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March 28, 2014

BROTHERS IN ARMS; THE TYLERS AND THE BANGS PREPARE FOR BATTLE AT NEF XIII


[NEF Press Release]

 Lewiston, Maine (March 27, 2014) – When New England Fights Mixed Martial Arts (NEF MMA) returns to Lewiston, Maine on May 10, 2014, the fight promotion will send two sets of brothers into the cage for battle.  The event, titled "NEF XIII," will be the company's second of the year at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.  Featured on the fight card will be the Bang brothers, Steven (2-1) and Sheldon (0-0), both of Auburn, Maine, as well as the Tyler brothers, Jeremy (4-1) and Jarrod (1-1), of Brewer, Maine and West Winterport, Maine respectively.

The Tyler brothers, both training out of Marcus Davis' Team Irish gym in Brewer, have been a fixture on NEF MMA fight cards since mid 2013.  Jarrod was the first to be bitten by the MMA bug after joining the gym in 2012.  Jeremy soon followed his older brother into the Team Irish gym and the sport of MMA.  After losing his first bout in May 2013, Jarrod returned to defeat Nate Charles (1-7) via unanimous decision at "NEF X" last fall.  At "NEF XIII," Jarrod will meet the debuting Jason LaChance (0-0) of MMA Athletix in Bath, Maine.


"I'm extremely excited to be fighting again on the same card as my little brother," said Jarrod Tyler when reached for comment. "Being able to fight on the same card together for the NEF is always an amazing experience. It has been an honor and privilege to be sparing partners with him since joining Team Irish two years ago. Being brothers, we push each other each and every day to be the best we can in this sport.  Of course, it helps my game being able to work with him especially with his unbelievable rookie year last year.  He has over the last year become such a force in New England, he has become the number-four lightweight in the amateur division. He has earned this ranking through incredible hard work and dedication. We thus far have had an incredible fight camp, really working hard to make a statement come May 10th. With this upcoming fight, and the other NEF fight nights scheduled for this year, I plan on fighting my heart out, leaving everything in the cage. God willing, by the end of 2014, I will join my little brother in the Amateur rankings."

Jarrod's younger brother Jeremy had a very successful and prolific first year in the sport, competing four times in just six months.  He was voted "Rookie of the Year" for 2013 by NEF MMA fans.  His much-heralded amateur rivalry with Tollison Lewis (0-1 professional) is still talked about by fight fans across the state of Maine.  Jeremy has won four fights in a row and will look to make it five at "NEF XIII" when he faces Steven Bang.

"Being featured with my brother for this fight card has been such a surreal experience," stated Jeremy Tyler.  "This will be our third time on the same fight card and I am excited for the energy that brings to the fights.  I feel very motivated for my upcoming fight. I am training hard and am focused on improving in all aspects of mixed martial arts. I look forward to building off the momentum I have going into this fight."

Sheldon Bang follows older brothers Steven and Shawn (1-1) into the MMA cage.  It will not be the first time Sheldon has joined his older brothers in the competitive arena.  All three, along with fourth brother Skyler, have wrestled as independents out of Edward Little High School in Auburn, Maine.  Since the school does not have a wrestling program, the Bang brothers and teammates would travel a half-hour each day to train with the team at Oxford Hills High School.  Earlier this year, as a senior, Sheldon won his one-hundredth match and also a Class A State Championship.  At "NEF XIII," Sheldon makes his MMA debut against fellow debuting fighter Mike Moore (0-0) of the Sipayik Boxing Club.

The night will also see Sheldon's older brother Steven Bang look for a measure of revenge over Jeremy Tyler who submitted brother Shawn at "NEF X" last fall.  Steven last appeared in the NEF MMA cage in February 2013 with a unanimous decision victory over Drew Waltz (1-4).  The Bang brothers train out of Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ) in Auburn.

"I'm excited to get back into the cage," said Steven Bang.  "I feel like the time off has given me time to mature as a fighter and I feel that my game has improved quite a bit from the last time I fought.  To fight on the same card as my brother is an awesome feeling. To watch him grow and hone his wrestling skills into MMA is inspirational.  We have a family of warriors who like to work hard and do the best they can.  I always said we were born in the wrong time period, that we belong during the time of Vikings or Spartans were we could fight alongside each other on the battle field.  I feel as if MMA is our battlefield and being able to do battle alongside my brothers is a feeling that is unlike any other.  It's a great honor and privilege and I hope one day to fight on the same card with all my brothers."

“NEF XIII” is scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine with a bell time of 7:00 pm.  In the main event of the evening, Maine State MMA Bantamweight Champion Paul Gorman (10-8) defends against undefeated Kin "Kong" Moy (5-0).  In addition, "The" Ryan Sanders (6-4) will rematch Maine State MMA Welterweight Champion Gil de Freitas (15-5) nearly two years after de Freitas defeated Sanders for the inaugural title.  Tickets for "NEF XIII" 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.”