14 Facts About CES MMA

CES MMA is a mixed martial arts promotional firm based out of Providence, Rhode Island founded by boxing promoter Jimmy Burchfield Sr.

Since its inception, CES MMA has promoted and developed the careers of several current and former Ultimate Fighting Championships contenders, including Chuck O'Neil, Tateki Matsuda, Charles Rosa, Alex Karalexis, Thomas Egan, Dominique Steele, Rob Font and Ricardo Funch.

Several CES MMA alums have made successful transitions to Bellator MMA, most notably Brennan Ward, who won his first three professional fights under the guidance of CES MMA before winning Bellator's middleweight tournament in 2013.

In October 2012, CES MMA promoted its first pay-per-view event at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, featuring the professional MMA debut of former WWE wrestler Dave Bautista, before signing a multi-year broadcast deal with AXS TV in September 2014 which ended in 2019.

In January 2019 CES MMA started airing live events on UFC Fight Pass with the debut event on UFC Fight Pass being CES 54.

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CES MMA held its first event September 17,2010, at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, Rhode Island, the state's first sanctioned professional mixed martial arts event.

CES MMA returned to Twin River on Dec 2,2010 for the first of 10 consecutive events at its home venue.

CES MMA made headlines in 2011 with the signing of former UFC and WEC vet Alex Karalexis, a Boston, Massachusetts native.

CES MMA announced three additional signings in 2011, including Chattelle, Saul Almeida and Boston's Scott Rehm.

On October 6,2012, CES MMA promoted its first pay-per-view event in association with June Entertainment at the Dunkin' Donuts Center, featuring the MMA debut of Dave Bautista.

CES MMA kicked off 2013 by introducing its second title, the CES MMA lightweight championship.

CES MMA introduced its fourth championship on March 14,2014, at Twin River when Boston heavyweight John Johnston defeated former UFC challenger Josh Hendricks by knockout at the 4:36 mark of the opening round due to excessive punches.

On October 10,2014, CES MMA crowned a champion in a new weight class when O'Neil won the promotion's inaugural welterweight title with a second-round armbar submission over fellow UFC alum Ricardo Funch in the main event of "CES MMA XXVI" at Twin River.

CES MMA 53 was the last CES MMA event on AXS TV as the multi year contract ended in 2019.