PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Nov. 15th, 2017) — CES MMA’s season finale at Twin River Casino features fighters from all walks of life, fighters with varying backgrounds all coming together for one last event to celebrate another successful year for the region’s premier combat sports promotion.

“CES MMA 47” is the promotion’s seventh and final event of 2017, a year that began with a world championship title defense for Matt Bessette and ends with another stacked card featuring eight exciting bouts, five of which will air live on AXS TV beginning at 9 p.m. ET, CES MMA’s sixth nationally-televised event of the year.

Tickets for “CES MMA 47” are priced at $40.00, $55.00, $100.00 and $125.00 (VIP) and can be purchased online at www.cesmma.com, www.twinriver.com, www.ticketmaster.com or www.cagetix.com/ces by phone at 401-724-2253/2254 or at the Twin River Casino Players Club. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Redemption is a common theme for many fighters, specifically Providence, R.I., heavyweight Greg Rebello (22-8, 13 KOs), making his 15th appearance with CES MMA. Rebello started his run with the promotion at “CES MMA 3” back in 2010 when he earned a unanimous decision win over veteran Tiawan Howard. He’s 10-4 under the CES MMA banner, including back-to-back wins over Danywelle Williams and Kevin Sears earlier this year after losing his world title shot against Ashley Gooch in 2016.

Long considered one of the region’s top contenders, well-deserving of an opportunity to fight at the highest level, Rebello rolled the dice in July when he traveled to Nevada to star on the premier edition of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series, a showcase for up-and-comers and veterans alike to make a positive impression in front of the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) president.

Rebello came up short, getting stopped in the second round by Azunna Anyanwu, who ultimately appeared on UFC Fight Night 116 in September. No one would’ve blamed him had he decided to walk away from the sport, but Rebello insists he still has the desire to fight, unlike when he retired in 2013 due to the inability to balance fatherhood and fighting.

On Friday, Rebello faces Derrick Brown (7-4, 3 KOs) of Myrtle Beach, S.C., his 11th fight since announcing his retirement four years ago. Before fighting, Rebello worked as a laborer sand-blasting water towers. With a wife and two children, he now mixes fighting with his new day job as a personal trainer at his wife’s gym in Lincoln.

Rebello has respect for Brown, but warns “he’s never faced anyone like me.” Whether his appearance on the inaugural Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series was his first and only shot at getting to the UFC remains to be seen, but Rebello isn’t even thinking that far ahead.

Asked what he considers the key fight in his career, he says, “the next one,” perhaps an indication that his second run is far from over. As long as the journey remains enjoyable, Rebello will continue to move forward, win or lose.

From redemption to respect, the mood Friday is considerably different for East Providence, R.I., lightweight Nate Andrews (11-1, 5 KOs), who has done nothing but win since his only career loss, five victories in a row, to be exact. His latest challenge, Tyler Combs (14-13, 8 KOs) of Miamisburg, Ohio, is perhaps his shot at earning respect among the top lightweights in the northeast.

Since losing to Gemiyale Adkins in 2014, Andrews has demolished everyone in his path, dusting Jay Bakanowski in just 2:50 at “CES MMA 29” and then beating former world lightweight champion Julian Lane far worse than anyone else on the roster, stopping the six-time CES MMA vet at the 3:58 mark of the second round at “CES MMA 33.”

Combs insists Andrews “hasn’t fought anyone good,” but his last four opponents, including Lane, boast 42 combined wins, including 15-win vet George Sheppard and 14-win vet Bruce Boyington, both of whom he defeated by submission.

Will Andrews get a shot at the CES MMA World Lightweight Title? Only time will tell. A win Friday sets the stage for what could be a banner 2018 as remains a key player in the ever-changing 155-pound division.

While Andrews has become a household name on the regional circuit, undefeated flyweight prospect Richie Santiago (5-0, 1 KO) of Milford, Mass., might be the region’s best-kept secret.

The up-and-coming Santiago, who faces Shawn Mack (0-1) of Grand Rapids, Mich., fights for the sixth time in 14 months and makes his sixth appearance with CES MMA. The rear-naked choke is his weapon of choice as the finishing move in four of his five wins, including an impressive dismantling of 7-fight vet Miguel Restrepo in the second round at “CES MMA 45” in August.

