Bangor-area competitors Glory Watson and Aaron Lacey made successful returns to the mixed martial arts cage Saturday night with victories at New England Fights’ 10th-anniversary show at Aura in Portland.
Lacey, in his first fight since September 2018, improved his professional MMA record to 7-2 in the main event of the 15-fight card with a second-round technical knockout over Bronx, New York, product and Bellator veteran Jerome Mickle.
Lacey used an early takedown to control the first round of the lightweight (155-pound) matchup, then continued his ground-and-pound work in the second round to score the victory via strikes as the referee stopped the bout at 1:42.
Mickle, whose record over nearly nine years of MMA competition fell to 4-12, announced his retirement after the bout.
Brewer’s Watson scored her first professional MMA victory in her home state with a second-round submission of previously undefeated Alibeth Milliron of Petoskey, Michigan, in their strawweight (115-pound) clash at NEF 46.
Both women landed significant strikes early in the match, but Watson was able to take the fight to the mat later in the opening round to gain the advantage.
Milliron attempted to re-establish her striking game in the second round, but a quick takedown and a series of punches gave Watson control on the mat and she was able to secure the victory via rear naked choke at 2:23.
Watson improved her professional record to 2-1, while Milliron fell to 2-1.
New England Fights announced that its next show, NEF 47, will be held Saturday, April 30, at the Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn.