Top-ranked CES kicks off ’12 with night of upsets, debuts and comebacks
LINCOLN, R.I. (Feb. 3, 2012) – Tyler King left the Twin River Event Center with the biggest win of his young career Friday, and his own personal hardware.
The former NFL offensive lineman from Stoughton, Mass., delivered one of the most impressive knockouts of the night, stopping previously-undefeated Eric Bedard 4 minutes, 17 seconds into the opening round with a left knee to the chin in the first half of the heavyweight co-main event at “Extreme Measures,” presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, New England’s No. 1 combat sports promotion in 2011.
King (4-1, 2 KOs), who had accused his opponent of ducking him prior to the bout after their previous match-ups fell through, survived two strong hip tosses from Bedard (3-1) before using his strength and height advantage to take control of the fight.
As the two fighters clinched in the center of the cage, King caught Bedard directly under the chin with his left knee. Bedard’s knees buckled as he crumbled to the canvas, and the referee immediately stopped the fight before King could inflict further damage.
“I thought I could beat him in every phase of the game, and I did,” King said. “I knew he couldn’t hold me down or strike me. I’m still a baby, but throw me in the deep end and let’s get it on.
“I’m the [Classic Entertainment & Sports] cruiserweight champion. I’m ready for anyone at 225 pounds.”
Though King doesn’t own any official title, he’s on the right path following Friday’s win over Providence’s Bedard. The second half of the co-main event ended even quicker as former Ultimate Fighting Championships [UFC] contender Josh Hendricks (19-8) submitted Josh Diekmann (12-4) via an arm triangle at the 2:00 mark of the opening round in the final bout of the evening.
“Extreme Measures” also included two successful professional debuts, a long-awaited comeback for a fan favorite, a surprising upset in the light heavyweight division, and an impromptu announcement of Rhode Island’s next great title bout, featuring current CES middleweight champion Todd “The Hulk” Chattelle facing former UFC contender John “Doomsday” Howard April 13 at Twin River.
The upset of the night occurred when Mike Stewart (6-3) of White Plains, N.Y., dominated Providence’s Greg Rebello (13-4) from start to finish and forced the No. 1-ranked light heavyweight in New England to tap out at the 1:16 mark of the third round due to an armbar, handing Rebello just his second loss in 14 fights.
Stewart got Rebello to the ground early in each of the first two rounds, using his strength to overpower his opponent. Rebello tried to execute a flying knee to the face at the beginning of the third, but Stewart caught him, executed another brilliant takedown, and finished the bout moments later.
“Fighting is fighting,” said Stewart, who pulled off the win in front of a predominantly pro-Rebello crowd for his second victory in his last three fights. “It doesn’t matter where you are.”
Back in the cage for the first time in 15 months after recovering from a torn meniscus, Pawtucket, R.I., lightweight Pete Jeffrey (5-4) used every last ounce of energy to defeat the dangerous Lionel Young (6-10) of Brockton, Mass., by unanimous decision, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, in a fight that wound up much closer than the score indicated. The win was Jeffrey’s first since he defeated Saul Almeida of Framingham, Mass., in September of 2010.
Almeida (12-1) has won five consecutive bouts since that loss, including Friday’s 30-27, 30-27, 30-27 unanimous decision win over Pawtucket’s Jeff Anderson (10-6). Almeida controlled the fight on the ground from start to finish, leaving a frustrated Anderson with little to no chance of executing.
Bantamweight Andre Soukhamthath (1-1) of Woonsocket, R.I., won for the first time as a professional, choking out Gilvan Santos (0-3) of Framingham 42 seconds into the second round. Santos’ quick strikes left their mark on Soukhamthath early, but the speedy bantamweight countered quickly and got Santos to submit less than a minute into the second round.
“Honestly, he was beating my butt up there,” Soukhamthath said, “so I had to take it to the ground.”
Up-and-comers Joe Pingitore (1-0, 1 KO) of Johnston, R.I., and middleweight Brennan Ward (1-0, 1 KO) of Providence each won their pro debuts; Ward used his wrestling technique to take Josh Mellen (1-6) to the canvas early, and quickly finished his opponent with a flurry of punches at the 1:30 mark, while Pingitore showed off his footwork by maintaining his balance against Pedro da Silva (1-4) and slipping into the mount position before pummeling his opponent with unanswered strikes to force the stoppage 1:25 into the second round.
Queens, N.Y., native Kevin Horowitz (4-4) handed welterweight Shawn Summey (2-1) of Norwood, Mass., his first loss via a 29-27, 29-28, 29-28 unanimous decision; lightweight Andres Jeudi (4-0, 2 KOs) remained unbeaten by stopping a bloody, bruised Tim O’Connell (4-4) at the 1:46 mark of the third round; and unbeaten featherweight Sean Soriano (5-0, 3 KOs) flattened Lee Metcalf (5-6) in 34 seconds with a series of unanswered shots to the head.
For more information on Friday’s show and future events, including ticket information on the upcoming April 13 show at the Event Center, visit www.cesmma.com.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012
CES MEDIA ALERT
WHAT:
“Extreme Measures” final weigh-in and press conference.
WHO:
GREG REBELLO (13-3, 7 KOs), Providence, R.I.
MIKE STEWART (5-3, 2 KOs), White Plains, N.Y.
PETE JEFFREY (4-4, 2 KOs), Pawtucket, R.I.
LIONEL YOUNG (6-9, 1 KO), Brockton, Mass.
SAUL ALMEIDA (11-1), Framingham, Mass.
JEFF ANDERSON (10-5, 2 KOs), Pawtucket, R.I.
ERIC BEDARD (3-0, 1 KO), Providence, R.I.
TYLER KING (3-1, 1 KO), Stoughton, Mass.
JOSH HENDRICKS (18-8, 5 KOs), Wadsworth, Ohio
JOSH DIEKMANN (12-3, 8 KOs), Groton, Conn.
BRENNAN WARD (0-0), New London, Conn.
JOSH MELLEN (1-5), Framingham, Mass.
JOE PINGITORE (0-0), Johnston, R.I.
PEDRO DA SILVA (1-3, 1 KO), Lowell, Mass.
ANDRES JEUDI (3-0, 1 KO), Dorchester, Mass.
TIM O’CONNELL (4-3), Wakefield, R.I.
SEAN SORIANO (4-0), Providence, R.I.
