Tag Archives: CES

CES MMA Welterweight World Champion Vinicius “The Brazilian Bad Boy” De Jesus Makes First Title Defense at CES 58 Sept. 7 at the CT Convention Center in Hartford

EVENT TO STREAM LIVE AND EXCLUSIVELY ON

UFC FIGHT PASS®

 N. PROVIDENCE, RI (August 7, 2019) – CES MMA will return to Hartford, CT on Saturday, September 7th with CES 58. The event will stream live from the Connecticut Convention Center exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports, beginning at 8 PM E.T. / 5 PM P.T.

Headlining this stacked card will be De Jesus vs. Lozano.  Watch as CES MMA welterweight champion Vinicius “The Brazilian Bad Boy” De Jesus makes his first title defense in the main event against challenger Chris “The Cleveland Assassin” Lozano.

Brazilian-born De Jesus, fighting out of Stamford, CT, captured the coveted CES MMA welterweight crown in his last fight (Mar. 29, 2019), when he earned a hard fought five-round unanimous decision over Jeremiah Wells. De Jesus has won three of four Bellator fights and he is riding a three-fight win streak. 

“CES MMA is extremely excited to return to Hartford, Connecticut, with a special Saturday Night Event live on UFC Fight Pass,” proudly announces Jimmy Burchfield Jr., of CES MMA. “The main event is going to be a war when ‘The Brazilian Bad Boy’ Vinicious De Jesusdefends his welterweight title against Chris ‘The Cleveland Assassin’ Lozano. This blockbuster card is guaranteed action you don’t want to miss!”

The co-feature is a heavyweight battle between Hartford’s Parker Porter and veteran Brazilian opponent, Dirlei “Mao de Pedra” Broenstrup. In his toughest test to date, Waterbury, CT lightweight Jesse James Kosakowski takes on veteran Reggie Merriweather

An intriguing match-up is Springfield, MA middleweight prospect Pat Casey challenges Andre “Rumble” Hall.  Casey has won two in a row since he suffered his only pro loss, while Hall is coming off a sensational first-round submission of Pat McCrohan at the recent CES 57.

Also being showcased is fan favorite and Norwich native, Pete “The Heat” Rogers, Jr., whosquares off against veteran “Relentless” Robbie Leroux, Meriden, CT flyweight Justin Valentin vs. TBA, Massachusetts bantamweight Harris Bonfiglio vs. Jornell Lugo, and Waterbury, lightweight Nick Giuletti vs. Cody “Lightning” Schieve,

All fights and fighters are subject to change. This is an all ages event.

Tickets for “CES MMA 57” start at $35 and are available online at cesmma.com or by calling the CES box office at 401-724-2254.

Twin River Event Center doors open at 6:30 p.m. ET with the first fight scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET.

The main card will stream live and exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS.  To start your 7-day free trial, please visit www.ufcfightpass.com

INFORMATION:

Websites:  www.cesmma.comwww.ufc.tv/page/fightpasswww.ctconventions.com

Twitter: @CESMMA, @UFCFightPass, @ctconventionCT,  

Instagram: @CESMMA, @UFCFightPass

Facebook: /CESMMA, /UFCFightPass, /CTConventions

FIGHTNIGHT LIVE COMPLETES FIRST WEEKEND DOUBLEHEADER, DRAWING MORE THAN 188,000 VIEWS TO PROPEL TOTAL AUDIENCE ABOVE 750,000

   
Interactive fight series has averaged 108,000 Facebook views per broadcast, thrilling more than three-quarters of a million fans since May 11.
NEW YORK (Sept. 19, 2017) – The first-ever “doubleheader weekend” for the FIGHTNIGHT LIVE series saw the four-month old, fan-friendly Facebook platform attract more than 188,000 views via back-to-back, Friday and Saturday shows in New England with DiBella Entertainment and CES Boxing.

Furthermore, the interactive series that – among other aspects – prides itself on the real-time conversations held between fight commentators and the viewing audience recorded a new high-mark with 40,714 Likes, Loves, Comments and Shares on Friday from Foxwoods. The ultimate result of all of the show-by-show views, the series interactivity and the global reach of the Facebook platform throughout the U.S. and also to significant audiences in the U.K., Mexico and South America – FIGHTNIGHT LIVE surpassed a new milestone by reaching its 750,000th view in only its seventh show.

“We’re extremely proud that Facebook FIGHTNIGHT LIVE has provided free, action-packed events for more than three-quarters of a million fans in just over four months, by posting a show-by-show average audience of 108,000,” said Mark Fratto, Principal and Director of Business Development, Linacre Media. “But beyond the numbers, we’re really pleased with the way the shows have been presented and produced. We’ve been able to showcase up-and-coming fighters to fight fans all over the world, and help them expand their bases. And we’ve been able to invite our viewers to be part of the action by fostering real-time interaction between our broadcasters and viewers on the fight activity, the decisions and the knockouts; it’s the next-best thing to having a ringside seat.”

