Bangor, Maine (July 21, 2017) – New England Fights (NEF) returns to the Cross Insurance Center on Saturday night, August 5, 2017 with the fight promotion's next mixed-martial-arts event, "NEF 30: Rumble in Bangor." Earlier today, NEF announced the full fight card for the event.
In the main event of the evening, Bangor's own CJ Ewer (2-0) will meet Mike Hansen (5-5) of Rumford, Maine in a five-round contest to crown a new NEF MMA Pro Middleweight Champion. Ewer is a member of local gym Young's MMA while Hansen represents Berserkers MMA based in the River Valley region of the state. Ewer had a highlight-reel knockout over Ruben Redman (0-1) in his last bout at the Cross - exactly one year to the day he will meet Hansen.
The co-main event of the evening will see Ewer's Young's teammate, undefeated Bangor prospect Aaron Lacey (4-0) take on Bellator veteran Bryan Goldsby (17-16). Goldsby will represent Lacey's most-seasoned challenge to date. Lacey has been nothing short of "Relentless" - his nickname - since turning pro. He has submitted three of his four opponents in the first round. Only John Santos (3-5) was able to survive three full rounds with Lacey last summer in Bangor. Lacey won that fight via split decision in a rugged, back-and-forth, "fight of the night" performance.
Rounding out the pro card will be another Young's cornerstone, "The" Ryan Sanders (14-8), who will meet Milwaukee, Wisconsin veteran Jay Ellis (14-68) in a welterweight contest. Sanders is the reigning NEF MMA Pro Lightweight Champion, having defeated Jon Lemke (6-8) in a tournament final last April to claim the title. The bout with Ellis will be a non-title affair. Sanders is riding a four-fight win streak which began one year ago to the day at the Cross.
Headlining the amateur portion of the fight card will be an NEF MMA Amateur Bantamweight Title fight. Fred Lear (5-2) of Bangor will do battle with Jefferson, Maine's Walt Shea (2-0) for the vacant 135-pound championship. Lear and Shea will continue a competitive rivalry that has developed in the amateur ranks in recent years between Lear's camp Young's MMA and Shea's team of First Class MMA based in Brunswick, Maine.
Opening the night will be a women's fight between Angela Young (2-2), wife of Young's MMA founder and head coach Chris Young, and Florida's Jessica "The Black Widow" Borga (5-2). The scrap is expected to be an exciting one. Young, a Registered Nurse at Eastern Maine Medical Center (EMMC), has put on several "fight of the night" performances that have sent audiences into a frenzy. Borga will make her third trip to Maine in the past year to compete in the NEF cage.
The full "NEF 30" fight card (subject to change):
PROFESSIONAL MMA
185*TITLE C.J. Ewer 2-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Mike Hansen 5-5 (Berserkers MMA)
170 Ryan Sanders 14-8 (Young’s MMA) vs Jay Ellis 14-68 (Team Knockout)
145 Aaron Lacey 4-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Bryan Goldsby 17-16 (Jorge Gurgel)
AMATEUR MMA
135*TITLE Fred Lear 5-2 (Young’s MMA) vs Walt Shea 2-0 (First Class MMA)
265 Roger Ewer 0-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Dustin Freeman 0-0 (Independent)
185 Josh Jones 2-0 (First Class MMA) vs Carlton Charles 0-0 (Charles Family Fighting/Fire&Iron Athletics)
170 Anthony Lapointe 0-1 (Titan Athletics) vs Jesse Hutchinson 0-0 (CMBJJ)
160 Zachary Faulkner 0-0 (Titan Athletics) vs David Hart 0-0 (Kenney’s MMA)
145 Robbie Kiah 1-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Robert H. Norris III (Independent)
135 Nate Boucher 1-0 (CMBJJ) vs Jeremiah Barkac 0-0 (Independent)
135 Angela Young 2-2 (Young’s MMA) vs Jessica Borga 5-3 (Champions MMA)