LEE METCALF (5-5, 2 KOs), Rockland, Mass.
SHAWN SUMMEY (2-0, 2 KOs), Norwood, Mass.
KEVIN HOROWITZ (3-4), Queens, N.Y.
ANDRE SOUKHAMTHATH (0-1), Woonsocket, R.I.
GILVAN SANTOS (0-2), Framingham, Mass.
WHEN:
Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012, 5 p.m.
WHERE:
Wicked Good Bar & Grill
100 Twin River Road
Lincoln, RI 02865
401.723.3200
WHY:
Thursday is the final press conference and weigh-in for Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports’ “Extreme Measures” professional mixed martial arts event, which will be held Friday, Feb. 3, 2012 at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, R.I.
Undefeated heavyweight Eric Bedard (3-0, 1 KO) of Providence, R.I., will face former University of Connecticut standout and National Football League veteran Tyler King (3-1, 1 KO) of Norwood, Mass., while former Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) contender Josh “Heavy” Hendricks (18-8, 5 KOs) of Mansfield, Ohio, will face hard-hitting veteran heavyweight Josh Diekmann (12-3, 8 KOs) of Groton, Conn.
“Extreme Measures” also features two of the top-ranked fighters in the northeast as No. 1-ranked featherweight Saul Almeida (11-1) of Framingham, Mass., will battle Pawtucket, R.I., veteran Jeff Anderson (10-5, 2 KOs), and No. 1-ranked light heavyweight Greg Rebello (13-3, 7 KOs) of Providence will return to the cage against White Plains, N.Y., native Mike Stewart (5-3, 2 KOs).
Tickets for “Extreme Measures” are $35.00, $55.00, $100.00 and $125.00 and can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254, online at www.cesmma.com or www.twinriver.com, at the Players Club booth at Twin River, or through any TicketMaster location. Doors open 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7.
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Rebello hoping to stay the course on Feb. 3 as he closes in on major payday
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Jan. 25, 2012) – The last time Greg Rebello stepped inside the cage, he left covered in blood. You should’ve seen the guy who lost.
The Providence, R.I., native put a bloody end to his Sept. 9 bout against Cody Lightfoot with a sneaky, left kick to the forehead, opening a cut above Lightfoot’s eye that eventually prompted referee Kevin MacDonald to stop the fight in the second round.
“I knew he had a good chin and would be difficult to stop, so my plan was to cut him up,” Rebello said. “It worked out better than I thought it would.”
The win kept Rebello (13-3, 7 KOs) – ranked No. 1 in the northeast among light heavyweights – on the cusp of earning a lucrative bout with one of mixed martial arts’ premier organizations, a spot he hopes to hold onto Friday, Feb. 3, 2012 when he faces White Plains, N.Y., native Mike Stewart (5-3, 2 KOs) on the undercard of Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports’ “Extreme Measures” show at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, R.I.
Each victory adds more pressure as Rebello works continuously to maintain a balance between focusing on the task at hand and acknowledging the importance of each fight, knowing one slip-up could knock him off the radar.
“Though it’s kind of hard not to, I don’t think about it at all, to tell you the truth,” Rebello said. “I’m just thinking about going in there and performing my best. More importantly, I’m trying to listen to what my coaches are telling me to do.”
One particular piece of advice Rebello has taken to heart is to get off to a faster start in each fight. A slow starter by nature, Rebello admits to trying to test himself at times instead of following the logical game plan; for example, he tried to out-wrestle Lightfoot – a standout, collegiate wrestler at Norwich University in Vermont – in the opening round of their showdown in September.
“I’m kind of a knucklehead like that,” he quipped.
Once the second round began, Rebello leaned back on his kickboxing ability and subsequently ended the fight in a matter of minutes, as evident by the bloody gash on Lightfoot’s forehead. To be fair, the slow starts aren’t always a byproduct of Rebello’s stubbornness; sometimes, the pattern develops in training camp.
“I’m a big believer in that you fight like you train,” he said. “I’m a relaxed guy, and I’m a lefty, too, so I’m a counter-striker. The guys I spar with like Mike Campbell and Todd Chattelle come right at you, which causes me to be slow and elusive.
“It’s the same thing at Sityodtong [in Boston]. They’re aggressive. They don’t give you a chance to set anything up or set a tone, and it’s caused me to be an elusive fighter. It’s made me more relaxed, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but, in my fights, I tend to go right to that same place and wait for guys to strike first.”
Other than the familiarity with his wrestling background, Rebello is uncertain how Stewart will approach their light heavyweight showdown on Feb. 3. Stewart trains out of Bombsquad MMA in Ithica, N.Y., where current UFC [Ultimate Fighting Championships] light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones got his start.
“Mike’s a smart fighter,” Rebello said. “I’ve seen him go right after guys when he knows he can outwrestle them, and I’ve seen him fight against strikers and use his footwork to set things up. He’s got great timing and tries to get guys to commit to him.
“His approach depends on who he’s fighting. Obviously, I know his strengths and what he’s best at; he’ll always go back to his wrestling and submission game, but as far as what he’ll do [on Feb. 3], I really don’t know.”
The element of surprise won’t faze Rebello in the quest for his 13th win in 14 fights, nor will the pressure of knowing what’s at stake, along with what could loom on the horizon with another victory. He’s adopted the customary “one fight at a time” approach, yet he still has his ear to the streets; he hears the feedback, both positive and negative, and knows what’s expected of him in order to reach the top of the mountain in mixed martial arts.
“A lot of people go right after the bad things rather than focusing on the good stuff,” Rebello said. “I beat Cody, but a lot of people said, ‘Oh, he lost the first round and was losing the second round, too.’ I didn’t even get hit in that fight. I took a lot of crap after that. They wanted me to give him a rematch. They said the stoppage wasn’t fair. I mean, I put a hole in his head.
“Sometimes, the criticism is good. I’ve been criticized in the past for grinding out decisions, which is fine. I listened and said to myself, ‘They’re right.’ That goes back to me being more aggressive. The bottom line is the big organizations want to see big finishes. If I go out there thinking, ‘I can’t screw up,’ and I stall and wind up getting a decision, that doesn’t help me.”
All eyes will once again be on Rebello Feb. 3 when he faces Stewart, and some of those eyes might belong to the decision-makers who determine who gets the call to fight for one of mixed martial arts’ upper-echelon organizations.
