FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Portland, Maine (December 19, 2019) – New England Fights (NEF) today announced the nominees for their annual Year-End Awards for 2019’s “Fight of the Year.” The four nominated fights that stood out as the best of 2019 were: Glory Watson vs. Cara Greenwell at “NEF41: Collision Course;” Devin Corson vs. Jacob Deppmeyer at “NEF 40: School of Hard Knocks;” Fred Lear vs. Zac Richard at “NEF 37: Sub Zero;” and Jake “The Bull” Bagley vs. Brady MacDonald also from “NEF 37: Sub Zero.”
Glory “The Fury” Watson (6-1) and Cara Greenwell (10-4) met in the main of “NEF 41” last month in Portland – the final fight of the calendar year in the NEF cage. Greenwell came to Maine all the way from Oklahoma to contest Watson for the vacant NEF Amateur Women’s Strawweight Title. The fight went the five-round distance with Greenwell putting on a striking clinic and Watson answering back. Greenwell took the unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards to claim the belt, and Watson suffered the first defeat of her amateur career.
Devin Corson (3-1) went to war with Jacob Deppmeyer (1-2-1) as NEF debuted at the Collins Center for the Arts in Orono, Maine last September. Corson was able to fend off Deppmeyer’s striking for three rounds and score a plethora of takedowns to win the fight unanimously on the judges’ scorecards.
Fred Lear (0-1) took on Zac “Rocky” Richard (5-2-1) for the vacant NEF Amateur Featherweight Title last February in Bangor, Maine at “NEF 37” in what would be the final amateur fight for Lear. For five rounds of nonstop action, Leer and Richard had the capacity crowd on the edge of its collective seat. The tide went back and forth for all fifteen minutes and the fight was ultimately ruled a draw by the judges and the featherweight championship remained vacant.
Earlier that same evening, Jake “The Bull” Bagley (3-1) made his cage debut against Canada’s Brady MacDonald (1-2). Bagley fought off submission attempts by MacDonald in the first and third rounds of the fight, unloading on his foe with some wild punches and takedowns throughout. MacDonald, showing all heart, refused to let himself be finished, surviving right to the closing bell. Bagley won the fight via unanimous decision.
Fan voting to determine the winner of the 2019 NEF Year-End Awards “Submission of the Year” will officially open at 12:00 pm on Friday, December 20, 2019, and run until 5:00 pm on Thursday, December 26, 2019. Fans will determine the outcome of the contest so all are encouraged to participate to vote for their favorite fighter.
New England Fights’ next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 42: Symphony of Destruction,” will take place on Saturday, February 8, 2020, at Merrill Auditorium in Portland, Maine. Tickets are on sale now at www.PortTix.com.
About NEF Year-End Awards
The NEF Year-End Awards are chosen annually at the conclusion of every calendar year to recognize outstanding athletic achievement and excellence in New England Fights (NEF). Nominees are selected by a qualified panel of professionals with expertise in combat sports and NEF competitions. Award Winners are determined by fan vote. All NEF Year-End Awards Winners will receive a trophy to commemorate their accomplishment.
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 fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.
