Lewiston, Maine (May 16, 2014) – New England Fights Mixed Martial Arts (NEF MMA), the Northeast’s premier mixed martial arts promotion, today announced the addition of a Maine State MMA Lightweight Title fight to the company's "NEF XIV" event. "NEF XIV" is scheduled to take place at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston on Saturday, September 6, 2014. The bout will feature top contenders Bruce "Pretty Boy" Boyington (6-7) and Jesse "The Viking" Erickson (3-2) squaring off to fill the vacant championship.
The Maine State MMA Lightweight Title has remained vacant since June 2013. Dez "The Predator" Green (12-3) had won the belt with a dominant performance over UFC veteran Henry Martinez (9-6) at "NEF VII." Weeks later, Green vacated the title to sign with national fight promotion Bellator. NEF MMA tried several times in vain to fill the championship spot, each time falling victim to a fighter pull-out or one of the challengers missing weight at weigh-ins.
"It won't be the case this time," declared NEF MMA co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo. "Jesse and Bruce are two of our most dependable fighters. They are the heart and soul of this promotion. They come to fight every single time. Fans should come to the Colisee on September 6 expecting to see a new champion crowned at 155-pounds."
Boyington is currently recovering from a broken hand suffered in a winning-effort on a small-time promotion's card in Boston, Massachusetts. A Taekwondo specialist training out of Young's MMA in Bangor, Maine, Boyington has won three of his last four, his only loss coming as part of a controversial finish at "NEF XII" earlier this year. He recently signed a contract with NEF MMA which will see the Brewer, Maine resident competing regularly in his home state for years to come. With the future in the back of his mind, Boyington would like nothing more than to put the gold around his waist on September 6.
“Once again, I have the opportunity to share the NEF cage with someone—and I have respect for Jesse,” stated Boyington when reached for comment. “I have found the love and passion for the sport again and I couldn't be more excited to get in the cage and dance. We have revamped our camps, our gym and the people we are working with; and I'm confident I have the right team and the right skills to find success once again. Ultimately, I'm just very, very excited just to walk into the cage and do what I love. I can safely say, I have found what works for me and I continue to improve with those around me. Jesse has good skills and comes from a good school, but this is a case where I believe the difference in athletes and level of instruction and competition in our gyms will show on September 6th. I wish Jesse all the best in his training—stay safe, stay healthy, and I will see you soon, with a locked cage door in our presence.”
Like Boyington, Jesse Erickson has also won three of his last four fights. At "NEF XIII" last weekend, it took Erickson a mere 36-seconds to submit John Daniels (2-3). The rear-naked choke victory earned the Auburn, Maine-native his second win in a row and the Origin "Submission of the Night" bonus. A cornerstone of NEF MMA, Erickson has competed on all but three of the fight promotion's cards. All eleven of Erickson’s professional and amateur bouts have been contested on New England Fights events, including his professional debut on NEF MMA's co-promotion with Bellator in March 2013. Erickson trains out of, and instructs at, Travis Wells' Central Maine Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a Team New England United affiliate located in Auburn. Now, Erickson will look to win the Maine State Lightweight Title before hundreds of his friends, family and fans in neighboring Lewiston.
“I’m honored to have the opportunity to fight for the NEF Maine State MMA Lightweight title against Bruce Boyington,” stated Erickson when reached for comment. “Neither one of us have ever had a boring fight and we both want that belt. I fully expect this to be a war. Everyone from Young’s MMA keeps a relentless pace. That being said, I know I have the tools to beat him and I will do everything in my power to leave that cage as the lightweight champion. Thank you NEF MMA for the opportunity.”
“I’ve never seen either fighter more motivated and focused on victory,” stated NEF MMA co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson. “Both guys look better and better in every fight. Bruce is becoming the fully formed mixed martial artist that everyone knew he had the athletic ability to achieve. Jesse has seven wins at 155-pounds between his amateur and professional careers—and all seven wins were first round finishes—and all but one of his losses came at higher catchweights above his normal fighting weight. I can’t wait to see what unfolds between these two spectacular fighters on September 6th.”
NEF MMA's next event, “NEF XIV,” is scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 6, 2014 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine with a bell time of 7:00 pm. In the main event of the evening, Tim "The Maine-iac" Sylvia (31-9) returns to Maine to face fellow UFC veteran Christian Morecraft (8-3) for the Super-Heavyweight Title. Featherweight Champion Ray "All Business" Wood (4-0) returns from injury after a year of recovery. Plus, Bruce "Pretty Boy" Boyington (6-7) and Jesse "The Viking" Erickson (3-2) will meet for the Lightweight Title. Tickets for "NEF XIV" 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.”