The 25-year-old Santiago basically fell into MMA by accident. He started in 2012 because, as he explains it, “I didn’t have anything better to do after high school.”

Working at Taco Bell wasn’t cutting it, so Santiago hit the mats, and the transition has been seamless. After winning his final four amateur bouts, Santiago made the jump to the pro circuit at “CES MMA 38,” submitting Brandon Warne in under a minute. His win streak, including amateurs, reached nine at “CES MMA 45” in what might’ve been his most impressive win to date.

With the AXS TV platform working to his advantage, stardom could be right around the corner for Santiago. His opponent, who admits he’s been off the radar following a 15-month layoff, is intent on reminding fight fans why he was once considered the No. 1 MMA prospect in Michigan.

Mack was supposed to face Carlos Candelario at “CES MMA 44” in May, but the fight fizzled at the last minute. Now he gets his shot to embrace the national TV platform against one of New England’s hottest fighters.

“He’s young, talented and aggressive,” Mack said of his opponent. “He definitely comes to fight, but nothing spectacular. I’ll beat him wherever the fight goes.”

The “CES MMA 47” main card also features a bantamweight battle between Milford, Mass., native Kris Moutinho (4-1, 1 KO) and two-time CES MMA vet David Garcia (4-3, 2 KOs) of La Grange, Ill.; plus the network television debut of Newport, R.I., featherweight John Douma (1-0) of Newport, R.I., who faces unbeaten Mark Trader (2-0) of Gastonia, N.C.

Debut flyweight Jose Lugo of Woonsocket, R.I., who boasts a 4-1 amateur record, and Groton, Conn., lightweight and fellow debut Tyler Hamilton highlight the preliminary card.

Lugo faces Syracuse, N.Y., native Michael Taylor (1-0, 1 KO), who recently debuted at “CES MMA 46” with a pulverizing win over Jessie Pires on the preliminary card, earning the knockout at 2:43 of the opening round. Hamilton faces Watertown, N.Y., vet Montoyia Swilling (0-5). Also on the preliminary card, Fall River, Mass., light heavyweight Yorgan DeCastro makes his debut against James Dysard (0-2) of Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Visit www.cesmma.com, www.twitter.com/cesmma or www.facebook.com/cesmma for more information, or follow CES MMA on Instagram at @CESMMA.

16 November 2017 – Singapore: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced the production of new documentary series “Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series” which features martial arts legend Rich “Ace” Franklin as he travels from gym to gym all across Asia in search of the next martial arts superstar.

Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “I am pleased to announce Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series. At ONE Championship, one of our biggest missions is taking martial arts, Asia’s greatest cultural treasure, and placing it front and center for the entire world to witness. One of the ways to do this is by developing local homegrown martial arts superheroes. We are excited to travel across Asia, visiting the most iconic cities, to discover the next big superstar.”

Franklin, a multiple-time middleweight world champion, will travel to various Asian nations to visit local gyms beginning in Bangkok, Manila, Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing to discover new and upcoming martial arts talent. Deserving prospects will be rewarded with a six-figure contract with ONE Championship. The promotion’s elite video production team will be following Franklin’s journey across the region, chronicling the action to produce a series of compelling documentary videos.

Rich Franklin, Vice President of ONE Championship, stated: “Asia is the hotbed of the industry’s top martial arts prospects. It comes as no surprise, since martial arts has been home to the region for the past 5,000 years. Throughout my time in ONE Championship, I have been witness to some of the best martial arts talent I have ever seen. Stars today such as Angela Lee and Eduard Folayang came from the grassroots level of talent in Asia, and the next martial arts superstar is just waiting to be discovered. Follow me on this journey to showcase Asia’s greatest cultural treasure, and join me on the hunt to find ONE Championship’s new wave of superstars.”

Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series is a new documentary feature which will run in 30-minute episodes. Since the establishment of ONE Championship in 2011, various martial arts athletes have shot into superstardom in Asia, names such as “Unstoppable” Angela Lee of Singapore, Eduard “Landslide” Folayang of the Philippines, and “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang of Myanmar. Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series aims at discovering new talent, providing promising young athletes with the platform to unleash their martial arts greatness.

