36 Facts About Matt Bessette

Matthew James Bessette was born on December 28,1984 and is a retired American mixed martial artist.

Matt Bessette was diagnosed with leukemia on August 13,1988 at the age of three and was hospitalized for it.

In June 2016, Matt Bessette opened Ascension Athletics in Bristol, Connecticut.

Matt Bessette faced Anthony Kaponis on October 9,2010 at Reality Fighting: Eruption for the vacant lightweight title.

Matt Bessette defeated Kaponis via split decision in a five-round bout.

Matt Bessette was set to make his first title defense against Joe Proctor on October 8,2011 at Reality Fighting: Gonzaga vs Porter.

Matt Bessette lost his title via unanimous decision after five rounds.

Matt Bessette made his promotional debut against Saul Almeida on March 30,2012 at Bellator 63.

Matt Bessette faced The Ultimate Fighter 12 competitor Paul Barrow on November 16,2012 at Bellator 81.

Matt Bessette faced Nick Piedmont on September 7,2013 at Bellator 98.

Matt Bessette won via knockout early in the first round.

Matt Bessette faced Diego Nunes in the quarterfinal match of Bellator Season Ten Featherweight Tournament on February 28,2014 at Bellator 110.

Matt Bessette faced Daniel Weichel in the tournament semifinals at Bellator 114 on March 28,2014.

Matt Bessette faced Scott Cleve on September 5,2014 at Bellator 123.

Matt Bessette faced Josh LaBerge at Bellator 134 on February 27,2015.

Matt Bessette won the fight due to a doctor stoppage between the second and third rounds.

Matt Bessette won via submission with a heel hook in the first round.

Matt Bessette faced Keith Richardson at Bellator 153 on April 22,2016.

Matt Bessette won in the second round due to a doctor stoppage.

Matt Bessette made his promotional debut on June 12,2015 in the co-main event of CES MMA 29 against Khama Worthy.

Matt Bessette returned for CES MMA 30 on August 14,2015 against Lenny Wheeler.

Matt Bessette lost via knockout in the first round, making it the first time in his career that he was knocked out.

Matt Bessette won via submission with a triangle choke in the first round.

Matt Bessette was scheduled to fight Tito Jones, but Jones backed out three days before the event due to injury.

Matt Bessette returned to CES MMA on June 10,2016 to face Jairo Soares at CES MMA 36, but Soares was pulled the day before the fight for testing positive for performance enhancing drugs.

Soares's replacement was Ran Weathers, whom Matt Bessette defeated via submission in the first round.

Featherweight Champion At CES MMA 37: Summer Gold, Matt Bessette was set to take on Stephen Cerventes for the vacant CES Featherweight Championship, but he was replaced by Joe Pingitore.

Matt Bessette won the featherweight belt with a heel hook submission victory in the second round.

Matt Bessette successfully defended his title with a TKO win over Kevin Croom at CES MMA 41.

At CES MMA 44, Matt Bessette was scheduled to fight Jeremy Spoon but he was replaced with Rey Trujillo.

Matt Bessette lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

Matt Bessette faced Steven Peterson on July 6,2018 at The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale.

Matt Bessette then faced Charles Cheeks III for the vacant CES Featherweight Championship at CES MMA 60 on January 24,2020.

Matt Bessette won the fight via knockout in the third round, claiming the championship for the second time in his career.

Matt Bessette was initially scheduled to fight for the vacant CES lightweight championship bout on September 17,2021 at CES 64 against Bruce Boyington.

Matt Bessette won the bout and the title via reverse triangle in the third round.