Rhode Island-based Classic Entertainment & Sports Inc. (CES) has a rich history promoting fights in New England over the last 25 years, a reputation that helped establish its foothold as an MMA promoter, too.
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Rhode Island-based Classic Entertainment & Sports Inc. (CES) has a rich history promoting fights in New England over the last 25 years, a reputation that helped establish its foothold as an MMA promoter, too.
The company is run by Jimmy Burchfield Sr., and his son, Jimmy Burchfield Jr., the company's vice president and general counsel.
CES has seen about 12 to 15 of its MMA fighters move up to UFC or Bellator, the top fighting leagues, they said.
The first was John “Doomsday” Howard of Massachusetts, who will return to a CES cage on Oct. 27 at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I., said Burchfield Jr. Other CES fighters who moved on to UFC were Rob Font, also of Massachusetts, and Andre Soukhamthath of Rhode Island and Florida.
CES also has Connecticut fighters who are popular, including Matt Bessette of Hartford, who fought off leukemia as a child. He is CES's present featherweight champion.
“There's some really awesome guys with awesome stories in this sport,” said Burchfield Jr.
Other popular Connecticut fighters are Carlos Candelario of New Britain and Justin Sumter of Milford, Burchfield Jr. said.
“We're waiting with excitement and enthusiasm” to bring fights to Connecticut, Burchfield Sr. said, lauding the state's work on its regulations, which will make it easier to land bouts in Hartford and other cities.