The screening and tryouts process will consist of pad sessions, grappling demonstrations, conditioning exams, and an interview process, among others. Once selected, athletes will compete in trial exhibition bouts with a chance at earning a six-figure contract with ONE Championship based on performance. The first episode of Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series is scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2018.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

About ONE Championship™
ONE Championship is the largest global sports media property in Asian history. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE Championship is the home of martial arts. The world’s most exciting martial arts organization hosts the largest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world’s best martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 1 billion potential viewers across 128+ countries around the world with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Bandsports, Startimes, Premier Sports, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, OSN, and more.

14 November 2017 – Singapore: The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced that undefeated ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee will partner with the Health Promotion Board to promote Season 3 of the National Steps Challenge™. The National Steps Challenge™ is a nationwide initiative which aims to encourage Singaporeans to be more physically active and to sit less and move more.

Angela Lee, ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion, stated: “Health is something that is very important in my life as I continue to bring pride and honor to Singapore in martial arts. Even if you aren’t an athlete, health and fitness is extremely important in everyone’s life, so please care for your personal well-being. I encourage everyone to join the fun in Season 3 of the National Steps Challenge™ to walk more and to be healthier!”

Ms Joanna Chan, HPB’s Director of Obesity Prevention Management Division said, “HPB is happy to collaborate with ONE Championship and is heartened by Angela’s continued support and commitment to this year’s National Steps Challenge™. As shown in studies, even small increments in the volume of physical activity are associated with improved health outcomes. To motivate Singaporeans to be active, we have introduced new features and incentives to the National Steps Challenge™, now into its third season. We hope that this chance of getting up close with Angela will encourage more to increase their step count and get active.”

The National Steps Challenge™, which motivated over 500,000 Singaporeans across its first two seasons, wants to encourage more Singaporeans to walk this third season. By accumulating steps each day, participants can earn points for sure-win rewards and chances to win attractive grand draw prizes worth over SGD $60,000. Various events are also lined up in conjunction with the National Steps Challenge™, including the new Community Challenge, a charity fund-raising challenge, thematic challenges and activities in parks and shopping malls.

The #My10KToday and #WalkWithAngela contest also includes a chance for two winners and a friend to get a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet Angela Lee in person and walk out with her to the ONE Championship cage at ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT, which takes place 24 November at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Winners will also receive a behind-the-scenes tour and signed ONE merchandise. 10 runner ups will win tickets to the event and ONE merchandise.

The Singapore Indoor Stadium is set to play host to ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT, featuring the absolute best martial artists in the world. Lee was scheduled to participate in the main event, but had recently figured in a vehicular accident in Hawaii, causing her to pull out of the event. She will be present at the event however, as a guest of honor.

21-year-old “Unstoppable” Angela Lee of Singapore is considered one of ONE Championship’s most outstanding athletes. She captured the inaugural ONE Women’s Atomweight World Championship with an awe-inspiring victory over Mei Yamaguchi in 2016, and has since then defended the title successfully on two occasions. Lee’s beautiful combination of elite striking and grappling has proven to be a potent formula for success, as she has remained unbeaten in her career. In the most recent bout of an impressive run, Lee dominated top contender Istela Nunes, showcasing her wide array of skills despite suffering from illness. She is widely-considered on a global scale to be one of the biggest names actively competing in the sport.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

About ONE Championship™
ONE Championship is the largest sports media property in Asian history. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE Championship is the home of martial arts. The world’s most exciting martial arts organization hosts the largest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world’s best martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 1 billion potential viewers across 128+ countries around the world with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Bandsports, Startimes, Premier Sports, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, OSN, and more.

13 November 2017 – China: The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship (ONE), has just announced the addition of three of the top Chinese martial arts talents in the mainland. Recently added to ONE Championship’s growing roster of elite martial artists are Xiong Jingnan, Yang Fei, and Zhao Zhikang. The athletes are part of the promotion’s concerted effort to discover exciting new talent in China and provide them with the biggest global stage in professional competition.

ONE Championship has also announced a new athlete scholarship program where top martial artists in China are provided with variable allowance and are sent to train at top world-class facilities across Asia. Scholarships include training with some of the best coaches in the world, with travel, accommodations and monthly allowance covered.

Victor Cui, CEO International of ONE Championship, stated: “Asia has been the home of martial arts for the past 5,000 years. It is our greatest cultural treasure. Here at ONE Championship, it is our mission to deliver an authentic martial arts experience to fans all across the globe, and part of this involves signing only the best in talent. Xiong Jingnan, Yang Fei, and Zhao Zhikang are three of the finest martial arts warriors to emerge from China, and I can’t wait to see them compete in the ONE Championship cage.”

“The Panda” Xiong Jingnan of Shandong is an upcoming female flyweight contender in ONE Championship and is known as one of the top three leading female martial arts talents in China. With a professional record of 9-1, Xiong began her career competing in professional boxing and was inspired by her father, who imparted in her values of courage and integrity. Featuring a wide array of skills, Xiong recently bagged a gold medal at the prestigious China Open Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournament earlier this year. With a penchant for scoring highlight reel finishes and executing powerful slams, Xiong has chosen to join ONE Championship as the ultimate test of her skills. Training at Phuket Top Team, and representing Alliance China, Xiong aims to showcase her martial arts talent to a global audience.

25-year-old “The Pugilist” Yang Fei of Jiangsu, China, is a newcomer to ONE Championship, and one of the most promising young Chinese martial arts talents in the game. He sports a professional record of two victories and only one defeat, with both of his wins coming by finish. Growing up, Yang played football as a striker, and shortly after picked up martial arts when he entered university to become a police officer, graduating with a degree in law. He was introduced to Sanda during his time at university, and instantly fell in love with the sport. Making his promotional debut, Yang will seek victory against Waqar Umar at ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT in Singapore, in a three-round bout.

22-year-old Zhao Zhikang of Inner Mongolia is a top Chinese martial arts star with a professional record of 9-2 and is a former CKF champion. Although Zhao considers himself a striker first, the young competitor boasts six of his nine victories by submission, this in addition to his three knockouts. All of Zhao’s victories have come by spectacular finish. Representing Shanxi Xindu Martial Arts Club, Zhao will look to make a name for himself in Asia’s largest martial arts platform.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

About ONE Championship
ONE Championship is the largest sports media property in Asian history. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE Championship is the home of martial arts. The world’s most exciting martial arts organization hosts the largest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world’s best martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 1 billion potential viewers across 128+ countries around the world with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Bandsports, Startimes, Premier Sports, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, OSN, and more.

10 November 2017 – Manila, Philippines: The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), had another memorable and historic evening in Manila as the capacity crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena witnessed an amazing display of heart-pounding martial arts action. ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD featured a series of compelling bouts, punctuated by two unforgettable championship clashes that left fans on the edge of their seats. In the main event, ONE Featherweight World Champion Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen knocked out Filipino martial arts superstar Eduard “Landslide” Folayang to capture the ONE Lightweight World Championship, becoming the first two-division champion in the promotion’s history. In the co-main event, Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes of Brazil retained the ONE Flyweight World Championship with a quick victory over Danny “The King” Kingad of the Philippines.

Visit the official ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD photo gallery by clicking: http://bit.ly/onephotos

In the main event of ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD, Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen wrote his name in history books as the first man to hold two world titles simultaneously in ONE Championship by knocking out Eduard “Landslide” Folayang. After plastering each other with hard strikes in the first round, both men picked up where they left off in the second stanza, when Folayang and Nguyen continued to trade heavy blows at the center of the cage. When Folayang launched his patented spinning backfist, Nguyen saw an opportunity to turn the lights off on his Filipino foe by uncorking explosive signature right hand. With his remarkable conquest of Folayang, Nguyen now has both the ONE Featherweight World Championship and ONE Lightweight World Championship titles in his possession.

Martin Nguyen, newly-minted ONE Lightweight World Champion, stated: “This is a special place for me. Last year, I came in and won Fight of the Night, right now it’s possibly the Knockout of the Night. I think coming into the fight my main objective was a TKO or a submission. Eduard, I still love you like a brother, I hope you’re fine and I hope you come back stronger. I’m still your number one fan.”

In the co-main event of the evening, Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes remained the undisputed king of ONE Championship’s flyweight bracket, denying Danny Kingad’s bid to become a world champion by submitting the Filipino talent with a rear-naked choke in the first round. Moraes put on a masterful performance, pacifying Kingad’s striking advantage in the early going as the Brazilian grappling expert utilized his high-level ground game. On the mat, Moraes executed a forceful transition into a rear-naked choke that left Kingad no choice but to submit in the final seconds of the round to retain his ONE Flyweight World Championship.

Adriano Moraes, ONE Flyweight World Champion, stated: ”This night was amazing for me. It was a tough fight against Danny Kingad. He has a big future ahead of him, but now it’s my time. This is my house, this is my belt, and this is my class.”

Filipino knockout artist Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon captured another sensational victory in front of a jubilant hometown crowd by routing South Korean-American dynamo Kevin “Oldboy” Chung, solidifying his position as a top contender in the stacked bantamweight division. Belingon effortlessly dictated the pace in the stand-up, where his opponent was at a stylistic disadvantage. The Baguio City native frequently caught Chung with crushing right crosses and lashing kicks to the body from bell to bell. Chung tried to change the complexion of the match by resorting to his superb grappling skills, but Belingon’s defense against submission attempts was enough to steer him to a unanimous decision triumph.

Previously unbeaten Japanese prospect Hayato Suzuki bowed down for the very first time in his professional career as he yielded to Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion black belt Alex “Little Rock” Silva. Both combatants started out aggressively, but it was SIlva who showed a more capable set of grappling skills. Silva spun a web of crafty grappling to overwhelm Suzuki as the Brazilian was able to get the submission finish in the first round, making Suzuki tap from an armbar.

Former world title contender Reece “Lighting” McLaren found a new home at flyweight as he pulled off a successful submission victory by defeating flyweight mainstay Anatpong Bunrad. Debuting effortlessly in his new weight class, McLaren showcased his fluid grappling skills and solid striking. With a mere eight seconds remaining in the very first round, McLaren caught Bunrad in an anaconda choke and transitioned into a D’arce choke to force the tap.

Chinese martial arts superstar “The Ghost” Zhao Zhi Kang made an astounding statement in his first assignment as a ONE Championship competitor, submitting Cambodian standout Thai Rithy in the first round. With a game plan to take matters to the ground, Zhao got the job done by fastening a rear-naked choke to force the tap from Rithy.

Team Lakay’s highly-touted atomweight prospect Gina “The Conviction” Iniong extended her winning streak inside the ONE Championship cage with an outstanding second-round finish of Indonesia’s Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol. With a diverse striking arsenal, Iniong unloaded her signature right hand on multiple occasions, finding the mark. In the second frame, Iniong found an opening to take Gaol down to the mat. Applying a crucifix, Iniong delivered a flurry of ground punches to force the referee to step in and call a halt to the contest.

In a battle of former world title challengers, Joshua “The Passion” Pacio emerged victorious against veteran martial artist Roy “The Dominator” Doliguez by notching a highlight-reel knockout in the second round. The young Team Lakay standout exhibited stellar form from the get-go, wearing down his fellow Filipino opponent with impeccable grappling and heavy high kicks. Hungry to place himself back on the winning track, Pacio put the finishing touches in the second frame, where he unleashed a well-timed spinning back-fist that sent Doliguez crashing down to the canvas.

After an impressive promotional debut in Shanghai, China last September, Xie Chao made his trip to Manila a memorable one by picking up his second-straight win in ONE Championship at the expense of Malaysia’s Kelvin Ong. Xie easily staggered Ong with a hard knee, giving him the leverage to convert a takedown. Employing sturdy top control, Xie drilled Ong with crisp elbows to get the stoppage in the opening stanza of the featherweight showdown.

A three-round strawweight encounter set a promising tone for the entire evening of ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD as Peng Xue Wen collided with Phat Soda in the curtain-raiser for the event. Peng, a National Youth Greco Wrestling Champion, left a lasting impression in his maiden trip to the ONE Championship cage by scoring a knockout victory over Soda with a high-impact slam in the first round.

Official Results for ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD
ONE Lightweight World Championship bout: Martin Nguyen defeats Eduard Folayang by Knockout (KO) at 2:20 minutes of round 2
ONE Flyweight World Championship bout: Adriano Moraes defeats Danny Kingad by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:45 minutes of round 1
Bantamweight bout: Kevin Belingon defeats Kevin Chung by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds
Strawweight bout: Alex Silva defeats Hayato Suzuki by Submission (Armbar) at 1:22 minutes of round 1
Flyweight bout: Reece McLaren defeats Anatpong Bunrad by Submission (D’arce Choke) at 4:52 minutes of round 1
Featherweight bout: Zhao Zhi Kang defeats Thai Rithy by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:31 minutes of round 1
Women’s atomweight bout: Gina Iniong defeats Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol by TKO (Strikes) at 2:12 minutes of round 2
Strawweight bout: Joshua Pacio defeats Roy Doliguez by Knockout (KO) at 0:38 minutes of round 2
Featherweight bout: Xie Chao defeats Kelvin Ong by TKO (Doctor’s Stoppage) at 1:48 minutes of round 1
Strawweight bout: Peng Xue Wen defeats Phat Soda by Knockout (KO) at 2:15 minutes of round 1