Rebello knows they’re watching. Now it’s up to him to make it worth their while.
“I just need a couple more wins,” he said. “At this point, a lot of it has to do with being in the right place at the right time. Guys get injured, so who’s to say there won’t be a 185- or 205-pounder that won’t get hurt in the near future? As long I keep winning, it’ll happen. I just need to take it one fight at a time.”
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Veteran grappler Jeffrey itching to get back in action following 15-month layoff
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Jan. 23, 2012) – Even the savviest veterans get butterflies now and then.
“The only thing that will take getting used to is being in front of that crowd,” said Pawtucket, R.I., native “Pistol” Pete Jeffrey, who’ll return to the cage Friday, Feb. 3, 2012 on the undercard of Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports’ “Extreme Measures” mixed martial arts show at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, R.I.
“I don’t care what anyone says; being in that cage is a lot different than being in the gym.”
Jeffrey, 34, has been through it all in mixed martial arts, a veteran of the sport long before it was legalized in Rhode Island, yet even he will have to shake off the proverbial “ring rust” – and his nerves – Feb. 3 as he fights for the first time since September of 2010, ending a 15-month layoff prolonged by a torn meniscus in his left that knee that required surgery less than six months ago.
The timing couldn’t have been worse; Jeffrey (4-4, 2 KOs) was still only a year removed from his thrilling win over previously-unbeaten Saul “The Spider” Almeida when he suffered the injury while training for a bout against John Ortolani.
“At first, I figured, “Okay, I’ll take a week off,’” Jeffrey recalled. “When I came back, I made it worse. I got an MRI done that Friday, and as soon as the results came in, I had surgery scheduled for the following Tuesday. It was a kick in the [groin], to say the least.”
That pain has long since subsided. As it turns out, Jeffrey’s recovery coincided with the growth of his gym, Tri-Force MMA, founded by he and his brother, fellow fighter Keith Jeffrey, in what was once an uninhabited space inside Manfredo’s Gym in Pawtucket. Focusing solely on training mixed martial arts’ fighters in everything from boxing technique to cutting weight, Tri-Force is a one-of-a-kind hub for amateurs and professionals of all ages.
Local fighters such as Todd Chattelle, Mike Campbell, Josh Diekmann, Rigo Dominicci, Andre Soukhamthath, Sean Soriano and Brennan Ward all train with the Jeffrey brothers, creating an environment that promotes unity and development. The gym has increased in popularity over the past five months, helping Jeffrey prepare for his Feb. 3 fight against Lionel Young.
“I’ve done nothing but get better,” Jeffrey said. “I’ve gotten a lot more experience and trained with better fighters over the course of time. As far as my mindset is concerned, I don’t feel the pressure anymore of trying to hurry up to achieve this goal or that goal. I’m confident if I take it one fight at a time, everything will fall into place.”
Jeffrey’s recovery from the torn meniscus has required both patience and perseverance. Prior to that, he had been inactive for a year due to a combination of last-minute cancellations and opponents pulling out at the weigh-in, a byproduct of his eye-opening win over Almeida at Twin River two years ago.
“I took that fight on five days’ notice and won,” Jeffrey said. “That made it hard for me to get an opponent.”
The injury set him back an additional four months, beginning with five weeks of rehabilitation in which he couldn’t walk without crutches. By December, Jeffrey was back in the gym working full speed, albeit on a limited basis.
“Mine was a 60-percent tear, so they had to go in and take out the part that’s torn. From there, it’s just healing time,” Jeffrey said. “The thing about this kind of injury is it’s mandatory to not just stay off it. Even though it hurts, you have to stay on it, or else it’ll end up getting much worse.”
Jeffrey obliged, and soon took the offer to fight Young (6-9, 1 KO) on Rhode Island’s first fight card of the year, but he still experienced some lingering effects from the surgery at the beginning of training camp, even after taking the full 16 weeks to recover.
“Up until now, I still couldn’t get into a full squat position, so it’s a work in progress,” Jeffrey said. “Over these last three weeks, I’ve finally been able to shoot through takedowns and really push myself. I wish the fight were this Friday.”
Throughout the rehabilitation process, and the growth of his gym, Jeffrey has also continued to train with Rhode Island-based Jiu-Jitsu instructor Tim Burrill, one of the inspirations behind the Tri-Force name; local pioneer Mat Santos, who is a Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Burrill, and Keith Jeffrey are the others.
Upon starting his own gym, Jeffrey made sure not to infringe upon Burrill’s territory by concentrating more on complete mixed martial arts’ training and the subsequent preparations for upcoming fights rather than focusing on one style of combat. Given that it shares the same space with Manfredo’s Gym, Tri-Force also gets a boost from the local boxers and instructors who frequent the area, such as Peter Manfredo Sr. and local trainer David Keefe.
“Our goal is to give all of the young, up-and-coming fighters the advantages we didn’t have,” Jeffrey said. “We started long before the days of the UFC [Ultimate Fighting Championships] and YouTube. Nothing was legal back then. Everyone was on their own. There were hardly even any medical requirements.
“Twenty-four hours a day, people can call me and ask questions, whether it’s weight-cut issues, nerves – just text or call me. We try to make it so that it’s one big family, and that the only thing you have to worry about is fighting, not who’s going to tape your hands on fight night, or work your corner.”
Tri-Force now has a full-sized, custom-built cage, heavy bags, and floor mats large enough to hold up to 35 fighters at once. The gym also hosts eight to 10 classes per week.
“I’ve seen the growth, and it’s amazing,” Jeffrey said. “We’re trying to offer the only full MMA facility where we’re training MMA. [Keith] is a certified personal trainer, so we work that into the mix, too, whether it’s helping fighters cut weight, or what supplements to take. We try to look out for our guys as much as possible. This is what all the top schools are doing, and I couldn’t be happier.”
“Tri-Force has brought me to where I am today,” said Chattelle, who finished 4-0 in 2011 and captured CES’ inaugural middleweight championship in November. “Like a father would with his son, they provide you with positive reinforcement. If you say something negative about yourself, they’ll step in and say, ‘No, don’t say that!’ It’s a very positive atmosphere.
“Anyone that comes in here and trains is on our team. We’re all in this together.”
