Fresh from winning New England Fights’ amateur featherweight title last November, Bangor’s Aaron “Relentless” Lacey is turning to the professional ranks in mixed martial arts.
Lacey, the top-ranked amateur featherweight in New England according to mass-mma.com, will make his pro debut April 23 against veteran Derek Shorey (3-5) of Dover-Foxcroft in a three-round bout contested at the featherweight limit of 145 pounds. That fight will be part of the NEF 22 card to be held at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston.
Lacey has campaigned as an amateur since the fall of 2012, compiling a 6-1 record.
He won his NEF amateur title belt with a three-round decision over previously unbeaten Caleb Horner at NEF 20. That also marked Lacey’s third consecutive victory in the cage.
“I am super excited to finally be making my pro debut come April,” he said. “This is a goal I have had for a long time and something I have always been working toward. Derek Shorey is a very tough challenge as a debut fight. He has a tremendous skill set and a ton of experience.”
Lacey becomes the second fighter training at Young’s MMA in Bangor within the last month to announce plans to vacate a New England Fights amateur title to join the professional ranks at NEF 22.
Training partner Josh Harvey, the promotion’s former amateur lightweight champion, will make his pro debut against Matt Denning (2-1) of Lewiston at a catchweight of 150 pounds.
“As far as vacating my belt, I had always viewed capturing the title as the capstone to my amateur career,” Lacey said. “In the moment, it was an incredible feeling and it is something I will always be proud of. Part of what has made me successful is that I always keep looking forward for my next big challenge and my coaches along with myself believe those challenges are within the professional ranks.”
The amateur title being left behind by Lacey won’t be vacant for long, as Caleb Hall of Dixfield will face Erik Nelson of Lewiston for the NEF amateur featherweight belt on the April 23 Lewiston card.
Hall (6-3) is a former two-time state wrestling champion from Dirigo High School in Dixfield who went on to compete in that sport at Plymouth (New Hampshire) State University and the University of Southern Maine.
He trains at the Choi Institute in Portland.
Nelson (2-2) is a jiu-jitsu instructor at Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Lewiston who recently was awarded his brown belt in that discipline.