In case you missed the action log on to www.onefc.com/livestream for the full replay of the fights at only US $9.99.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

About ONE Championship™
ONE Championship is the largest sports media property in Asian history. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE Championship is the home of martial arts. The world’s most exciting martial arts organization hosts the largest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world’s best martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 1 billion potential viewers across 128+ countries around the world with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Bandsports, Startimes, Premier Sports, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, OSN, and more.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Nov. 9th, 2017) — “CES MMA 47” remains must-see TV next weekend with the addition of one of Rhode Island’s most decorated fighters to an already-stacked lineup.

Providence lightweight Luis Felix (15-9, 5 KOs) joins the cast for CES MMA’s season finale in a three-round bout against Wichita, Ks., vet Cody Carrillo (12-16, 4 KOs) on the televised main card of “CES MMA 47” on Friday, Nov. 17th, 2017 at Twin River Casino.

Felix’s bout is one of six on the main card, which airs live on AXS TV Fights beginning at 9 p.m. ET. The preliminary card kicks off at 7.

Tickets for “CES MMA 47” are priced at $40.00, $55.00, $100.00 and $125.00 (VIP) and can be purchased online at www.cesboxing.com, www.twinriver.com, www.ticketmaster.com or www.cagetix.com/ces by phone at 401-724-2253/2254 or at the Twin River Casino Players Club. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Felix returns to the cage for the first time since March when he submitted Dawond Pickney in the opening round of their main-card bout at “CES MMA 42.” Injuries have derailed Felix’s progress over the past year and a half, though he’s still won four of his last five, a stretch dating back to January of 2015, including his CES MMA World Lightweight Championship win over Julian Lane at “CES MMA 30.”

The main card of “CES MMA 47” also features the return of Providence heavyweight Greg Rebello (22-8, 13 KOs), red-hot East Providence, R.I., lightweight Nate Andrews (11-1, 5 KOs) – a winner in his last five bouts -undefeated flyweight prospect Richie Santiago (5-0, 1 KO) of Milford, Mass., and Milford bantamweight Kris Moutinho (4-1, 1 KO).

A former world-title challenger, Rebello (22-8, 13 KOs) aims for his unprecedented 23rd professional win at “CES MMA 47” when he battles Derrick Brown (7-4, 3 KOs) of Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Nov. 17th is Rebello’s 7th appearance on AXS TV, a fan-friendly stretch of dominance with six of those fights ending with a knockout. Following an appearance on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series in July, Rebello looks to regain his footing next month on his home turf, where he’s 9-4 lifetime, including thrilling nationally-televised wins over rival Tyler King and Keith Bell.

Three of Rebello’s last four wins have come by way of knockout, including three in the opening round. He last won on May 12th at “CES MMA 44,” submitting the game Kevin Ray Sears in the final round of their scheduled three-round bout.

Andrews, making his 12th appearance with CES MMA, puts his five-fight win streak on the line against Tyler Combs (14-13, 8 KOs) of Miamisburg, Ohio. Arguably the region’s hottest fighter, Andrews hasn’t lost since 2014, and his streak includes some of the more memorable finishes in recent CES MMA history. He dusted Jay Bakanowski in just 2:50 at “CES MMA 29” and then pieced together his most impressive performance to date nine months later at “CES MMA 33,” knocking out Lane at the 3:58 mark of the second round.

The up-and-coming Santiago, who faces Shawn Mack (0-1) of Grand Rapids, Mich., fights for the sixth time in 14 months and makes his sixth appearance with CES MMA. The rear-naked choke is his weapon of choice as the finishing in four of his five wins, including an impressive dismantling of 7-fight vet Miguel Restrepo in the second round at “CES MMA 45” in August.