After missing close to a year and a half due to injury, Jeffrey hasn’t put any additional pressure on himself to make a quick climb to the top of the rankings. The growth of Tri-Force has admittedly put his career into a new perspective; win or lose, Jeffrey knows he has an important role within the mixed martial arts’ community. For now, he’s focusing on Feb. 3, and his newfound confidence – along with the relief of not trying to overcome long odds – might make him one of Rhode Island’s most dangerous fighters in 2012.
“Once I can’t fight anymore, there will be young, hungry guys in here who need an experienced coach,” he said. “Life will get a lot easier when I can take all the time I put into myself and put that into these young guys coming up.”
“Extreme Measures” will be headlined by a heavyweight co-main event featuring Josh Hendricks (18-8, 5 KOs) Mansfield, Ohio, facing Diekmann (12-3, 8 KOs), a Westerly, R.I., native who now lives and trains in Groton, Conn.; and Eric Bedard (3-0, 1 KO) of Providence, R.I., facing Tyler King (3-1, 1 KO) of Norwood, Mass. Bedard and King are ranked No. 6 and 8 in the northeast, respectively.
“Extreme Measures” also features two additional top-ranked fighters in the northeast as Almeida (11-1), the No. 1-ranked featherweight from Framingham, Mass., will battle Pawtucket, R.I., veteran Jeff Anderson (10-5, 2 KOs), and No. 1-ranked light heavyweight Greg Rebello (13-3, 7 KOs) of Providence will face veteran Mike Stewart (5-3, 2 KOs) of White Plains, N.Y.
Two fighters will make their professional debuts, including Ward, a welterweight from New London, Conn., facing Lowell Zangri (1-0) of Manchester, N.H.; and Joe Pingitore of Johnston, R.I., facing featherweight Pedro da Silva (1-3, 1 KO) of Lowell, Mass. Undefeated lightweight Andres Jeudi (3-0, 1 KO) of Dorchester, Mass., will face Tim O’Connell (4-3) of Wakefield, R.I.; Soriano (4-0), a featherweight out of Providence, will put his unbeaten record on the line against Lee Metcalf (5-5, 2 KOs) of Rockland, Mass.; welterweight Shawn Summey (2-0, 2 KOs) of Dedham, Mass., will battle Kevin Horowitz (3-4) of Queens, N.Y.; Soukhamthath (0-1), a bantamweight from Woonsocket, R.I., will aim for his first professional win against Gilvan Santos (0-2) of Framingham.
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CES Presents: Extreme Measures
February 3, 2012 ◙ Twin River, Lincoln, RI ◙ Matchmaker – Pat Sullivan
Red Corner Blue Corner
MAIN EVENT
Heavyweights – 3 X 5
Josh Diekmann Josh “Heavy” Hendricks
Tim Burill Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Superior Health Club/Team Nogueria
Groton, CT. Wadsworth, OH.
12-3, 8 KO, 4 Submissions 18-8, 5 KO, 11 Submissions
Lightheavyweights (195 LBS.) – 3 X 5
Greg “Ribz” Rebello Mike Stewart
TriForce MMA/Sitydtong Bombsquad
Providence, RI. White Plains, NY.
13-3, 7 KO 5-3, 2 KO, 2 Submission
Lightweights (155 LBS.) – 3 X 5
Jeff “Candyman” Anderson Saul “The Spider” Almeida
Allaire Fitness Team Nogueira/Dragon’s Lair
Pawtucket, RI. Framingham, MA.
10-5, 2 KO 10-1, 2 Submissions
Heavyweights (225 LBS.) – 3 X 5
Tyler King Eric Bedard
Connors MMA Gillette’s MMA
Stoughton, MA. Providence, RI.
3-1, 1KO, 2 Submissions 3-0, 1 KO, 2 Submissions
Lightweights (155 LBS.) – 3 X 5
“Pistol” Pete Jeffrey Lionel Young
TriForce MMA Mike Varner
Pawtucket, RI. Brockton, MA.
4-4, 2 KO, 2 Submissions 6-9, 6 Submissions
Featherweight (150 LBS) – 3 X 5
Sean Sorriano Lee Metcalf
American Top Team South Shore Sport Fighting
Providence, RI. Rockland, MA.
3-0 5-4
Bantamweights (135 LBS.) – 3 X 5
Andre “The Asian Sensation” Soukamatah Gilvan Santos
TriForce/USMMA/Tim Burrill Asian American Martial Arts
Providence, RI. Framingham, MA.
0-1 1-1
Lightweight (155LBS) – 3 X5
Andres “Black Shark” Jeudi Tim “Watch Your Back” O’Connell
Team Sityodtong Omoplata
Dorchester, MA. Wakefield, RI.
3-0, 1 KO 4-3, 4 Submissions
Middleweight (185 LBS)_- 3 X 5
Brennan Ward Lowell Zangri
Strike Zone Team Valor
Providence, RI. Derry, NH.
Pro Debut 1-0. 1 Submission
Welterweight (170 LBS.) – 3 X 5
Kevin Horowitz Shawn Summey
Rhino Fight Team Dragon’s Lair
Queens. NY. Norwood, MA.
Joe Pingatore Pedro da Silva
Ruckus Fighting Academy Independent
Johnston, RI. Lowell, MA.
Pro Debut 3, 1 KO***********************************************************************************************
Hendricks, Diekmann hoping to use heavyweight showdown as launching pad
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Jan. 17, 2012) – This is what veteran fight fans and historians would call the classic pick-‘em fight, two heavyweights standing toe-to-toe with an equal shot at winning, and an equal amount to gain or lose depending on the outcome.
At 35 years old, both Josh Hendricks and Josh Diekmann are in the latter stages of their respective careers, yet both stand on the cusp of reaching the sports’ proverbial mountaintop as they prepare to face one another Friday, Feb. 3, 2012 in the co-main event of “Extreme Measures,” presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, R.I.
Diekmann (12-3, 8 KOs) and Hendricks (18-8, 5 KOs) have traveled different paths to reach this stage. Diekmann, a Westerly, R.I., native who now lives and trains in Groton, Conn., is coming off back-to-back knockout victories after rediscovering his passion for mixed martial arts in recent years, while Hendricks, a former Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) contender from Mansfield, Ohio, is looking to prove he still belongs at the top of the ladder.
A mutual respect for one another has developed between the two fighters based off the fact each one realizes the opponent standing across from him on Feb. 3 could be the last – and most difficult – obstacle on the path to greatness.
“Diekmann’s a tough guy,” Hendricks said. “This will definitely tell me where I’m at in this game, and where I stand.”
