FIVE OVER 40 ON LEWISTON FIGHT CARD LOOK TO PROVE AGE IS NOTHING BUT A NUMBER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Lewiston, Maine (November 13, 2014) – New England Fights (NEF), America's number-one regional fight promotion, presents its fifteenth mixed martial arts (MMA) event, "NEF XV," this Saturday, November 15, 2014 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.  The fight card will feature a total of five athletes over the age of 40 competing, two of them being over 50.  While the fight promotion has hosted fighters over 40 on its previous cards, this will be the first time such a large contingent of quadragenarians and quinquagenarians have converged on the same event.

"This is one of the real interesting storylines going into 'NEF XV' this weekend," said NEF co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo. "The average age of a competitor on any given NEF event is 26, so having these five guys fighting on the same card together is very unique.  We have a youth-obsessed culture in this country, and I think most people associate athletics with the young.  The martial arts, however, are for everyone.  They do not discriminate, and you see more and more people over 40 walking into gyms for the first time nowadays.  These five athletes are going to inspire a lot of people Saturday night in Lewiston by the example they set."

At 47, Artie Mullen may not be the oldest of the group, but he is certainly the most experienced in the cage.  Mullen has been a professional MMA competitor since 2007, having previously fought a dozen times on New England cards.  His last appearance in the NEF MMA cage was in April 2012 at "NEF II" in Biddeford, Maine. Mullen lost that night to Jesse Peterson, but Peterson later remarked that he had never in his career been hit as hard as he had been by Mullen that night.  Mullen, the owner and operator of MMA of Southern Maine, will meet Brent Dillingham, in a heavyweight battle at "NEF XV" this weekend.  Dillingham, 25, is nearly half Mullen's age, but Mullen vows he feels better than ever and is ready for this fight.

"I love representing for men over 40," began Mullen, "letting the young guys know we are still in the battle. At 47 I feel so awesome. It's time to battle."

Mladin Holman, 56, of Portland, ME will make his MMA debut onthis Saturday's card.  Training out of the Choi Institute, Holman is a native of Croatia, having served as a general in the Croatian army before relocating to the United States in the early 2000s.  He is accomplished in the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, having placed second in the world championship's 50-and-over division.  He will meet Gravin Guillen (0-1) of Somerville, Massachusetts in a super-heavyweight bout.  Holman will become the oldest individual to ever compete in the NEF MMA cage.

Rick Matthews, 44, of Bangor, Maine, had wanted to participate in MMA for many years, but because of injuries, life choices, and health issues he was never able to seriously pursue that dream. After seeing himself at 206-pounds, Matthews decided to make a change in his life.  Training at Team Irish under MMA legend Marcus "The Irish Hand Grenade" Davis started as a way for Matthews to just get into shape. Then, he realized that he had the ability to actually climb into the cage and compete.  He will do sothis Saturday night in Lewiston when he faces Alex Johnson in a lightweight (155-pound) bout.

"I don’t care what anyone else says or thinks," exclaimed Matthews. "It’s never too late to follow your dreams.  After all I have been through, age is just a number.  Forget your age and just live your life!  If you enjoy something…DO IT! This is not to say that it has been an easy path. With age you definitely don’t heal as quick or pick up new methods like someone younger. But with age comes wisdom, patience, and persistence, and sometimes that works to my advantage. I would like to thank Marcus and all of my teammates for their support.  Without them this would never have been possible. The camaraderie that we have at Team Irish/Gracie Barra is phenomenal.  It is a pleasure to work with all of them, and I am proud to be privileged to have them in my corner."

41-year old Heath Hanson will also make his MMA debut this Saturday night.  Fighting out of Augusta, Maine, and representing 3Ronin Athletics, Hanson steps into the cage to take on Adam Nielsen from Team Irish.

Pat Kelly, 50, will return to the NEF MMA cage after an impressive debut submission victory over Frank Dellasala at "NEF XIV" this past September.  By day, Kelly is a school teacher and wrestling coach at Camden Hills Regional High School in Rockport, Maine.  He has led the team to three state championships.  Kelly won a state wrestling title himself for Camden-Rockport High School in the early 1980s.  He later wrestled for the University of Maine, winning the New England Championship and competing in the NCAA championships in 1986.  He was inducted into the Maine Amateur Wrestling Alliance Hall of Fame in 2007.  Kelly trains out of Young's MMA in Bangor, Maine.  He will take on Steven Bang who also comes from a strong wrestling background having competed as an independent while attending Edward Little High School in Auburn, Maine.

NEF's next mixed martial arts event, "NEF XV" takes place this Saturday, November 15, 2014 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.  In the main event of the evening, Bruce "Pretty Boy" Boyington (8-7) will defend the NEF Lightweight Championship against Jesse "The Viking" Erickson (3-3) in a rematch from "NEF XIV."  Tickets start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisee box office at207.783.2009 x 525.  For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF fight videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow the promotion on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

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.

