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December 23, 2014

SUPER-HEAVYWEIGHT REMATCH BOOKED FOR NEF XVI

[NEF Press Release]

Lewiston, Maine (December 19, 2014) –New England Fights (NEF), America's number-one regional fight promotion, presents its sixteenth mixed martial arts (MMA) event, “NEF XVI,” on February 7, 2015 in Lewiston, Maine.  The event is scheduled to originate from the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.  Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of an amateur super-heavyweight bout to the fight card.  Gravin "The Stampede" Guillen (1-1) will rematch Mladen Holman (0-1) in the 265-pound-plus division.

The first meeting between the two, at "NEF XV" last month, resulted in a victory for Guillen.  The end came 1:51 into the second-round when Guillen delivered a big right hand that dropped Holman.  As Guillen prepared to pounce on his fallen opponent, referee John English dove in and halted the fight, giving the victory to Guillen via technical knockout (TKO).  Holman swept Guillen and ended the fight in top position mere seconds after the referee stoppage, thereby drawing a chorus of jeers from the crowd who felt Holman had more to give.  NEF executives were quickly peppered with messages from fans calling for a rematch.


The crowd of more than 1500 had good reason to cheer Holman on that cold November night.  Much had been made of the fact that the Portland, Maine resident, at the age of 56, was the oldest athlete to ever step foot in the NEF MMA cage.  His story inspired many in attendance.  A member of the Choi Institute in Portland, Holman is a native of Croatia and served in the Croatian army before relocating to the United States in the 2000s.  Holman is an accomplished practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), having placed second in the world championship's 50-and-over division.

Gravin Guillen is also no stranger to combat nor combat sports.  He has practiced several forms of the martial arts, including Taekwondo and Karate, since he was very young.  He served in the United States Marine Corps (USMC) where he trained others in the Corps' martial arts program.  He did two tours of Iraq during his time with the USMC.  Guillen lost his NEF MMA debut last September to Billy Leahy (1-1), before rebounding with the victory over Holman.  He calls Somerville, Massachusetts his home and he competes as an independent fighter.

"It's an honor that Mladen is asking for a rematch," said Guillen when reached for comment. "It shows he respects me as a fighter because I respect him. It will be a great fight no doubt until the very end.  I do not believe the fight was halted too early.  I had the advantage being on top."

NEF's next MMA event, "NEF XVI," takes place on February 7, 2015.  Ray "All Business" Wood (5-0) returns that night to defend the NEF MMA Featherweight Title against Bellator and WEC veteran Anthony "Cheesesteak" Morrison (16-9).  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 videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”