NEF 42: Cage-Fighting Meets High Society as MMA Invades Merrill Auditorium

New England Fights is pining to impress Southern Maine MMA fans from pillar to post as the promotion has put together one of the biggest cards in recent memory. ‘The Forest City’ of Portland has been a featured stop by the promotion in recent years, and now Merrill Auditorium will play host to the promotion’s busy lineup aptly titled “Symphony of Destruction”. With 22 fights on deck, including seven professional contests, let’s take a look at three storylines developing on this Saturday’s card!

Boyington vs. Bermudez: Vacant Lightweight Title

The night’s main event now features a twist, as Manny “The Bermudez Triangle” Bermudez (14-2) weighed in at 158.8 lbs for the scheduled lightweight title bout against “Pretty Boy” Bruce Boyington (17-11). Bermudez had missed weight in all three of his 2019 contests, eventually forced up from bantamweight to featherweight while dropping each of his final two fights before exiting the UFC. Boyington will still be eligible to earn the vacant lightweight strap with a win, which would push his unbeaten title streak to eight straight, having most recently captured and defended his CES featherweight title.

Josh Harvey Looks to Keep Unbeaten Streak Alive

After a successful 2019 campaign that resulted in two first-round finish wins and a successful crack at the promotion’s vacant featherweight title, Josh “Hook On” Harvey (7-0-1) is set to take on one of his toughest challenges to date in Jesse “The Viking” Erickson (9-8). For Harvey, last year wasn’t without its challenges, as a scheduled title defense for June’s NEF 39 card was called off due to weight cutting complications, but a successful move from Young’s MMA to Vision Quest Muay Thai, under the tutelage of Primo Bellarosa has paid seemingly immediate dividends.

Jesse Erickson has faced a who’s who of notable opponents during his pro career including Devin Powell, and both Bruce Boyington and Jon Lemke twice. Fans may also recognize Erickson as he most recently competed in an episode of “Man vs. Bear” which was aired this January on the Discovery Channel.

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8pm tonight on Discovery! Look mom I’m on tv? . . . #tv #bears #run #mma #bjj #realitytv #motivation #fitness #maine #grizzly #heights #manvsbear

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17 Amateur Bouts on Tap

With a card titled “Symphony of Destruction”, the promotion is looking to deliver as fans are set to witness four more amateur fights when compared to November’s NEF 41 (a full nine more bouts including five pro contests). Prominent names include former am. lightweight title challenger “Magic” Mike Murray (2-1), CMBJJ’s undefeated high school state wrestling champ Caleb “Dr. Feelgood” Austin (3-0) and 2019’s Rookie of the Year Nate “The Mule” White (4-0).

NEF 42: Symphony of Destruction begins at 7 pm EST from the Merrill Auditorium in Portland, Maine on Feb. 8, 2020. Be sure to tune in to live fight coverage with Fight Night Picks here as well as on YouTube in the build-up to fight night!