“I’m not taking him lightly,” Diekmann countered. “I’ve got to keep it where I’m comfortable and where he’s least comfortable. It might take me a minute to figure that out, but I will. I can’t afford to be overwhelmed by his title of ‘UFC veteran.’”
The bright lights of the Twin River Event Center won’t faze either fighter on Feb. 3, especially Hendricks, who faced Gabriel Gonzaga three years ago on the undercard of “UFC 91” in front of more than 14,000 fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Frustrated by all the broken promises through the years, Hendricks had almost given up on reaching the UFC until he received an unexpected phone call from his agent, Ken Pavia.
“He said to me, ‘I told you I’d make your dream come true,’” Hendricks said.
After winning 10 of 11 fights in a two-year span, Hendricks got the call he had been waiting for his entire life. He inked a four-fight deal with the UFC, but the euphoria wore off quickly. After losing to Gonzaga by knockout in just 61 seconds, the UFC immediately dropped him from the roster. “You’ve got to win, or at least look good losing,” Hendricks said. “I didn’t do either one. I was overwhelmed. I had watched all of those UFC events from one angle on the camera, and now all of a sudden the camera was turned on me. You say to yourself, ‘When I get there, I’ll do this …’ but, for me, the wheels all came off at once. I don’t think I’m a better fighter than Gonzaga, but I would’ve liked to have competed better.”
Despite losing three of his last five fights since the showdown with Gonzaga, Hendricks firmly believes he has a shot at making it back to the UFC, but won’t know for sure until after he steps into the cage with Diekmann. He’s as confident now as he’s been in years, mainly because there are fewer distractions in his life. After losing to Gonzaga, Hendricks spent more time focusing on his family, trying to raise his 1-year-old son while balancing his mixed martial arts’ career. Now that his son is 4, Hendricks has shifted his attention to his upcoming opponent; he recently spent a month in Brazil training with UFC veterans Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and current heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos. “Things had to go in a different direction for a while. Now I seem to have gotten back into basic training,” Hendricks said. “My life is a lot different now.”
Diekmann can relate. A former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) contender, he hit rock bottom two years ago following a first-round loss to Christian Morecraft in Plymouth, Mass. Morecraft eventually moved on to the UFC, leaving Diekmann to question whether or not he still wanted to continue his career. “I did some soul-searching. I started asking myself questions,” Diekmann said. “I had reached a point where it wasn’t fun anymore. I didn’t want to go to the gym, or go to fights. When I fought Christian, I had taken a long time off. There were other fights I could’ve taken, but he was the No. 1 contender, so me being the dummy I am, I decided to take the fight. I really didn’t feel like I belonged anywhere at the time. I was rusty.”
Since then, Diekmann has put more focus into his training, working with Rhode Island-based Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist Tim Burrill and members of Team Tri-Force MMA in Pawtucket, R.I. “I’m finally having fun again,” Diekmann said. “I’m fighting because I’m training, not just training to fight. The fight is like the reward. I just think I’m around the right people now. It’s a good vibe. I feel like I belong, and I’m having fun learning a lot of new things.”
“Tim has made a huge difference in Josh’s career,” said Diekmann’s manager, Jay Joidon. “Tim is a deep-minded guy, not only with Jiu-Jitsu and fighting, but overall with his students. He’s a great guy. This has done a lot for Josh. He’s really training to make a run at it before age limits him. We’re really hoping this upcoming fight catapults him to the next level, and we’re confident with Tim on our side. Tim has given Josh a home; for a while, he really didn’t have one.”
Diekmann’s resume is similar to Hendricks’ in that they’ve both been willing to fight anyone at any time; in addition to Morecraft, Diekmann also squared off against UFC veteran Justin Eilers in 2006 and handed Pat Schultz the first loss of his career in 2007. He also knocked out former Bellator Fighting Championships contender Randy Smith in March. Next month’s showdown against Hendricks could be another step in the right direction. “A lot of guys fight for different reasons. At first, I wanted to prove something, or I wanted respect,” Diekmann said. “Right now, I’m here because I want to be. I’m having fun.”
Added Hendricks: “The last time I lost two in a row, I got determined and put up 10 wins. I’ve got two losses now, but I’ve got to win this one before I can worry about the next fight.”
The second half of the co-main event on Feb. 3 will feature heavyweight Eric Bedard (3-0, 1 KO) of Providence, R.I., facing Tyler King (3-1, 1 KO) of Norwood, Mass. Bedard and King are ranked No. 6 and 8 in the northeast, respectively.
“Extreme Measures” features two additional top-ranked fighters in the northeast as No. 1-ranked featherweight Saul Almeida (11-1) of Framingham, Mass., will battle Pawtucket, R.I., veteran Jeff Anderson (10-5, 2 KOs), and No. 1-ranked light heavyweight Greg Rebello (13-3, 7 KOs) of Providence will face veteran Mike Stewart (5-3, 2 KOs) of White Plains, N.Y.
Three fighters will make their professional debuts, including welterweight Brennan Ward of New London, Conn., facing Lowell Zangri (1-0) of Manchester, N.H.; flyweight Dan Cormier of Cranston, R.I., battling Fred Mandracchia (1-3) of Weymouth, Mass.; and standout amateur Joe Pingitore of Johnston, R.I., facing featherweight Pedro da Silva (1-3, 1 KO) of Lowell, Mass.
Undefeated lightweight Andres Jeudi (3-0, 1 KO) of Dorchester, Mass., will face Tim O’Connell (4-3) of Wakefield, R.I.; featherweight Sean Soriano (4-0) of Providence will put his unbeaten record on the line against Lee Metcalf (5-5, 2 KOs) of Rockland, Mass.; welterweight Shawn Summey (2-0, 2 KOs) of Dedham, Mass., will battle Kevin Horowitz (3-4) of Queens, N.Y.; and bantamweight Andre Soukhamthath (0-1) of Woonsocket, R.I., will aim for his first professional win against Gilvan Santos (0-2) of Framingham, Mass. Pawtucket’s Pete Jeffrey (4-4, 2 KOs) will also be featured on the undercard.
Tickets for “Extreme Measures” are $35.00, $55.00, $100.00 and $125.00 and can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254, online at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at the Players Club booth at Twin River, or through any TicketMaster location. Doors open 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7.
