Bangor (5-1 amateur record) and John Raio (4-0 amateur record) fighting out of Gardiner. Fight teams and fans from every corner of the state will be descending on the Colisee this Saturday afternoon to see this card."
Averaging crowds of 3,000 at the Colisee in three previous events this year and a sell-out of 1,600 at the Biddeford Arena last spring, NEF expects another large crowd for its card this weekend. With four successful events in the state this year, and a fifth on tap for Saturday, it appears that Mainers are hooked on the world's fastest growing sport, and will be for years to come if the NEF brass has its way.
"I couldn't be happier with the response we've gotten in the state," said NEF co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo. "I knew we'd do well in this market, but I could've never foreseen just how passionate the fans would be about the sport. Our success is based on the popularity of our fighters and the rich history of combat sports in Maine. From producing world champions like Tim Sylvia (31-7) and Mike Brown (22-8), both of whom have been part of NEF events this year, to churning out fighters from the state's fantastic wrestling programs, such as current Maine State Middleweight Champion Jesse Peterson (7-2) who won a state championship wrestling for Mountain Valley in 2000, Maine is a hotbed of MMA. In 2013, we'll continue to produce shows in Lewiston, as well as other parts of the state where we're currently trying to work out deals with different venues. If you haven't been to one of our events already, come out to the Colisee on Saturday to see what everyone is talking about. You won't be disappointed. Matt and I are family men, and we pride our events on being very family friendly, so bring the kids and enjoy a night out together before the holidays."
Fight Night V is slated for this Saturday, November 17 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, ME with a special start time of 5:00 PM. Tickets for Fight Night V are on sale now atwww.TheColisee.com or by calling The Colisee box office at 207.783.2009 x 525. The box office will open on Saturday at 10:00 AM. Fans are urged to arrive early to buy tickets in order to avoid long lines. For more information on this event, visit www.NewEnglandFights.com. You can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”
If You Enjoyed This Article Please Comment. Support us by following our twitter and our facebook fan page. It is the best way to stay up to date on local MMA! Any news you would like us to share email us at westernmassmma@gmail.com. Thanks!