Over the first four-plus months of programming, the numbers on the FIGHTNIGHT LIVE series have showed promise and potential for the new platform with an average of almost 108,000 fight fans tuning in per event. The Sept. 9 “Real Deal Promotions: Empire State” from Resorts World Casino (225,000), the August CES “Super Saturday” from Foxwoods (203,000), the Sept. CES “Twin River Twinbill” from Lincoln, R.I. (157,000), the July Roy Jones Jr. “Desert Showdown” from Phoenix (63,000), the May “Slugfest at the Sun” from Mohegan Sun (45,000), the June “Rosemont Rumble” from Chicago (32,000) and the Sept. DiBella “Friday Night Foxwoods Fights” (32,000) saw a total of almost 14,000 total hours of Facebook video consumed by 755,253-plus users across all devices.

In addition to the raw viewership numbers, the fully-interactive, fan-friendly productions have seen more than 122,819 collective live post engagements (17,700-plus per show), including almost 88,000 “likes” or “loves,” more than 13,000 comments and 4,200-plus shares. FIGHTNIGHT LIVE broadcasts are viewed by 76 percent men, 24 percent women. The top demographic is comprised of males aged 25-34, which encompasses approximately 30 percent of the audience, on average.

The Sept. 9 “Real Deal Promotions: Empire State” set a new bar with 224,658 views and the Sept. 15-16 DiBella-CES doubleheader carried the series to three-quarters-of-a-million views in just over four months. The Aug. 26 Foxwoods “Super Saturday” show stands out individually with 3,336 live hours of content viewed, while the Sept. 15 DiBella card saw more than 40,000 viewer interactions including almost 39,000 “likes” or “loves.”

Facebook FIGHTNIGHT LIVE has been delivered to fans absolutely free since its May 2017 launch courtesy of series corporate partners like Barbour One 9, Talent Management and Entertainment Production (www.barbourone9.com) and Northeastern Fine Jewelry (www.nefj.com).

Many FIGHTNIGHT LIVE cards are called by world-renowned blow-by-blow announcer Ray Flores of Premier Boxing Champions, Showtime Boxing, HBO Boxing and CBS Sports Networks. Often joining Flores ringside are analysts like Michael Woods of the TalkBox Podcast, NYFights.com and Ring TV. Locally-based ringside reporters with significant social media followings are often employed for weigh-in day “behind the scenes” taped interviews and post-fight reports.

Created and produced by Linacre Media out of New York City, the FIGHTNIGHT LIVE series features professional announcers, multiple camera angles, television graphics, replays and behind-the-scenes access and interviews. The streamed shows are available globally wherever Facebook is available. The initiative not only enables fans from around the world to tune in, but also gives up-and-coming fighters a global platform to showcase their abilities, gives promoters an accessible “broadcast” solution and gives sponsors the ability to reach a mass audience via branded content.

More FIGHTNIGHT LIVE Fall 2017 dates will be officially announced in the coming weeks.

FIGHTNIGHT LIVE is available online at: https://www.facebook.com/FaceFIGHTNIGHTLIVE/

Follow all the action via social media at FaceFIGHTNIGHTLIVE on Facebook, @FaceFIGHTNIGHTLIVE on Instagram and @FIGHTNIGHTLIVE_ on Twitter, or by using the hashtag #FIGHTNIGHTLIVE. For the latest Linacre Media events and broadcast schedule, follow @LinacreMedia across all social platforms or use the tags #LinacreMediaEvents or #LinacreMediaOnTV.

FIGHTNIGHT LIVE TO COMPLETE WEEKEND TWINBILL WITH CES BOXING AT TWIN RIVER CASINO ON SATURDAY

Fan-friendly, interactive platform stages second show of the weekend – and seventh in five months – in Providence prior to GGG-Canelo.
NEW YORK (Sept. 14, 2017) – Three weeks after establishing its first 200,000-viewer audience prior to Mayweather-McGregor, Facebook FIGHTNIGHT LIVE and CES Boxingplan to partner once again this Saturday with a three-hour show leading into HBO PPV coverage of GGG-Canelo. Renowned promoter Jimmy Burchfield Sr. has set the stage with an excellent card filled with local competitors on Sept. 16 at Twin River Casino and the tech-forward, fan-friendly Facebook broadcast platform will carry the action, beginning at 7 p.m., to complete its first “doubleheader weekend” – as FIGHTNIGHT LIVE delivers back-to-back shows on Friday and Saturday.