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A Pirate Looks At Forty
The Scotty Rehm Story
From Old School
“Yes I am a Pirate
Two hundred years too late.
There’s nothing to plunder. The cannons don’t thunder.
I’m an over forty victim of fate… Arriving too late.”
From Jimmy Buffett (A Pirate Looks At Forty)
The Pirate
Millions of folks vacation on Cape Cod every year; Europeans, New Englanders, and even the President of the good ole U.S. of A. There’s primarily one reason for this annual influx of visitors; the ocean. Cape Cod has a four hundred year history of fishing, whaling, and life surrounded by the sea. As such, Cape Cod also has a rich history of ship wrecks and pirates. Most of the ship wrecks have been eliminated, whaling is now a part of history, and the pirates are all gone; all gone except one.
Scotty Rehm is a modern day pirate. The MMA Middleweight knock out artist is a stealer of souls and a thief to father time. If you lose focus for a moment, The Pirate can appear and he will rob you blind. Just ask his last victim, Steve Skrzat. Steve is much younger, appears more muscular, and looks quite a bit bigger and stronger than the unassuming Rehm. But last September, at the Twin Rivers Casino in Lincoln, RI, on the CES Road to Glory fight card, Skrzat lost his focus for a brief moment and The Pirate emerged just twenty nine seconds into round one!
“I studied the tapes on him,” said Scotty. “He’s a southpaw, so I stayed outside his power and moved to my left. He threw two leg kicks and I noticed he was off balance on the second one and that’s when I caught him.”
Two hundred years too late
Scotty’s dad was a Boston Cop who died of injuries suffered while in the line of duty. Scotty was just a twenty years young at the time. “I never knew my dad as a tough guy. He was just my dad. But all his fellow officers knew him as a tough guy. He was a cop in Boston during the busing and all that went on during the 70’s!” Scotty told me stories that were told to him by his dad’s fellow comrades at the funeral. Truly this was one tough guy!
Scott is an old school tough guy too; he doesn’t tell you how tough he is and how bad he used to be, but you can just tell. His gentle blend of blue collar strong and inner city tough is hidden behind his respect for his students and his excitement about their upcoming fights. “To be honest with you, I get more nervous when one of my guys is fighting than when I’m in the cage,” he said. I think he’d rather talk about his wife and daughters than his own upcoming fight. In fact he comes across to me as one of the friendliest guys in MMA. I can honestly say that almost everyone I know in the MMA game has nothing but great things to say about Scotty Rehm.
But in one conversation that we had The Pirate came out of hiding. Scotty told me of one promoter who was about to do him wrong. This particular promoter tried to involve Scotty in something that Scotty felt was not exactly up front with the fans and honest to his opponent. He just shook his head in disgust at the fact that there are such scoundrels operating out there. “You know, there are still a few things in life that can be solved with a ski mask and a baseball bat!”….The Pirate.
There’s nothing to plunder; the cannons don’t thunder…
Like so many of us, Scotty came into the MMA game not so much through the front door but through the side window. He didn’t always dream of cage fighting; partly because he was 25 years old before the UFC even came about. Then another ten years passed before MMA became available to Martial Artists in New England. In fact, Rehm never even had his first Pro MMA fight until the age of 39!
His first foray into the Martial Arts began with some Krav Maga training when he was in his early thirties. Soon after that he met Michael “Loco Lobo” Gresh and began MMA training under him for a while. “Back then we were training in Michael’s basement.” Later he and Gresh started their trips up to the legendary Sityodtong gym in Somerville to train under Kru Mark Dellegrotte. “To be honest with you, I never really thought much about (myself) fighting until I was working corners for some of the Sityodtong guys,” says Scott. “And really, boxing and kick boxing just had too many (limitations) rules.”
“Mike Littlefield got me my first fight in 2007,” says Scott.
Arriving too late
On February 20, 2010, Patrick Schultz had just won via TKO on the CFX Rumble in the Jungle card. Upon the conclusion of his victory, Patrick called out former training partner Scotty Rehm. Patrick was 8-1, a TUF veteran, and one of the top ranked middleweights in the region at the time. Scotty was a 41 year old journeyman fighter with a 4-4 record.
Four months later, in June of that year, the former team mates stared across the cage at one another. Scotty and Patrick arrived in the cage center as the Main Event began. They stood toe to toe and traded. In the midst of a two way striking battle The Pirate awoke; Scotty dropped Patrick with a short punch. The ref stepped in for what some say was an early stoppage. But the bottom line was this; Winner by TKO, Scotty Rehm.
“I threw the 1-3-slip (jab-hook-slip combination),” says Scotty. “Then I caught him with the 3-2 (hook-right cross combo).” The Pirate had arrived; better late than never.
The Schultz win put Scotty right up into the top ten ranked Middleweights in the NorthEast MMA rankings; he has been there ever since. The fact that The Pirate is still plying his centuries old trade at 43 years old is interesting; the fact that does this against the region’s highly ranked Mixed Martial Artists is almost unprecedented. (Fellow Sityodtong Pirate and native Cape Codder Michael Gresh fought his way to the upper end of the Featherweight rankings before retiring, two years ago, at 47 years young.)
Scott is a busy guy these days. He just recently inked a three fight contract with CES out of Rhode Island; the deal includes travel and hotel expenses, a color commentator position as part of their broadcast team, as well as three fights in the up coming year. Scotty also runs the Pro Elite Training Center in Sandwich, MA. (Visit www.scottrehmmma.com). One member of his current stable of local fighters, Bobby Flynn, will be fighting on the Cage Titans Invasion card for the Amateur Lightweight Title in Plymouth in two weeks. Another Pro Elite stable mate, Brian Sparrow, is on that fights card as well. Scotty will also be travelling to Nashville later this week as cornerman for Jorge Rivera for the UFC on FX. He’s doing alright for a guy who arrived at the dance a little too late…
From Old School
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Scotty Rehm will likely be cage side at the next CES event. For information on this and other CES events, visit www.cesmma.com.
