(Via: Cross Insurance Center)

Let the countdown begin as we are almost one week removed from NEF 35: Wicked Season, which is set to take place next Saturday, September 8 from the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine. The event is set to feature 17 pro and amateur fights, headlined by a premier lightweight contest between NEF vets (5-2) Aaron Lacey and (7-8) Jon Lemke.

NEF matchmaker and former Maine State Representative in charge of legalizing MMA in the state, Matt Peterson, said in a recent interview with Fight Night Picks that “we’ve always had sold out events there (Bangor), the fights have been some of the most memorable ones we’ve seen in the NEF cage. So it’s just an awesome way to close out summer, big fights in Bangor.”

The event features five pro bouts, including the aforementioned main event between Lacey and Lemke. Lemke has previously competed in 11 NEF events, including Bellator 93 in 2013 which was co-promoted between the two organizations. As for Lacey, he’s looking to right the ship at home after finding himself on the wrong end of a decision to ROC’s Da’Mon Blackshear in June at NEF 34.

In the co-main event, fellow Bellator 93 competitor (16-9) Ryan Sanders is set to take on newcomer to the state and promotion in (10-6) Armando Montoya. NEF 35 will mark the return of middleweight (2-3) Crowsneck Boutin, who’s set to take on Mark “Pockets” Gardner in Gardner’s pro debut. 11 fight NEF vet, and US Air Force member (3-1) CJ Ewer will meet (1-0) former high school state champion wrestler Caleb Hall in a lightweight contest. Hall won his professional debut in April at NEF 33, defeating John Ortolani by Von Flue submission. Rounding out the main card is a lightweight bout between former NEF lightweight champ (4-0) Josh Harvey and Milwaukee native (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 champ last fought at NEF 28 in April of 2017.

Full NEF 35: Wicked Season Card (Via: NEF)

UFC lightweight and Nostos MMA and Conditioning owner Devin Powell trains two fighters featured on the undercard, (1-0) amateur Zac Richard and newcomers Jesse Fitzsimmons and Andrew Brown. When asked what fans can expect in Bangor, a city in which Powell gained international attention being featured on Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight, he said that “the NEF card coming up is always great. We have friends and family all go to the fights. People get motivated when they see guys fight and they all come in to train and then people say they want to fight, they start training because they see their buddy go out there.”

“We’ve got some really talented guys going out there. Two of them are just gonna do great, two of them are just really good high school wrestlers. one of them is a phenomenal purple belt and one of them is a multiple time state champ wrestler…and he’s already fought. The other one, Andrew Brown, he’s just a freak athlete, incredible athlete and great at jiu-jitsu, great at wrestling so I have no worries.”

As for Fitzsimmons, who’s been with the gym since before Powell took over, Powell says that “I’m so excited to see this kid Jesse Fitzsimmons get in there, cause he’s just like the dude that everybody loves and he’s just a goofball. Everybody’s going to be holding their breath because he’s fighting a good dude too.”

With a loaded card, and a return to the “Queen City”, NEF 35 is a must-see for New England and Maritime fight fans. Be on the lookout as Fight Night Picks will be at the event providing fans with live results and coverage as the night goes on!