LEWISTON, Maine — Saturday night’s NEF XIX mixed martial arts show at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee will have a women’s touch.
Two amateur women’s bouts are among the 21 fights scheduled on the 7 p.m. card, which is headlined by a professional welterweight clash between Darrius Heyliger (5-2) of Ithaca, New York, and Sidney Outlaw (4-1) of Telford, Pennsylvania, and a New England Fights amateur lightweight title battle between champion Josh Harvey (4-1) of Young’s MMA in Bangor and Ryan Dibartolomeo (4-3) of Leominster, Massachusetts.
Indeed, the popularity of women’s MMA — as evidenced most profoundly by the worldwide success of undefeated UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey — is spreading into the sport’s regional ranks.
The evening’s first fight will match first-time combatant Angela Young of Young’s MMA in Bangor against Rachel Reinheimer (1-0) from the Boston-based Sityodtong training camp.
Young has been around the local MMA scene for years — she’s the wife of Young’s MMA founder Chris Young.
“MMA for women is not hugely different than it is for men,” said Angela Young in a news release. “Obviously MMA is a predominantly male sport, but successful women in the MMA world are on the rise. Through this fight camp I have grappled, sparred and wrestled with the Young’s MMA fight team and they have been unrelentingly supportive. Being one of the first female fighters out of Young’s certainly has its pressures, but it’s also a spotlight I’m hoping will inspire other women who otherwise wouldn’t have pursued MMA.”
And while Reinheimer hopes to spoil Young’s initial foray in the cage, she shares a similar philosophy about the growth of women’s MMA in the region.
“The pool of women fighters in New England is deepening fast, and the fact that there are more women’s bouts on fight cards reflects that,” she said. “My opponent and I are both from serious, hardworking camps. We are both mothers, and it takes a lot of determination and drive to do this sport while juggling work and children. I have been working tirelessly with my team since my last fight to improve my game in every aspect.”
The second women’s bout on the card matches Young’s teammate, Kira Innocenti, against Hannah Sparrell of Newcastle and First Class MMA of Brunswick in a clash of debuting competitors.
Innocenti became involved in combat sports two years ago as a means of staying in shape.
“Testing myself in a mixed martial arts bout is important to me in many regards,” she said. “Two years ago, I was overweight and struggling to find a healthy, fulfilling path. One day, I woke up and took life by the reins and in half a year lost 60 pounds on my own.”
Innocenti subsequently was invited to check out Young’s MMA — and was hooked.
“I enjoy challenging myself and pushing limits that are thought to be impossible to achieve,” she said. “Living the mixed martial arts lifestyle is tough. It requires more dedication than I ever imagined possible. It breaks you and builds you back up into the person you truly are.”
Sparrell discovered MMA after signing up her daughter for jiu-jitsu classes and subsequently taking up that discipline herself.
“I think MMA training for women is a great outlet for many reasons,” she said. “It physically is a great workout and is also a good form of ‘therapy’ at the end of a possibly stressful day.”
