Lewiston, Maine (July 10, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America's number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its nineteenth mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, "NEF XIX," on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. Earlier today, the promotion announced the addition of a professional featherweight championship bout to the fight card. Anthony "Cheesesteak" Morrison (17-9) will defend the NEF MMA Professional Featherweight Title against Vovka "KGB" Clay (3-0). The bout is scheduled for five five-minute rounds at a weight of 145-pounds.
Morrison stunned the NEF universe this past February when he arrived in Lewiston and submitted hometown hero Ray Wood (5-1) in the fifth round to win the championship title. It was as if he had sucked all the air out of the Colisée with a vacuum. Morrison played the role of spoiler that cold, snowy night in Lewiston.
"I've never seen anything like that before," said NEF co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo. "The entire place just dropped into a dead silence. I don't think anyone in Maine saw that coming, and I certainly don't think anyone who's followed NEF expected a fighter to come in and do that to Ray Wood. Everyone was shocked. It was a surreal moment."
Morrison is a seasoned veteran with more than a decade's experience in the sport. He has competed against the best MMA has to offer on the national stage, including a stint in World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) and Bellator. Morrison trains out of Daddis MMA in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
"I am very thankful to return to the beautiful state of Maine, for my first title defense," said Morrison. "It will be a very entertaining fight and another victory for the five time! Five time! Five time! Five time! Five time! Mixed martial arts champion, Anthony Morrison."
Vovka Clay is undefeated as a professional. He competed as an amateur twice in NEF and won both fights by submission in an impressive fashion. Clay is considered one of the true rising stars of the New England fight scene. A win over an accomplished veteran like Morrison could potentially propel Clay onto the national stage. He is a product of Team Triumph/Boston BJJ of Nashua, New Hampshire.
"Every fighter has a dream of making it to the UFC," said Clay. "Some choose to go after meaningless titles and pad their records fighting nobodies. I choose to fight the highest level of competition possible. I am thrilled to be fighting Anthony Morrison for the NEF Featherweight title. He is a very durable and crafty veteran. It won't be easy, but if I fight my fight, I will finish Morrison and I will be the NEF Featherweight Champion."
New England Fights' next event, "NEF XIX," takes place on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. Tickets for "NEF XIX" start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée 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.”