First Class Fitness & MMA

Tonight’s classes:

5:30-7 pm BJJ (Tim Fawber)

7-8 pm Boxing (Hal Pierce)

MMA wrestling tonight

🔥 𝗗𝗨𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗗𝗘𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗗, 𝗡𝗘𝗙 𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗡𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗗 𝗢𝗡 𝗦𝗘𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝟭𝟮

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Rumford, Maine (August 13, 2026) – New England Fights (“NEF”) announced today that the fight promotion would return to the Rumford Falls Auditorium in Rumford, Maine on Saturday, September 12, 2026. The event, “NEF 68: Rumble in Rumford,” will feature both mixed-martial-arts (MMA) and kickboxing bouts. Tickets are on sale now at www.nefights.com/tickets/.

NEF debuted at the Rumford Falls Auditorium last month with the first combat sports event held at the venue in more than 70 years. The auditorium played host to boxing events for much of the first half of the 20th century.

A capacity crowd was on hand for “NEF 67” this past July 11 to witness the first MMA and kickboxing event ever held in Rumford. Three championships were decided that evening and the excitement of the thirteen action-packed bouts left fight fans clamoring for more.

“It was an atmosphere like no other,” said NEF co-owner Nick DiSalvo. “It’s just a perfect, old-school fight venue. More than one person noted to me the similarities to the legendary boxing venue the Blue Horizon in Philly. We immediately started receiving a flood of requests from fans and fighters alike to do a follow-up event in Rumford. It was crazy. We had to oblige.”

“The first event was a blowout success,” said George O’Keefe, Rumford Town Manager. “The Rumford Falls Auditorium sold out to capacity, bars were packed with a line out the door late into the night, and the crowd was absolutely electric. No other venue in Maine, or even New England, is anything like Rumford.”

The NEF Lightweight Championship will be on the line September 12 when undefeated prospect Sam Charles (2-0) faces Florida’s Omar Zarazua (3-2).

Charles, who represents First Class MMA and the Choi Institute, is already familiar to Rumford fight fans. The 21-year-old made his NEF debut in town last month and will return with gold at stake.

Zarazua travels north from Dade City, Florida, bringing title experience of his own. He currently holds a regional belt in Florida and trains under former NEF professional champion Ray “All Business” Wood. Wood will be in Zarazua’s corner on September 12 and will have some special news of his own to share that night.

The fight card will feature several local favorites. More fights will be announced in the coming days.

“NEF 68” takes place on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at Rumford Falls Auditorium in Rumford, Maine. Doors will open at 6 pm with the first fight taking place at 7 pm. Tickets are on sale now at www.nefights.com/tickets/.

(2-0) Sam Charles fights for the NEF Amateur Lightweight Title on September 12 for NEF in Rumford! Sam New England Fights | Mixed Martial Arts

Tonight’s classes:

6-7 pm MMA Wrestling (John Raio)

7-8 pm Advanced MMA Striking (Felipe Gunter)

Teen MMA class tonight

Tonight’s classes:

5:30-6:30 pm Teens MMA

6:30-8 pm MMA Sparring