All-American Kickboxing will return to Factory One in Dexter on Saturday night, offering both veteran and aspiring practitioners of the sport a chance to test their skills in non-judged sparring events.
This benefit show is the third of the year promoted by Josh Harvey of Corinth in conjunction with John Stuart and MaineNightOut.com.
Both previous outings proved popular, an April 1 event in Dexter and a Memorial Day card at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer that both drew near-capacity crowds.
The return to Dexter is in part an effort to support competitors from the local Shatterproof Combat Club.
“We had success the first time we had it there,” said Harvey, a former wrestling state champion at Dexter Regional High School who now is one of the region’s more promising mixed martial arts professionals training out of Young’s MMA in Bangor.
“Even though [Factory One] doesn’t hold as many people as we had in Brewer, we had a good crowd the last time, and it will be good for the fighters at Shatterproof.”
Admission is open to people 21 and older, and a $10 donation is suggested, with all proceeds benefiting the Maine Veterans Project.
The doors open at 7 p.m., with the first sparring event scheduled at 8.
Based on the success of his first two kickboxing events, Harvey hopes to grow geographically with coming shows.
“I’d like to be able to do one closer to some of the gyms in southern Maine when I can without stepping on [New England Fights’] toes,” said Harvey. “That’s the next step.”
Harvey said that gyms located nearer to NEF’s home base in Lewiston have benefited from the proximity of that promotion’s MMA cards.
“They have something that’s real close to home promoting their gyms and those gyms have done really well because of it,” said Harvey. “I think we should all have that opportunity.”
Fighters representing seven gyms from around eastern and central Maine are expected to perform in Dexter: Natapa Muay Thai of Augusta, Huard’s Martial Arts of Winslow, Team Irish MMA Fitness Academy in Brewer, Young’s MMA, Shatterproof Combat Club, Berserkers MMA of Rumford and Maine Isshinryu Karate Academy of Augusta.
Harvey, who currently is training for a bout on the upcoming “Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight” card at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, will have tickets available for that Aug. 5 event at the Dexter show.