“For more than 25 years, CES has delivered boxing excitement to fans all over the world. The tradition continued [at Foxwoods on Aug. 26] when we teamed with FIGHTNIGHT LIVE by using cutting edge technology allowing fight fans to view the fights live on Facebook. This historic, record-setting event was the result of a great production team and action-packed, competitive fights,” said CES President Burchfield Sr.

The main event stars two intriguing welterweights battling for championship glory. After defeating Bronx vet Issouf Kinda by knockout in a controversial bout at Foxwoods on Aug. 26, New Haven, Conn., vet Jimmy Williams jumps right back into the fire less than three weeks later to face New Jersey’s “The Beast” Juan Rodriguez Jr. Shortly after his Sept. 16 return was announced, Williams’ wife, Christina, gave birth to twin boys, Logan and Austin. Now 14-0-1 (6 KOs), Williams has won 10 consecutive bouts and Saturday marks the second defense of his WBC USNBC welterweight championship.

Also featured on Saturday night in separate bouts: hard-hitting New England heavyweight Joey Cusumano (11-9, 9 KOs), Anthony Marsella Jr. of Providence (5-0, 2 KOs), Ray Oliveira Jr. of New Bedford, Mass. (7-1, 1 KO) and others.

“We’re extremely proud to watch Facebook FIGHTNIGHT LIVE reach another milestone this weekend, with outstanding shows in New England on back-to-back nights,” said Mark Fratto, Principal and Director of Business Development, Linacre Media. “Fight fans will be fired up for GGG-Canelo – including us – but we’re particularly excited to fulfill our mission to showcase local and regional up-and-coming fighters. We’ll be delivering at least 12 bouts across the two nights this weekend, providing a wide-reaching platform for 24 boxers of varied backgrounds and accomplishments to showcase their skills.”

Over the first five months of programming, the numbers on the FIGHTNIGHT LIVE series have showed promise and potential for the new platform with an average of more than 113,000 fight fans tuning in per event. The Sept. 9 “Real Deal Promotions: Empire State” from Resorts World Casino (224,658), the August “Super Saturday” from Foxwoods (203,000), the July Roy Jones Jr. “Desert Showdown” from Phoenix (63,000), the May “Slugfest at the Sun” from Mohegan Sun (45,000) and the June “Rosemont Rumble” from Chicago (32,000) saw a total of more than 12,700 total hours of Facebook video consumed by 567,000-plus users across all devices.

In addition to the raw viewership numbers, the fully-interactive, fan-friendly productions have seen more than 71,000 collective live post engagements (14,000-plus per show), including more than 40,400 “likes” or “loves,” more than 10,300 comments and 3,200-plus shares. FIGHTNIGHT LIVE broadcasts are viewed by 76 percent men, 24 percent women. The top demographic is comprised of males aged 25-34, which encompasses approximately 30 percent of the audience, on average.

The Sept. 9 “Real Deal Promotions: Empire State” set a new bar with 224,658 views and carried the series to over half-a-million views in just under four months, while the Aug. 26 Foxwoods “Super Saturday” show stands out individually with 201,935 views across 3,336 live hours of content, with 8,224 viewer interactions including 1,133 “likes” or “loves,” 1,570 comments and 1,392 shares.

Facebook FIGHTNIGHT LIVE has been delivered to fans absolutely free since its May 2017 launch courtesy of corporate partners like Barbour One 9, Talent Management and Entertainment Production (www.barbourone9.com) and Northeastern Fine Jewelry (www.nefj.com).

On Saturday night, August 26, live from Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I., fans can expect a high-impact, multi-camera streaming experience complete with graphics, animations, replays, interviews and an announce team anchored by blow-by-blow announcer Michael Woods of the TalkBox Podcast, NYFights.com and The Ring and analyst Xavier Porter of BrooklynFights.com, Notorious Boxing and the “Shoot the 5” radio show. To provide spectators with a fully-interactive ringside experience, commentators will ask and respond to questions from the Facebook audience throughout the broadcast.

Created and produced by Linacre Media out of New York City, the FIGHTNIGHT LIVE series features professional announcers, multiple camera angles, television graphics, replays and behind-the-scenes access and interviews. The streamed shows are available globally wherever Facebook is available. The initiative not only enables fans from around the world to tune in, but also gives up-and-coming fighters a global platform to showcase their abilities, gives promoters an accessible “broadcast” solution and gives sponsors the ability to reach a mass audience via branded content.

More FIGHTNIGHT LIVE Fall 2017 dates will be officially announced in the coming weeks.

FIGHTNIGHT LIVE is available online at: https://www.facebook.com/FaceFIGHTNIGHTLIVE/

Follow all the action via social media at FaceFIGHTNIGHTLIVE on Facebook, @FaceFIGHTNIGHTLIVE on Instagram and @FIGHTNIGHTLIVE_ on Twitter, or by using the hashtag #FIGHTNIGHTLIVE. For the latest Linacre Media events and broadcast schedule, follow @LinacreMedia across all social platforms or use the tags #LinacreMediaEvents or #LinacreMediaOnTV.

