FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Lewiston, Maine (November 17, 2014) –New England Fights' (NEF) fifteenth mixed martial arts (MMA) event, “NEF XV,” took place this past Saturday night at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine. Despite an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) pay-per-view airing at the same time, as well as two other nationally-televised MMA events on free television, a crowd of more than 1500 braved below-freezing temperatures to witness NEF's final event of the calendar year. In a rare feat for the sport of MMA, all seventeen bouts originally scheduled for the event came to fruition on fight night with only one replacement opponent stepping in the week of the event. In an even rarer feat in the sport, all fighters on the card made their agreed-to fight weight at weigh-ins on Friday.
In the main event of the evening, Bruce "Pretty Boy" Boyington (9-7) successfully defended the NEF Lightweight Championship by submitting Jesse "The Viking" Erickson (3-4) in the third round. It was a rematch of their bout from "NEF XIV" last September. Boyington's striking, as usual, was crisp and on-target. In a surprising twist, it was Boyington's use of a Kimura submission that tolled the end for the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) specialist Erickson.
Boyington's victory capped a stellar night of competition for the athletes of Young's MMA that saw the Bangor, Maine team go undefeated at the event. "The" Ryan Sanders (7-6) and 52-year old Pat Kelly (2-0) both finished their respective opponents, while their teammate Fred Lear (2-0) claimed a unanimous decision victory over Carl Langston (3-6).
The co-main event of "NEF XV" saw Jamie Harrison (5-1) return to NEF after a two-year absence to defeat Tollison Lewis (0-3) in the first round. An accomplished wrestler out of Windham High School in Windham, Maine and the University of Southern Maine, Harrison quickly took Lewis to the mat and worked a Kimura to score the submission. Immediately following the event, rumors swirled around a potential title fight between Harrison and Boyington at "NEF XVI" this coming February.
Matt Denning (1-0) snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in his professional debut against "Shatterproof" Derek Shorey (1-1). Despite Shorey getting the upper hand in the early going, Denning locked an armbar after a takedown and brief scramble to force Shorey to tap. Denning continues his winning ways in the NEF MMA cage, having previously won his last two amateur bouts for the promotion.
On the amateur side of the card, a much-anticipated showdown between former Maine state high school wrestling champions featured Caleb Hall (5-1) and "Dangerous" Dom "Hands of Stone" Cofone (5-5). Hall had a dominant performance, taking Cofone down four times over the course of a round and a half before getting full mount and pounding out a technical knockout win via referee stoppage.
Also on the amateur card, 44-year old Rick Matthews (0-1) of Team Irish dropped a very close split decision to Alex Johnson (1-1). Not to be outdone, 56-year old Mladin Holman (0-1) inspired the entire crowd with his gutsy showing in a losing effort to Gravin Guillen (1-1) in a super-heavyweight contest.
In addition to the fights, NEF announced that the promotion's featherweight champion, Ray "All Business" Wood (5-0), would return at "NEF XVI" on February 7, 2015 to defend his title. Wood relocated to South Carolina shortly after his successful title defense at "NEF XIV" last September in order to further pursue his career in the sport. Also of note, NEF veteran Ryan Hodge (6-9) entered the cage and issued an open challenge to all NEF MMA champions from the welterweight class up through light-heavyweight. Hodge's last appearance for the promotion saw him land a highlight-reel knockout punch on Josh Watson (7-4) in November 2013.
The full results from "NEF XV":
PROFESSIONAL
155*TITLE Bruce Boyington def. Jesse Erickson via Kimura, round 3 (Boyington retains)
159 Jamie Harrison def. Tollison Lewis via Kimua, round 1
160 Ryan Sanders def. Mark DeFord via guillotine, round 1
140 Matt Denning def. Derek Shorey via armbar, round 1
265 Brent Dillingham def. Artie Mullen via TKO, round 1
135 Elias Leland def. Jimmy Alexander via rear-naked choke, round 1
AMATEUR
151 Caleb Hall def. Dom Cofone via TKO, round 2
160 Pat Kelly def. Steven Bang via TKO, round 3
170 Adam Nielsen def. Heath Hanson via rear-naked choke, round 1
130 Dustin Venoitt def. Justin Witham via rear-naked choke, round 1
S.HWT Gravin Guillen def. Mladin Holman via TKO, round 2
155 Alex Johnson def. Rick Matthews via split decision
140 Fred Lear def. Carl Langston via unanimous decision
145 Nick Spencer def. Caleb Serra via TKO, round 3
180 Ricky Dexter def. Jacob Cameron via TKO, round 1
145 Henry Clark def. Sheldon Bang via triangle choke, round 2
NEF's next MMA event, "NEF XVI," takes place on February 7, 2015. Ray "All Business" Wood (5-0) returns that night to defend the NEF MMA Featherweight Title. Tickets start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling The Colisee box office at 207.783.2009 x 525. For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com.
About New England Fights
New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.
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