Facing two-time CES MMA and former Bellator vet David Garcia (4-3, 2 KOs) of La Grange, Ill., Moutinho looks to rebound from his first career loss following a submission at the hands of Brandon Seyler at “CES MMA 45.” In his previous four bouts, Moutinho scratched and clawed his way to three unanimous decision victories and earned his first career knockout via head kick against Jason Rine at “CES MMA 41.”

Also added to the main card, featherweight John Douma (1-0) of Newport, R.I., makes his network television debut against unbeaten Mark Trader (2-0) of Gastonia, N.C. Douma comes off a win in his professional debut at “CES MMA 45,” submitting Rine at 4:48 of the opening round.

Debut flyweight Jose Lugo of Woonsocket, R.I., who boasts a 4-1 amateur record, and Groton, Conn., lightweight and fellow debut Tyler Hamilton highlight the preliminary card.

Lugo faces Syracuse, N.Y., native Michael Taylor (1-0, 1 KO), who recently debuted at “CES MMA 46” with a pulverizing win over Jessie Pires on the preliminary card, earning the knockout at 2:43 of the opening round. Hamilton faces Watertown, N.Y., vet Montoyia Swilling (0-5). Also on the preliminary card, Fall River, Mass., light heavyweight Yorgan DeCastro makes his debut against James Dysard (0-2) of Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Visit www.cesmma.com, www.twitter.com/cesmma or www.facebook.com/cesmma for more information, or follow CES MMA on Instagram at @CESMMA.

According to Dan Rafael of espn, UFC President Dana White is getting into boxing promotion.

“No, no, no, I’m not leaving the UFC. I’m getting into boxing with [WME/IMG head] Ari [Emanuel], and the UFC will be doing boxing too,” White said, according to the Los Angeles Times. “It’s still early. We’re still working on it. I’ve got to get my [stuff] together, but I’m getting into boxing, man. It’s coming.”

03 November 2017 – Yangon, Myanmar: The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), once again electrified the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium with another blockbuster evening of authentic martial arts. ONE: HERO’S DREAM showcased the absolute best in local and international martial arts talent competing inside the ONE Championship cage. In the main event, reigning ONE Middleweight World Champion and Myanmar’s favorite son, “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang defeated Alain “The Panther” Ngalani to emerge victorious in the evening’s Open Weight Super-Bout.

Visit the official ONE: HERO’S DREAM photo gallery by clicking: http://bit.ly/onephotos

In the main event of the evening, national icon “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang clinched the most impressive victory of his career, defeating Muay Thai and kickboxing heavyweight champion Alain “The Panther” Ngalani in the promotion’s first ever Open Weight Super-Bout. The reigning ONE Middleweight World Champion, Aung La N Sang weathered an early storm from Ngalani, working in guard to defend himself from Ngalani’s top game. Recognizing an opening for a standing guillotine choke, Aung La N Sang wrapped his arm around Ngalani’s neck and pulled guard to finish his opponent by submission in the first round.

“This is amazing, thank you Myanmar, I love you,” said Aung La N Sang. “I do this because I love you guys, that’s it. If Alain and I can be friends afterwards, then every tribe, every brother and sister in Myanmar can be friends. I love you guys. Moving up to heavyweight was not ideal for me. Middleweight is the class I compete in, but if there’s an opportunity I will take it and I felt the guillotine.”

In the co-main event of the evening, local martial arts heroes Phoe Thaw and Saw Ba Oo figured in an inspiring display of heart and tenacity, exchanging their best offense in the full length of the ONE Championship cage. As the two poured their energy and left it all out on the biggest stage of martial arts, it was Thaw who came away with a hard-earned victory in a closely-contested three round affair. In the end, two of three judges saw the bout in favor of Thaw who bagged a split decision for his efforts.

China’s “The Southern Eagle” Ma Hao Bin continued his rapid rise through the ranks, notching the eighth victory of his professional career and his sixth straight overall with a first round submission of charismatic Filipino striker Eugene Toquero. Toquero, a Muay Thai specialist and former celebrity fitness coach, would do his best to thwart Ma’s aggressive takedown game, but was proven ineffective in doing so. Ma, with mere seconds left in the first round, caught Toquero in an armbar who soon tapped out.

In a battle of Myanmar’s homegrown flyweight talents, Ye Thway Ne established his first winning streak inside the ONE Championship cage by defeating compatriot Saw Thar Nge. As soon as the bell rang, the two warriors engaged in a fiery exchange of haymakers at the center of the cage. Ye Thway Ne then clipped Saw Thar Nge with a wild left hook to send his opponent crashing to the canvas, ending the bout in the very first round.

