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July 31, 2019

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT BATTLE WILL BE FEATURED ON NEF 40 PRO CARD

Buck Pineau
[NEF PRESS RELEASE]

Orono, Maine (July 23, 2019) – New England Fights (NEF) will debut in Orono on September 7, 2019 at the Collins Center for the Arts with the promotion's next mixed-martial-arts event, "NEF 40: School of Hard Knocks."  Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of a professional light heavyweight bout to the card.  Victor Irwin (1-2) will take on Buck "Knuckles" Pineau (1-6) at a fight weight of 205 pounds.

 Victor Irwin brings a strong background in wrestling with him to the MMA cage.  He was a two-time state champion competing for Brewer High School in Brewer, Maine.  Later, Irwin was an All American while at Eastern Maine Community College.

 Irwin was a perfect 3-0 as an amateur in the NEF cage, capturing the amateur light heavyweight title in his final amateur bout in February 2017, unseating Ryan Glover (4-2).  He would go on to lose his first two fights as a professional before earning his first victory as a pro last spring on a card in Massachusetts.  The September 7th bout with Pineau will be Irwin's first appearance as a professional for NEF.  Irwin currently represents Young's MMA based in Bangor, Maine.



 "I think it's going to be a good fight," said Irwin when reached for comment.  "We both bring interesting styles to table. I look forward to the fight."

 Buck Pineau had a prolific run as an amateur with NEF.  Pineau competed on eight of the promotion's first 14 events.  In one of the most memorable NEF performances of all time, Pineau defeated Isaiah Queen (2-4) via unanimous decision at "NEF IX."  Pineau had suffered a fracture to his knee and three torn ligaments in the first round.  Despite the injury, and against  the advice of the cageside physician, Pineau continued the fight, hobbling on one leg for the second and third rounds to earn the win.

Victor Irwin
 Like Irwin, the September 7th contest will be Pineau's first as a professional with NEF.  In fact, Pineau's last fight as an amateur with the promotion will have been exactly five years and one day prior to "NEF 40."

“I am very excited to be a part of this show in Orono," exclaimed Pineau.  "It's been far too long since I’ve stepped into the NEF cage and put on a show! Victor is a tough kid, but it’s been a very long time since I’ve been able to train fully for a fight, and now I have time. I’ll be looking to stuff takedowns and really let my hands and feet go this fight so I can start getting my record back on track! Thank you for the opportunity Matt Peterson, Victor, and the NEF organization!”

New England Fights' next mixed-martial-arts event, "NEF 40: SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS," will take place Saturday, September 7, 2019 at the Collins Center for the Arts at the University of Maine as the promotion debuts in Orono, Maine.  Tickets are on sale now at www.collinscenterforthearts.com.