[NEF Press Release]
Portland, Maine (January 30, 2019) - On the heels of an official sellout in Bangor, Maine prior to this Friday's "NEF 37: SUBZERO" event, New England Fights (NEF) announced today that its next show, "NEF 38: STORMBORN," will take place on Saturday, April 27 at Aura in Portland. A special 24-hour-only ticket pre-sale started this morning at www.Ticketmaster.com. Promo code "NEF" unlocks the pre-sale. With the five most recent NEF events sold out in advance, fans are urged to get their tickets early.
NEF also announced an amateur championship fight for the April 27 card. "Killa" Kam Arnold (4-0) will put his NEF MMA Amateur Bantamweight Title, as well as his perfect record, on the line against longtime competitor Henry Clark (5-4). Arnold and Clark are both known for their high-powered offense and explosive finishes in the cage.
“You couldn’t engineer a more exciting bantamweight title bout," said NEF MMA co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson. "Both guys are frothing for it. Both of these men were bred for battle—and I guarantee that we’ll witness an unforgettable fight when they finally meet for the bantamweight championship.”
Kam Arnold has been the fastest rising star on the NEF roster since his debut in June of 2017. He rattled off three finishes in 2018, earning himself "Fighter of the Year" honors. Arnold's bout for the then-vacant bantamweight strap with Killian Murphy (1-2) last summer was also voted "Fight of the Year" by NEF fans. The upcoming fight with Henry Clark will be his first defense of that title. Arnold represents Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Lewiston, Maine.
“I can’t wait to get back in the NEF cage—it’s been long overdue," exclaimed Arnold. "To be defending my title against such a tough opponent in his hometown is the shit I live for. He’s a game dude who won’t back out. Not to mention, he has some big wins within this division. He’s one guy who’s close to being pro-ready and I’m excited to put my tools to work to test where I am at. I’m very confident that I will finish him in a devastating fashion. I’ve got a chip on my shoulder, and I’m stronger mentally more than ever. My game has been evolving and constantly improving every day. On April 27th, everyone is going to see why I’m the best ammy 35er in New England.”
“Kam Arnold is a top-ranked champion for a reason—he stays busy and he puts people to sleep," said Peterson. "Since he started competing, he’s kept counsel with the right people, stayed on the path—and the results speak for themselves. Four fights, four victories, four finishes. In 2018, he was indisputably the most active, dominant bantamweight in New England—and he’s promised more of the same violence in 2019.”
Henry Clark has been a mainstay of the NEF cage since his debut in the fall of 2014. His triangle choke submission of Fred Lear (6-2) after enduring a pair of vicious slams on the back of his head at "NEF 19" is one of the most memorable finishes in the fight promotion's history. He had one previous crack at the bantamweight championship, losing to Johnny Crafts (4-1) in the third, and final, round of a February 2016 bout.
Clark is on a roll with two big wins last year. At "NEF 34" last summer, he submitted Jack Greene (2-6) with a D'Arce Choke. He followed up that performance with a unanimous decision victory over Killian Murphy at "NEF 36" this past fall. Clark is a member of the Choi Institute in Portland.
“It's been a long road for me to get back to a title fight," said Clark. "I've put together two wins and a great 2018 to claim my belt. Kam is a great challenge and I look forward to showing all my weapons on the path to victory. I'm one of the best, most complete fighters in the state and I believe that I embody the ideology of a martial artist better than anyone. This belt, this fight, is just my opportunity to prove it to everyone.”
“Henry Clark has been putting in work in the NEF cage for over four years," said Peterson. "He’s faced the best bantamweights out there during his nine fights. He’s crafty everywhere. He’s also one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet in public, but when it’s fight night, his switch flips and he goes to a dark place. He will certainly be the most dangerous, experienced opponent that Kam Arnold has ever faced.”
"NEF 38: STORMBORN" is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 27, 2019 at Aura in Portland, Maine with a bell time of 7 pm. Tickets are on-sale now at www.AuraMaine.com with pre-sale code "NEF."
NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 37: SUB ZERO,” will take place this Friday, February 1, 2019 at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine with a bell time of 8 pm. Tickets are sold out, but the event will be live streamed at www.Youtube.com/NEFMMA/.