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August 23, 2018

BOUTIN IS BACK AND GARDNER TURNS PRO AT NEF 35 IN BANGOR



[NEF PRESS RELEASE]

 Bangor, Maine (August 20, 2018) – New England Fights (NEF) will hold its next mixed-martial-arts event, "NEF 35: Wicked Season," on September 8 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.  Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the addition of a professional middleweight bout to the card.  Crowsneck Boutin (2-3) will return to the cage to take on Mark "Pockets" Gardner (0-0) at a fight weight of 185-pounds.

It will have been two years almost to the day since Boutin last competed in the NEF cage.  That September night in 2016 he was defeated by Jesse Erickson (9-7) at "NEF 25."  Since that time, Boutin has become an instructor with a new team, Bad Little Falls Dojo, based in Machias, Maine and has concentrated on raising his young daughter.  He will look to recapture the glory of his 2014 season when he went 3-0, including two first-round knockouts, in the NEF cage and was voted "Fighter of the Year" by fans.

 “I am blessed with this opportunity to go to war inside the NEF cage," said Boutin.  "Past two years, I’ve been fighting for my sweet princess, Iola Soule. I possess new light, and I’d whoop the old me’s ass. I am still aboard this ride. I am a revenant.”



 Mark Gardner has had a stellar first year with NEF.  Last November, he debuted with a second-round technical knockout of Carlton Charles (2-2) at "NEF 31."  He would follow up that success with a pair of first-round finishes this year, including a submission victory by arm bar earlier this summer at "NEF 34."  In all, he finished his amateur career a perfect 3-0.  Gardner is a product of the Academy of Mixed Martial Arts based in Portland, Maine.

 “I can't wait to fight Crowsneck in September," said Gardner.  "To be able to make my pro debut so soon after three good fights is pretty rad. I've been training hard for this and I can't wait to see it pay off in there.”

 NEF's next mixed-martial-arts event, "NEF 35: Wicked Season," will see the company make its return to the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine.  The event is scheduled to take place Saturday, September 8, 2018 with a bell time of 7 pm.  Tickets are on sale now at www.CrossInsuranceCenter.com.