State’s first mixed martial arts card of new year to feature 17 bouts

Robert F. Bukaty | BDN

Robert F. Bukaty | BDN

Anthony Kaponis of AFT/Galdiator, top, punches Ryan Sanders, of Youngs MMA, during the Maine Event, April 30, 2011 in Portland. Sanders will fight Marcus Davis in the New England Fights’ main event on Feb. 8 in Lewiston.

LEWISTON, Maine — Six professional fights — headlined by former UFC contender Marcus “The Irish Hand Grenade” Davis — and 11 amateur contests will comprise the state’s first mixed martial arts card of new year as announced recently by the New England Fights promotion.

That bout is what New England Fights officials describe as a welterweight grudge match of sorts, as Sanders once trained at Davis’ Team Irish MMA Fitness Academy in Brewerthe best shows I’ve ever seen at the regional level.”

Brown won a state wrestling championship in 1992 while at Bonny Eagle High School in Standish, then continued his athletic career at Norwich (Vt.) University.

After college, Brown returned to Maine and began training and competing in MMA, establishing himself as a top regional prospect before relocating to Coconut Creek, Fla., to join one of the world’s top MMA programs at American Top Team.

Brown went on to capture the WEC featherweight title in November 2008 with a first-round technical knockout of Urijah Faber, then top-ranked 145-pounder in the world and still prominent on the UFC scene.

Brown made two successful title defenses, including a unanimous decision in his rematch with Faber, before falling after a year as champion to current UFC