CES AND NEF FORCED TO CANCEL CO-PROMOTIONAL EVENT

Lewiston, Maine (October 3, 2016) – The CES and NEF co-promotion scheduled for November 4 in Lewiston is no more.  Executives from both companies announced today that the mixed-martial-arts event had been canceled due to matchmaking issues.

 

With several fighters pulling off the AXS TV portion of the card, and others turning down fights offered by matchmakers, and with the 30-day deadline to submit the fight card to the state commission for approval looming, the two companies were left with no choice but to call the event off.

 

“We are disappointed that this event didn’t materialize as planned,” said CES Vice President and Director of Legal Affairs Jimmy Burchfield, Jr. “But we are optimistic that we can make it happen in 2017.”

 

Details will follow for CES 39.

 

“It’s unfortunate, but we had no other option,” said NEF promoter Nick DiSalvo.  “When one door closes, another opens.”

 

The door that has opened is Saturday, November 19 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.  NEF will present “NEF 26,” and it will feature the promotion’s fighters who had already been scheduled to compete on November 4 plus many others.  Doors will open at 6 pm with first fight at 7 pm.  NEF chose to push the event date back two weeks in order to give new fighters added to the card more time to prepare.

 

“Once we made the mutual decision to cancel the event,” said NEF matchmaker Matt Peterson, “I got on the phone and immediately started making calls.  Within hours we had already assembled a spectacular card that we’ll be sharing with fans this week. No one will be disappointed when they make the trek to the Colisee on November 19th. We have an explosive event planned.”

 

For those who have already purchased tickets for November 4 through the Colisee box office, they will have the option of either a full refund or using their ticket for November 19.  Fans will have until this Friday, October 7 at 4 pm EDT to call the box office at 207-783-2009 x 525 to request a full refund.  The box office cannot refund tickets purchased from fighters.  Any fan who purchased a ticket from a fighter and would like a refund will have to return their ticket to the fighter for the refund.  Fans who choose to keep their tickets for November 19do not have to do anything.  All tickets printed with the “November 4” date will be honored at the door on November 19.

 

For more information on both promotions’ upcoming events, please visitwww.CESMMA.com and www.NewEnglandFights.com.

HEAVYWEIGHTS WILL BATTLE FOR SUPREMACY ON NOVEMBER 4 IN LEWISTON

Lewiston, Maine (September 27, 2016) – OnFriday, November 4, 2016 at the historic Androscoggin Bank Colisee, New England Fights (NEF) and Classic Entertainment & Sports (CES) will team up for a joint super-show featuring the stars of New England’s two most prestigious mixed-martial-arts promotions.

 

The televised portion of the fight card, “CES 39,” will air live on AXS TV.  Earlier today, NEF executives announced the first fight scheduled for the non-televised portion of the card, “NEF 26.”  Maine heavyweights Ras Hylton (2-0) and Kevin Smith (3-2) will collide in a battle of two of the region’s largest mixed-martial-artists.

 

Standing in at a towering 6’6,” and holding a black belt in Taekwondo, undefeated Ras Hylton, has become a quick fan-favorite during his short time in NEF.  “Ras-squath,” as he has become known amongst his many fans, made his NEF cage debut in February of this year, downing Zak Bergeron (0-1) just over a minute into the first round of their “NEF 21” bout.  Hylton would follow up that performance with a highlight-reel head-kick knockout of Matt Glover (1-1) which will undoubtedly be in the running for “KO of the Year” honors.  He is currently a member of First Class MMA based in Brunswick, Maine.

 

“I am looking forward to fighting Kevin Smith November 4th,” said Hylton when reached for comment.  “Young’s puts out great fighters and I’m sure he will live up to their reputation.  The more wins you get, the tougher your opponents are.  He will be my strongest challenge in the cage so far.”

 

It has been over two years since Kevin Smith stepped into an MMA cage to compete.  Prior to that time, Smith had been undefeated on NEF events.  All three of his victories with the promotion were finishes – two by way of submission and one knockout.  Like Hylton, Smith has never had to rely on the judges’ scorecards.  He is a member of Young’s MMA of Bangor, Maine.  During his time off from active cage competition, Smith took stock of his life goals and decided to make a career of mixed-martial-arts.

 

“I knew deep down that fighting is what I was made to do, and I won’t be happy doing a regular job,” shared Smith, “so I put everything aside to focus on this full time and my ultimate goal is to make it to the big show and fight in Bellator or the UFC.”

 

Tickets for “CES vs. NEF: Supremacy” start at $25 and are available now  atwww.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisee box office at 207.783.2009, extension 525.

 

For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visitwww.CESMMA.com and www.NewEnglandFights.com.