Mixed martial arts fighter returning to Maine for title defense against Bellator, WEC veteran

Nov. 24--Undefeated Ray "All Business" Wood, who recently moved from the Bangor area to South Carolina, will return to the Pine Tree State on Feb. 7 to defend his New England Fights featherweight championship at NEF XVI, a mixed martial arts card to be held at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston.

Wood (5-0) will be challenged by Anthony "Cheesesteak" Morrison, a Philadelphia-based veteran of Bellator MMA and World Extreme Cagefighting, the latter of which was later absorbed into the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

NEF officials announced the NEF XVI main event on Friday.

"I feel this is a huge fight for me," said Wood. "Anthony Morrison has fought some big-name fighters and has held his own at the next level. I plan on going into this fight showing everyone I'm ready for the next level. Anthony is toward the tail end of his career, I'm younger, faster and more hungry. I just have more to prove."

The 30-year-old Morrison (16-9) has faced such opponents as Maine native and former WEC featherweight champion Mike Thomas Brown and fellow UFC signee Chad "Money" Mendes. His last bout was a majority-decision victory over Kenny Foster at Bellator 108 on Nov. 15, 2013.

"The champion, Ray Wood, is a good, well-rounded opponent," Morrison said. "I look forward to facing him for the title. It will be a good victory."

Wood won the NEF featherweight crown in July 2013 with a 61-second stoppage of Canadian Lenny Wheeler at Darling's Waterfront Pavilion in Bangor.

In the aftermath of that bout, Wood suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament that required surgery and a 14-month layoff from competition.

The Bucksport High School graduate and Young's MMA product returned to the cage in September and successfully defended his title with a second-round technical knockout of Brazilian Gabriel Baino.

Wood subsequently relocated to Gaffney, South Carolina, where he now trains at South Carolina Revolution MMA with UFC women's bantamweight contender Sara McMann and UFC flyweight prospect Justin Scoggins.

"I'm definitely excited to come back and defend the title," said Wood. "Things are going to be a little different for me this time around now that I'm training out of South Carolina Revolution. It has taken a little time to adjust to the change seeing as how I've been training with Young's MMA since the start of my career, [but] I can definitely put in a good solid camp here and come back a whole new fighter."

Dueling shows draw healthy crowds

More than 4,500 combat sports fans turned out for MMA and boxing shows staged simultaneously in Lewiston and Portland on Nov. 15, according to event promoters.

NEF XV, a mixed martial arts card headlined by Bruce "Pretty Boy" Boyington of Brewer defending his NEF lightweight championship with a third-round stoppage of Auburn's Jesse "The Viking" Erickson, drew more than 1,500 fans to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.

An eight-fight boxing card at the Portland Exposition Building attracted more than 3,000 fans, said fight promoter and Portland Boxing Club founder Bobby Russo. That card featured Portland's undefeated Russell Lamour Jr. improving his record to 11-0 and winning the International Boxing Association's North American middleweight championship with an eight-round unanimous decision over Ahsandi Gibbs of Tampa, Florida.

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