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January 3, 2014

NEF MMA ANNOUNCES FULL FIGHT CARD FOR FEBRUARY 8 LEWISTON EVENT

[NEF PressRelease]

Lewiston, Maine (January 3, 2014) – New England Fights Mixed Martial Arts (NEF MMA) today announced the full card for the fight promotion's next event.  The show, titled "NEF XII," will take place on Saturday, February 8, 2014 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee with a start time of 7:00 pm EST.  Tickets to the event are currently on sale at the Colisee box office.

In the main event of the evening, Maine MMA legend Marcus "The Irish Hand Grenade" Davis (22-10) faces his former student "THE" Ryan Sanders (5-4) in a welterweight contest.  Davis is a veteran of the UFC Octagon, and both Davis and Sanders have competed before national audiences on Spike TV with the Bellator promotion.  The long-awaited showdown between the two has been brewing since Sanders' exit from Davis' Team Irish in 2011.  Sanders now represents Young's MMA - Team Irish's chief rival in the Bangor area.  The well-documented heat between the two camps is no secret to Maine MMA fans, and the rivalry is expected to come to a head in the February 8 bout.  Sanders' recent Podcast interview regarding the bout can be heard at www.NewEnglandFights.com/Podcasts/.

The co-main event of the evening will feature Maine State MMA Middleweight Titleholder Jesse Peterson (7-4) defending his championship against the challenge of "Ruthless" Mike Zichelle (6-3).  Peterson, a native of Rumford, Maine and a 2000 state wrestling champion with Mountain Valley High School, returns to the cage for the first time in nearly a year.  In other featured professional bouts, John "First Class" Raio (1-4) meets Bruce "Pretty Boy" Boyington (5-6) in a battle of fan favorites, and submission specialist Jarod "Last Minute" Lawton (3-1) takes on the always-exciting John Ortolani (7-8) in the main card's other big welterweight contest.


On the amateur side of the card, the "NEF MMA 2013 Rookie of the Year" Jeremy Tyler (3-1) looks to continue his winning ways in his sophomore year when he faces the tough challenge of Lewiston-Auburn's own Corey Hinkley (2-1).  Jeremy's brother, Jarrod Tyler (1-1), is also featured on the amateur card in a bout with impressive New Hampshire prospect Wayne Ahlquist (3-5).

The full fight card for "NEF XII" (subject to change and approval of the Combat Sports Authority of Maine):

PROFESSIONAL

170 Marcus Davis 22-10 (Team Irish) vs Ryan Sanders 5-4 (Young’s MMA)
185*Title Jesse Peterson 7-4 (CMBJJ/SSSF) vs Mike Zichelle 6-3 (Team Triumph)
170 Jarod Lawton 3-1 (New England United) vs John Ortolani 7-8 (Team Triumph)
155 Jesse Erickson 1-2 (CMBJJ) vs Tollison Lewis 0-0 (Balanced Ground MMA)
160 Ryan Cowette 1-2 (MMA Athletix) vs Dave Claroni 0-1 (Olympia Health and Fitness Center)
145 Bruce Boyington 5-6 (Young’s MMA) vs John Raio 1-4 (First Class MMA)

AMATEUR

285 Kevin Smith 2-1 (Young’s MMA) vs Devon Newell 0-0 (Sipayik Boxing Club)
205 Kyle Bean 0-0 (First Class MMA) vs Ben Raven 0-2 (Sipayik Boxing Club)
205 Brandon Gibbs 1-0 (CMBJJ) vs Jeremy Stevens 2-0 (Sipayik Boxing Club)
185 Dan Connaughton 2-0 (Defensive Edge) vs Mike Vangelist 1-0 (AMMA)
155 Jeremy Tyler 3-1 (Team Irish) vs Corey Hinkley 2-1 (CMBJJ)
155 Jarrod Tyler 1-1 (Team Irish) vs Wayne Ahlquist 3-5 (Lakes Regional Vale Tudo)
145 Caleb Costello 1-2 (Team Irish) vs Matt Denning 2-3 (CMBJJ)
145 Charlie Stambach 2-0 (Team Irish) vs Carl Langston 0-2 (Balanced Ground MMA)
145 Derek Shorey 2-8 (The Shop) vs Drew Waltz 1-4 (Young’s MMA)
145 Aaron Lacey 2-0 (Young’s MMA) vs TBD
135 Ryan Daley 0-1 (Team Irish) vs John Crafts 0-0 (New England United)
125 Kevin Barrett 2-1 (Young's MMA) vs Norman Fox 2-0 (MMA Athletix)
125 Trevor Hebert 1-2 (First Class MMA) vs Dustin Venoit 0-2 (CMBJJ)
125 Stephen Desjardins 2-3 (Team Irish) vs Jason Bell 0-1 (New England United)

Tickets for "NEF XII" start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling The Colisee box office at 207.783.2009 x 525. For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com.  In addition, you can watch NEF MMA videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”