BROTHERS IN ARMS; THE TYLERS AND THE BANGS PREPARE FOR BATTLE AT NEF XIII

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Lewiston, Maine (March 27, 2014) – When New England Fights Mixed Martial Arts (NEF MMA) returns to Lewiston, Maine on May 10, 2014, the fight promotion will send two sets of brothers into the cage for battle.  The event, titled "NEF XIII," will be the company's second of the year at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.  Featured on the fight card will be the Bang brothers, Steven (2-1) and Sheldon (0-0), both of Auburn, Maine, as well as the Tyler brothers, Jeremy (4-1) and Jarrod (1-1), of Brewer, Maine and West Winterport, Maine respectively.

The Tyler brothers, both training out of Marcus Davis' Team Irish gym in Brewer, have been a fixture on NEF MMA fight cards since mid 2013.  Jarrod was the first to be bitten by the MMA bug after joining the gym in 2012.  Jeremy soon followed his older brother into the Team Irish gym and the sport of MMA.  After losing his first bout in May 2013, Jarrod returned to defeat Nate Charles (1-7) via unanimous decision at "NEF X" last fall.  At "NEF XIII," Jarrod will meet the debuting Jason LaChance (0-0) of MMA Athletix in Bath, Maine.

"I'm extremely excited to be fighting again on the same card as my little brother," said Jarrod Tyler when reached for comment. "Being able to fight on the same card together for the NEF is always an amazing experience. It has been an honor and privilege to be sparing partners with him since joining Team Irish two years ago. Being brothers, we push each other each and every day to be the best we can in this sport.  Of course, it helps my game being able to work with him especially with his unbelievable rookie year last year. He has over the last year become such a force in New England, he has become the number-four lightweight in the amateur division. He has earned this ranking through incredible hard work and dedication. We thus far have had an incredible fight camp, really working hard to make a statement come May 10th. With this upcoming fight, and the other NEF fight nights scheduled for this year, I plan on fighting my heart out, leaving everything in the cage. God willing, by the end of 2014, I will join my little brother in the Amateur rankings."

Jarrod's younger brother Jeremy had a very successful and prolific first year in the sport, competing four times in just six months.  He was voted "Rookie of the Year" for 2013 by NEF MMA fans.  His much-heralded amateur rivalry with Tollison Lewis (0-1 professional) is still talked about by fight fans across the state of Maine.  Jeremy has won four fights in a row and will look to make it five at "NEF XIII" when he faces Steven Bang. 

"Being featured with my brother for this fight card has been such a surreal experience," stated Jeremy Tyler.  "This will be our third time on the same fight card and I am excited for the energy that brings to the fights.  I feel very motivated for my upcoming fight. I am training hard and am focused on improving in all aspects of mixed martial arts. I look forward to building off the momentum I have going into this fight."

Sheldon Bang follows older brothers Steven and Shawn (1-1) into the MMA cage.  It will not be the first time Sheldon has joined his older brothers in the competitive arena.  All three, along with fourth brother Skyler, have wrestled as independents out of Edward Little High School in Auburn, Maine.  Since the school does not have a wrestling program, the Bang brothers and teammates would travel a half-hour each day to train with the team at Oxford Hills High School.  Earlier this year, as a senior, Sheldon won his one-hundredth match and also a Class A State Championship.  At "NEF XIII," Sheldon makes his MMA debut against fellow debuting fighter Mike Moore (0-0) of the Sipayik Boxing Club.

The night will also see Sheldon's older brother Steven Bang look for a measure of revenge over Jeremy Tyler who submitted brother Shawn at "NEF X" last fall.  Steven last appeared in the NEF MMA cage in February 2013 with a unanimous decision victory over Drew Waltz (1-4).  The Bang brothers train out of Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ) in Auburn.

"I'm excited to get back into the cage," said Steven Bang.  "I feel like the time off has given me time to mature as a fighter and I feel that my game has improved quite a bit from the last time I fought.  To fight on the same card as my brother is an awesome feeling. To watch him grow and hone his wrestling skills into MMA is inspirational.  We have a family of warriors who like to work hard and do the best they can.  I always said we were born in the wrong time period, that we belong during the time of Vikings or Spartans were we could fight alongside each other on the battle field.  I feel as if MMA is our battlefield and being able to do battle alongside my brothers is a feeling that is unlike any other.  It's a great honor and privilege and I hope one day to fight on the same card with all my brothers."

“NEF XIII” is scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine with a bell time of7:00 pm.  In the main event of the evening, Maine State MMA Bantamweight Champion Paul Gorman (10-8) defends against undefeated Kin "Kong" Moy (5-0).  In addition, "The" Ryan Sanders (6-4) will rematch Maine State MMA Welterweight Champion Gil de Freitas (15-5) nearly two years after de Freitas defeated Sanders for the inaugural title.  Tickets for "NEF XIII" 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. In addition, you can watch NEF MMA videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

About New England Fights

New England Fights Mixed Martial Arts (“NEF MMA”) is a Mixed Martial Arts promotions company. NEF MMA’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF MMA’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.