NEF 35: Wicked Season Beginning to Take Shape

Via: http://www.crossinsurancecenter.com/events/548/nef-35-wicked-season

New England Fights is set to make a return to Bangor on September 8, 2018 with NEF 35: Wicked Season. This marks the promotion’s first event in Bangor since NEF 30: Rumble in Bangor, in August of last year and the card has already added some familiar faces to the mix.

On Thursday it was announced that two of Bangor’s own will share the cage, 7-8 John Lemke will be taking on 5-2 Aaron Lacey in a professional lightweight bout. Lemke is a veteran of the promotion, competing in 11 NEF events, including Bellator 93 in 2013 which was co-promoted between the two organizations. He was able to pull off a unanimous decision win in October of last year against Josh LaBerge at CES 46.

Lacey was on the wrong end of a decision against ROC’s Da’Mon Blackshear in the main event of NEF 34 in June. He looks to bounce back in his first fight in the lightweight division since his amateur days.

Aaron Lacey (5-2) fighting out of Young’s MMA in Bangor. (Via: NEF)

(7-8) John Lemke representing Titan Athletics in Brewer. (Via: NEF)

On Friday, it was announced that CJ Ewer (3-1) will be taking on Caleb Hall (1-0) in another professional lightweight bout. Ewer has fought 11 times for the promotion, both as an amateur and professional with a combined 8-3 record. Training out of Young’s MMA in Bangor, Ewer is also a member of the US Air Force. In his last fight, he lost by first round submission to Kemran Lachinov whilst looking to grab the NEF welterweight title.

Hall, a former high school state champion wrestler, is looking to make waves in the lightweight division moving up from featherweight. 8-3 as an amateur, Hall is credited with a Von Flue win in his pro debut against John Ortolani at NEF 33 this spring.

(3-1) CJ Ewer fighting out of Young’s MMA in Bangor. (Via: NEF)

(1-0) Caleb Hall representing Choi Institute in Portland. (Via: NEF)

On Monday, July 16, it was announced that 4-0 Josh Harvey will make his return to the cage against 15-79 Jay Ellis. Harvey, who trains out of Young’s MMA in Bangor, has finished all four of his professional fights in the first round. The former NEF lightweight champ last fought at NEF 28 in April of 2017.

Jay Ellis is making a return to Maine, having last fought for the promotion against Ryan Sanders at NEF 30. The Wisconsin native trains out of Team Knockout in Milwaukee. NEF 35 will mark Ellis’ 6th fight of 2018.

This marks the third professional lightweight bout announced on the card, in one of the biggest divisions in all of MMA.

(4-0) Josh Harvey fighting out of Young’s MMA in Bangor. (Via: NEF)

(15-79) Jay Ellis fighting out of Team Knockout in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Via: NEF)

**Update** August 7, 2018

A retirement fight has been announced for NEF 35, as 53-year-old amateur lightweight champion (4-0) Pat Kelly is set to defend his belt against (2-0) Tim Manning. Kelly, a force in state wrestling, took up MMA at a later age, stepping into the cage four years ago. With 3/4 wins by finish, Kelly is looking to step aside from the sport competing close to home in Bangor, as he trains at Young’s MMA.

Title challenger Tim Manning is making the trip from Gainesville, Florida to Maine and looking to keep rolling with both of his wins coming by first round submissions.