[NEF Press Release]
Lewiston, Maine (October 16, 2014) – New England Fights (NEF), America's number-one regional fight promotion, today announced the addition of a professional welterweight bout to the company's fifteenth mixed martial arts (MMA) event, "NEF XV." The bout will feature John Ortolani (7-9) taking on "Little" John Healey (0-1) at a weight of 170-pounds. "NEF XV" is scheduled to originate from the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine on November 15, 2014 with a bell time of 7:00 pm.
It will be more than nine months since John Ortolani last competed in the NEF MMA cage. Ortolani was on the receiving end of a Jarod Lawton (4-1) knockout punch that cold night in February 2014. The months that followed would see the two-sport athlete take to the Major League Lacrosse field with his team the Rochester Rattlers. With the lacrosse season over, Ortolani made the transition back to MMA earlier this fall with Team Triumph Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Nashua, New Hampshire. Ortolani will look to get back on the winning track on November 15 when he steps into the cage opposite John Healey.
"I'm really excited to get back in the cage," said Ortolani. "Healey is a tough kid from a good team. It should be an exciting fight to watch. I haven't been in a boring fight yet and I don't plan on starting now. I've been improving every day at Triumph and it will show on the 15th."
John Healey was looking forward to making his NEF MMA professional debut at "NEF XIV" last month, but was disappointed to learn that his scheduled opponent, Ryan Cowette (2-2), had suffered a medical emergency just hours before weigh-ins and would not be able to compete. Healey will get the opportunity to fight as a professional once more on November 15 in the same cage he competed in three times as an amateur. He won all three of those contests. Healey hopes to continue his success in NEF at "NEF XV" against Ortolani. Like Ortolani, Healey predicts an exciting fight for the fans.
"Fighting John Ortolani will be my toughest opponent of my career so far," Healey declared. "He is a veteran with 16 pro fights under his belt and is a strong opponent, but on November 15th, I will be ready. He hits hard and is very strong, but I am ready in all aspects of my game to fight John and ready to put on a show. This fight is sure to be fight of the night because I will not give up - I never do - and I cannot wait until November 15th to take on John. I'm excited to have the opportunity to fight for NEF on this upcoming card. Be ready folks because there is sure to be fireworks when we clash, as we both hit hard and are good on the ground so be ready for an all out war."
NEF's next mixed martial arts event, "NEF XV" takes place Saturday, November 15, 2014 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine. In the main event of the evening, Bruce "Pretty Boy" Boyington (8-7) will defend the NEF Lightweight Championship against Jesse "The Viking" Erickson (3-3) in a rematch from "NEF XIV." Tickets 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 fight videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow the promotion on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”