NAC To Host Third MMA Fight Night

Mixed Martial Arts has been growing in popularity around the country.

One place that has noticed that trend is the which over the past year has been host to two "Fight Nights."

On Sept. 30, that number will grow to three, as the American Mixed Martial Arts Fight League is planning a night highlighted by some of its headliners in the sport.

“We have seen MMA as a growing sport in today’s arena and feel that it is a perfect blend of many valuable fighting styles that enables participants to train and hone their skills within the framework of a legitimate organization,” said Linda Mitchell, director of marketing and public relations at the NAC.

Event Producer Jim McCann is planning a show that will feature Jason Lee and Caleb Ball, who fought each other at the last MMA Fight Night in June. Their battle was claimed by Ball, and like all the others, the fight was judged by an emcee and took place in an 8,000-pound fighting cage that spans 30 feet.

The NAC's Fight Night is a professional grade event, though amateur fights are also on the schedule, organizers explained.

Jesus Martinez and Waylon Lowe are also expected to enter the cage, as well as Chris “Red Line” Wing. Others will also be added to the slate, which currently consists of eight pro contests.

“We would like to establish this event as the premier MMA Fighting Event in the tri-state area and promote the benefits of the McCann Extreme MMA program, hosted at the NAC,” Mitchell said.

McCann has been a teacher of the sport he loves for more than 25 years and in the past was also a MMA fighter. Today, he runs his program, Xtremefreestyle Combat Sports Training, at the Big Leagues Baseball Academy in Newtown. His instructional classes include, among other activities, boxing for kids and adults, kickboxing, close quarter combativels and jeet kune do.

“He [McCann] brought the idea to us last year,” Mitchell said of the Fight Nights. “It is with the support of his contacts and industry knowledge that we have been able to produce such a professional event.

Fight Night 3 will get underway at 8 p.m. on Sept. 30 and will run about three hours. Doors will open for fans an hour earlier, and vendors, drinks and food will be available.

Ticket prices are $45 for general admission and $100 for VIPs. Proceeds from the event will go back into the organization, according to Mitchell.

For those who can’t make it to the NAC, a live stream Internet broadcast will also be offered. On Sept. 29, there is an additional weigh-in for the competitors starting at 6 p.m.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.newtownathletic.com or  www.americanmixedmartialartsfightleague.com.