CES Extreme Measures
February 3, 2011
Twin Rivers Casino
Lincoln, RI
Fight Card (subject to change):
Josh Diekman (12-2) vs. Josh Hendricks (18-8)
Tyler King (3-1) vs. Eric Bedard (3-0)
Greg Rebello (13-3) vs. Mike Stewart (5-2)
Pete Jeffrey (4-4) vs. Lionel Young (6-9)
Saul Almeida (11-1) vs. Jeff Anderson (10-4)
Shawn Summey (2-0) vs. Kevin Horowitz (3-4)
Sean Sorriano (4-0) vs. Lee Metcalf (5-4)
Andre Soukamatah (0-1) vs. Gilvan Santos (1-1)
Andres Jeudi (3-0) vs. Tim O’Connell (4-3)
Lowell Zangri (1-0) vs. Brennan Ward (Pro Debut)
Dan Cormier (Pro Debut) vs. Fred Mandrachia (1-3)
Joe Pingitore (Pro Debut) vs. Pedro da Silva (1-3)
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Heavyweight showdowns highlight CES MMA’s 2012 debut at Twin River
Coming off an award-winning year in 2011, New England’s No. 1 combat sports promotion is breaking out the big guns for its 2012 debut.
Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports – voted No. 1 among its peers by the Boston Herald – returns to the cage Friday, Feb. 3, 2012 with “Extreme Measures,” featuring two heavyweight showdowns at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, R.I.
Undefeated Eric Bedard (3-0, 1 KO) of Providence, R.I., will face former University of Connecticut standout and National Football League veteran Tyler King (3-1, 1 KO) of Norwood, Mass., while former Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) contender Josh “Heavy” Hendricks (18-8, 5 KOs) of Mansfield, Ohio, will face hard-hitting veteran Josh Diekmann (12-3, 8 KOs) of Groton, Conn.
“Whether it’s boxing or mixed martial arts, there’s nothing fight fans love more than watching two heavyweights stand toe-to-toe, and we’ve got two exciting heavyweight bouts on tap for Feb. 3rd,” Burchfield said. “This is our first show of the year, and we’ve set the bar incredibly high, so our goal, as it is every show, is to bring our loyal fans the most stacked lineup you’ll see anywhere in mixed martial arts.”
“Extreme Measures” also features two of the top-ranked fighters in the northeast as No. 1-ranked featherweight Saul Almeida (11-1) of Framingham, Mass., will battle Pawtucket, R.I., veteran Jeff Anderson (10-5, 2 KOs), and No. 1-ranked light heavyweight Greg Rebello (13-3, 7 KOs) of Providence will return to the cage for the first time since beating Cody Lightfoot at Twin River last September in one of the bloodiest battles of 2011. Pawtucket’s Pete Jeffrey (4-4, 2 KOs) will also be featured on the undercard.
The sparks will fly when Bedard faces King in the first of two heavyweight showdowns on Feb. 3. King, the No. 8-ranked heavyweight in the northeast, has accused No. 6-ranked Bedard of trying to avoid him in the past while setting unreasonable terms for potential bouts, including a catchweight of 225 pounds, which both sides have agreed to for this upcoming fight.
“We’re heavyweights. Why would we have to fight at a catchweight?” King said. “I’ve been trying to fight him for a while, but he hasn’t wanted to fight me. He’s backed out of fights before.
“I had to jump through a lot of hoops to get this fight. It just grinds my gears a little bit.”
In reference to the catchweight for the Feb. 3 bout, Bedard said it’s part of his plan to eventually fight all of his future bouts at 205 pounds – “It’s a career move,” he said – while noting that all prior requests to fight King were made on short notice.
“I knew he’d say that [I’ve been avoiding him],” Bedard said. “I was literally asked to fight him two or three days before a fight in which I had been training for somebody else. Now I’m supposed to fight a 6-foot-5 blue belt in Jiu-Jitsu? Who I’m fighting isn’t just my decision; I get told by [my manager] Tim [Gillett] who I’m fighting.
“[King] can call it ducking. On Feb. 3, we’ll step into the cage and we’ll see who’s ducking who.”
Both King and Bedard are relatively new to mixed martial arts. King’s career began in the NFL as a defensive lineman, spending parts of the 2006 season with Jacksonville, San Diego and St. Louis. An avid fan of mixed martial arts, he later worked at a loan modification company in Norwood before deciding to train at the nearby Connors MMA Training Academy as a way to “relieve stress.”
“I really started to get into it when I watched ‘The Ultimate Fighter 3’ with Ken Shamrock and Tito Ortiz,” King said. “I remember watching Michael Bisping fight Matt Hamill in England and thinking, ‘This is really good stuff!’
“I just love to train and compete. Some people play softball or join a recreational basketball league. I’d rather compete in the cage.”
After winning his first three fights, King lost a five-round unanimous decision to Bellator Fighting Championships veteran Randy Smith in June. King is one of several former professional football players to make the transition to mixed martial arts, including Herschel Walker, Johnnie Morton and Marcus Jones. While the results have been mixed for other NFL vets – Jones is 4-2 as a pro while Morton lost his first and only fight by knockout – King is hoping to change the perception that athletes from other sports can’t succeed in the cage.
“I take tough fights and I fight with a lot of heart,” King said. “I put it all on the line. You can say what you want about guys like Marcus Jones, but he went out there and fought his butt off.
“I have a lot of heart and a good chin. Those things have helped me, and they’ve probably covered up some of the little mistakes I make along the way.”
Bedard’s athletic background began with youth wrestling, where he won two state titles, and ended shortly thereafter. He didn’t wrestle in high school, nor did he attend college, though he spent time as a youth wrestling coach. After his weight ballooned to 305 pounds in November of 2008, Bedard decided to change his lifestyle.
“I saw pictures of myself and said, ‘That’s not me,’” he said. “I was fat, out of shape, and I looked like crap.”
Bedard began training at Gillett’s MMA in Fall River, Mass., where he learned Gillett’s PCS5 system, a simplified grappling program using five dominant positions. He showed enough promise to convince Gillett to train him for a professional bout. Three fights into his brief career, Bedard has cracked the Top 10 in the northeast rankings with wins over Brian Kononchik, Dan Grove and Marcelo Pereira, the latter which occurred at CES’ “Undisputed” show on Nov. 18. “I’ve used it to submit a black belt [Pereira],” Bedard said, “so the system definitely works.”
The self-proclaimed “fat kid” his entire life, Bedard considers himself a stand-up fighter who has just enough experience in wrestling “to where it won’t screw me up on the ground.”
“Lay and pray is not my style,” he said. “If I get you on the ground, I will hit you and submit you.”
