FORMER FLYWEIGHT CHAMPION RETURNING TO NEF CAGE AFTER FOUR-YEAR ABSENCE

Dustin Veinott

[NEF PRESS RELEASE]

Orono, Maine (February 27, 2020) – New England Fights (NEF) will present its next mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event at the Collins Center for the Arts on the University of Maine’s flagship Orono campus.  The event, titled “NEF 43: Rampage,” will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2020, with a bell-time of 7 pm EDT.  Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the addition of an amateur flyweight bout to the card.  Dustin Veinott (5-4) will take on Steve Desjardins (5-4) at a fight weight of 125 pounds.  The bout will be a rematch of their previous encounter in February 2014 won by Desjardins via unanimous decision.

 Dustin Veinott will be returning to the NEF cage for the first time since the spring of 2016 when he defeated Ryan Burgess (3-2) by second-round submission.  He is the former NEF Amateur Flyweight Chamion, a belt he won over Norman Fox (now 0-1 as a professional) at “NEF 18” in 2015.  Veinott has spent the last several years training fighters as the Muay Thai coach at Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ) in Lewiston, Maine.  He is looking forward to the opportunity to redeem himself after his first encounter with Desjardins.

 “After being gone for almost four years due to unforeseen circumstances, I’m back,” exclaimed Veinott.  “I respect my opponent, Stephen Desjardins.  He has a great wrestling base, and he has already beat me once.  I am a different animal now, though. I am here to pick back up where I left off. I’m back and I’m here to make a statement.”

Steve Desjardins

Steve Desjardins is a longtime veteran of the New England MMA scene with an amateur career stretching back to 2011.  He made his triumphant return to NEF last fall in Orono after a five-year hiatus, defeating Dillon Henry (0-4) at “NEF 40.”  Desjardins then took on Nate Boucher (now 0-1 as a professional) in a losing effort attempting to capture the amateur flyweight strap at “NEF 41” in November.   Desjardins is currently an independent fighter based out of nearby Brewer, Maine.

 “I am thrilled to be fighting again in my backyard and to be putting on a great fight with another tough guy,” said Desjardins.  “Don’t miss it!”

New England Fights' next mixed-martial-arts event, "NEF 43: Rampage," will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2020, at the Collins Center for the Arts at UMaine Orono. Tickets are on sale now at www.CollinsCenterfortheArts.com.