Four title fights headline final New England Fights card of 2019
New England Fights (NEF) returns to Aura in Portland, Maine on November 9, 2019 with its next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 41: Collision Course.” Tickets for the event are currently on sale at www.AuraMaine.com. Earlier today, NEF announced the full fight card for the event – a total of 17 bouts scheduled for the evening.
Four amateur title fights will headline the card. It will be the first time since “NEF 9” in August 2013 that an amateur fight has been the main event of one of the promotion’s cards. (Of note, “NEF 9” was an all amateur event.)
“NEF 41” will also mark the first time a women’s bout has headlined one of the promotion’s events as undefeated Glory “The Fury” Watson (6-0) takes on Cara Greenwell (9-4) to crown the inaugural NEF Amateur Women’s Strawweight Champion. Watson will have a chance to make history in the bout by becoming the first NEF athlete to simultaneously hold titles in two weight divisions. She is the reigning NEF Amateur Women’s Flyweight Champion.
“Killa” Kam Arnold (5-1) will defend the NEF Amateur Bantamweight strap against Walt Shea (3-1) in the evening’s co-main event. Arnold has held the title since June 2018 and most recently defended it at “NEF 38” last spring with a 21-second knockout of Henry Clark (5-5). It will be Shea’s second attempt at capturing the title after a losing effort at “NEF 30” in August 2017.
Zac “Rocky” Richard (4-2-1) will face “Magic” Mike Murray (2-0) for the vacant NEF Amateur Lightweight Title. Both athletes are coming off wins last month in Orono, Maine at “NEF 40.” Richard knocked his opponent out with a slam in the first round of his bout while Murray submitted his opponent – also in the first round.
Nate Boucher (5-3) and Steve Desjardins (5-3) are scheduled to meet for the vacant NEF Amateur Flyweight Championship. Boucher is on a three-fight win streak, finishing all three opponents in the first round by submission. Desjardins returned with a first-round victory last month at “NEF 40” after an absence of several years from cage competition.
As of press time, NEF executives were searching for an opponent for NEF Amateur Welterweight Champion Duncan “The Highlander” Smith (5-3). Unfortunately, Smith’s original challenger, Jordan Norman, recently pulled out of the fight when he could not gain medical clearance.
Matt “Ken Doll” Denning (5-10) and Keegan “The Flu” Hornstra (4-11) will square off in a professional catchweight contest. Both will be looking to rebound from recent losses. Denning was defeated on a card in Massachusetts last Saturday night, while Hornstra lost to Dominic Jones at “NEF 39” this past summer in Lewiston, Maine. The fight will take place at an agreed-to weight of 176 pounds.N
The full “NEF 41” fight card (subject to change):
AMATEUR TITLE FIGHTS
115*TITLE: Glory Watson (Young’s) vs. Cara Greenwell (Independent)
135*TITLE: Kam Arnold (c) (Recon) vs. Walt Shea (First Class MMA)
155*TITLE: Zac Richard (Nostos) vs. Mike Murray (Camden Combat/Foundry)
125*TITLE: Steve Desjardins (Independent) vs. Nate Boucher (CMBJJ)
PROFESSIONAL MMA
155: Josh Harvey (Vision Quest Muay Thai) vs. Jonathan Hines (Independent)
176: Matt Denning (Independent) vs. Keegan Hornstra (Evolution Athletix)
AMATEUR MMA
145: Jesse Fitzsimmons (Nostos) vs. Joe Howard (CMBJJ)
265: George Pissimissis (Wai Kru/Pedro’s Judo) vs. Solomon Spigel (First Class)
135: Andrea Howland (Michigan Top Team) vs. Megan Rosado (Evolution Athletix)
170: Justin Middleton (Independent) vs. Jon Assam (First Class)
170: Greg Ishihara (Recon) vs. Dylan Williams (Independent)
155: Clifford Redman (Independent) vs. Brian Cosco (Redline)
155: Lucas Donald (Independent) vs. Will McCall (Evolution Athletix)
205: Henry Jeffs (Independent) vs. Titus Pannell (T4 Survival)
130: Ryan Fogg (Team Elemental) vs. Caleb Austin (CMBJJ)
175: Roland Beaulieu (Maineiac Militia) vs. Austin Hamilton (Independent)
145: Tyler Knights (Independent) vs. Brandon Maillet-Fevens (CMBJJ)
New England Fights’ next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 41: Collision Course,” will take place on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at Aura in Portland, Maine. Tickets are on sale now at www.auramaine.com.