The second heavyweight showdown between Diekmann and Hendricks features two 35-year-old fighters with impressive resumes. Diekmann, a winner in three of his last four fights and the No. 4-ranked heavyweight in the northeast, is a former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) veteran who has also faced two UFC fighters within the past five years – Justin Eilers in 2006 and Christian Morecraft of Plymouth, Mass., in of 2009. Prior to his fight against Morecraft, Diekmann handed Plymouth’s Pat Schultz the first loss of his career via first-round knockout, and also defeated Smith in March.
During a two-year stretch between 2005 and 2007, Hendricks won 10 of 11 bouts to set up a showdown against current No. 1-ranked heavyweight Gabriel Gonzaga of Ludlow, Mass., on the undercard of UFC 91 in Las Vegas. Hendricks also faced UFC veteran Chris Tuchscherer and owns victories over UFC competitors Geza Kalman and Todd Brown, in addition to an appearance at King of the Cage 34 in 2004, where he beat Jonathan Westfall by submission.
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CES establishes new standard with award-winning year in mixed martial arts
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Dec. 29, 2011) – One full year after the highly anticipated launch of its mixed martial arts division, Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports has blazed exciting, new trails in combat sports and established a new standard of excellence among its competitors.
With five action-packed shows – all at the revered Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, R.I., New England’s hub for combat sports – CES drew record crowds in 2011 and closed out a successful year as the region’s No. 1 promotion among its peers.
The Boston Herald and NorthEastMMA.net both named Classic Entertainment & Sports New England’s No. 1 mixed martial arts promotion in 2011. CES’ Todd “The Hulk” Chattelle of Pawtucket, R.I., earned Fighter of the Year and Comeback Fighter of the Year honors from the Herald after finishing 4-0 in 2011 and winning CES’ inaugural MMA middleweight title in November. Patrick Sullivan earned Best Matchmaking honors, and CES’ “Nowhere To Hide” show on June 10 was named the best local card on paper, highlighted by the main event between former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) contender Alex Karalexis and Taiwan Howard.
“I’m proud of the tireless work put in by my team to make Classic Entertainment & Sports the top promotion in New England, and it’s a tremendous feeling to be honored by the premier voices for local coverage in our area,” Burchfield said.
“The true winners in all of this are the fans. You’re the reason we work day and night to bring you the best in mixed martial arts, and your support is what drives us to continuously set the bar higher each time. What separates us from our competitors is we’re never satisfied. There are no days off in this business. Regardless of our success, there’s always room for improvement, and after an award-winning year in 2011, we’re looking forward to reaching new heights again in 2012.”
CES signed four fighters to its mixed martial arts division in 2011, including Chattelle, Karalexis, top-ranked Framingham, Mass., featherweight Saul Almeida, and veteran middleweight Scott Rehm of Boston. In addition to choking out Brett Oteri of Taunton, Mass., on Nov. 18 for the CES MMA middleweight title, Chattelle (10-6, 8 KOs) recorded back-to-back wins over Woody Weatherby and Jeff Nader at Twin River. His current four-fight win streak is the longest of his career, improving his record from 6-6 to 10-6.
Almeida, ranked No. 1 in the 145-pound division in the NortheastMMA.net professional rankings, also had a stellar 2011, finishing 4-0 after losing his first and only fight in September of 2010. Almeida (11-1) began the year with a unanimous-decision win over Bobby Reardanz at CES’ “Rhode Rage” show in February and also defeated No. 3-ranked Tateki Matsuda at the Bellator Fighting Championships in August before closing 2011 with a split-decision victory over Kevin Roddy at CES’ “Undisputed” show on Nov. 18 at Twin River.
The 2011 season also featured several highlight-reel knockouts; Wilfredo Santiago Jr. of Lawrence, Mass., scored the most impressive knockout of the year, stopping Francisco Ferreira of Providence, R.I., 27 seconds into the opening round of their middleweight bout on Sept. 9. Rehm flashed his trademark punching power on that same show, knocking out Steve Skrzat of Burrillville, R.I., in 29 seconds. Providence’s Mike Campbell was involved in three knockout finishes in 2011; he defeated Mike Medrano and Jeff Anderson via first-round knockout, and also lost by first-round knockout to former King of the Cage champion Tony Hervey of Detroit in June.
Among the most inspirational moments of the year was Adam Quitt’s victory over Hector Sanchez on April 8, the first win of Quitt’s career in his final bout. A 35-year-old firefighter from Framingham, Quitt entered the cage in honor of the late Doug Bolanes Jr., CES’ promising middleweight prospect from Framingham who died tragically in an automobile accident in March. Quitt defeated Sanchez via guillotine choke in the opening round and donated his entire purse to The Douglas Bolanes Jr. Organization, which was founded to help improve the lives of aspiring athletes.
Bolanes Jr. won his second professional bout on Feb. 25 less than three weeks before his death, knocking out Steve Stengel at the 2:08 mark of the opening round. CES dedicated its entire 2011 season to the memory of Bolanes Jr. and his father, Doug Bolanes Sr., who also passed away in May.
“The Bolanes family endured two tragedies this year. It’s inconceivable for any family to have to deal with such hardships,” Burchfield said. “They will forever be in our hearts and prayers. We will work to help The Douglas Bolanes Jr. Organization, which his father had worked so hard to build before his tragic passing. Doug Jr. is our champion for life, and his family will always be a part of ours.”
Other noteworthy bouts in 2011 included Howard’s controversial win over Karalexis in June, Chris Cole’s dominant win over Chris Concepcion in September, No. 1-ranked light heavyweight Greg Rebello’s bloody win over Cody Lightfoot in September, and Keith Jeffrey’s comeback win over Kevin Horowitz in November. Jeffrey, a Pawtucket native, returned to the cage for the first time in 13 months and defeated Horowitz via rear naked choke in the third round.
CES MMA returns Feb. 3 at Twin River with “Extreme Measures,” its first show of 2012, featuring two heavyweight showdowns: former UFC contender Josh “Heavy” Hendricks (18-8, 5 KOs) of Mansfield, Ohio facing Groton, Conn., native Josh Diekmann (12-3, 8 KOs); and Providence’s Eric Bedard (3-0, 1 KO) battling Tyler King (3-1, 1 KO) of Stoughton, Mass. Rebello (13-3, 7 KOs), a Providence native, will also be featured on the card, along with Pawtucket’s Pete Jeffrey (4-4, 2 KOs) in his first fight since September of 2010.
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