Thai martial arts prospect Pongsiri Mitsatit of Bangkok once again impressed in a masterful offensive performance against live Filipino challenger Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado of Manila. Mitsatit came out ultra-aggressive, looking to bring the action right to Miado who had other plans. Miado aimed to take matters to the ground to nullify Mitsatit’s striking advantage, but Mitsatit would have none of it. In the end, it was Mitsatit who effectively executed his gameplan, stopping Miado in the second round by forcing a verbal tapout.

Local Myanmar athletes and former lethwei stars Saw Darwait and Sit Mhan locked horns at the center of the cage to the roar of a packed arena. Saw Darwait, who came into the contest looking to test his grappling skills, ended the contest early when he latched onto a rear naked choke just 41 seconds into the match, forcing the tap from Sit Mhan.

Bantamweight competitors “Rock Man” Chen Lei of China and Burn “Hitman” Soriano of the Philippines provided fans with a tremendous display of offense in a short contest that lasted just under two rounds. After an incredible first round which saw Chen score major points for his cage control and powerful strikes, Soriano came back towards the end and nearly submitted the Chinese warrior with an armbar. Chen was eventually saved by the bell and in the second round, took Soriano to the mat and quickly secured full mount, stopping the Filipino with ground-and-pound.

After pulling off a solid promotional debut last September, “Supermom” Miao Jie of China continued to impress in ONE Championship as she submitted debuting Australian competitor Amira Hafizovic in the first round of their strawweight showdown. Miao showcased her grappling skills, easily getting the job done in just 45 seconds of the first round by forcing Hafizovic to tap to an armbar.

In the second preliminary bout of the evening, China’s “The Ghost” Zhang Ze Hao and India’s Bala Shetty sent tremors of excitement throughout the iconic Thuwunna Indoor Stadium with a spirited display of striking. As both combatants exchanged heavy blows at the center of the cage, it was Zhang who came away with the knockout win in the first round, delivering a thunderous left hook to shut the lights off on Shetty.

A three-round atomweight contest served as the curtain-raiser at ONE: HERO’S DREAM as Filipino female atomweight prospect Jomary Torres defeated Indonesian grappling specialist Nita Dea by unanimous decision after three rounds. Torres employed an efficient strategy from start to finish, utilizing her speed and power to connect a multitude of thudding strikes on Dea. Torres also dominated Dea on the mat with her ground-and-pound, which was enough to earn the judges’ nod.

Official results for ONE: HERO’S DREAM
Open Weight Super-Bout: Aung La N Sang defeats Alain Ngalani by Submission (Guillotine) at 4:31 minutes of round 1
Featherweight bout: Phoe Thaw defeats Saw Ba Oo by Split Decision (SD) after 3 rounds
Flyweight bout: Ma Hao Bin defeats Eugene Toquero by Submission (Armbar) at 4:51 minutes of round 1
Flyweight bout: Ye Thway Ne defeats Saw Thar Nge by Knockout (KO) at 3:50 minutes of round 1
Strawweight bout: Pongsiri Mitsatit defeats Jeremy Miado by TKO (Verbal Submission) at 4:23 minutes of round 2
Bantamweight bout: Saw Darwait defeats Sit Mhan by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 0:41 minutes of round 1
Bantamweight bout: Chen Lei defeats Burn Soriano by TKO (Strikes) at 1:06 minutes of round 2
Women’s strawweight bout: Miao Jie defeats Amira Hafizovic by Submission (Armbar) at 0:45 minutes of round 1
Lightweight bout: Zhang Ze Hao defeats Bala Shetty by TKO (Strikes) at 2:01 minutes of round 1
Women’s atomweight bout: Jomary Torres defeats Nita Dea by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds

In case you missed the action log on to www.onefc.com/livestream for the full replay of the fights at only US $9.99.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

About ONE Championship™
ONE Championship is the largest sports media property in Asian history. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE Championship is the home of martial arts. The world’s most exciting martial arts organization hosts the largest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world’s best martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 1 billion potential viewers across 128+ countries around the world with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Bandsports, Startimes, Premier Sports, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, OSN, and more.

TORONTO – Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 multi-platform channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents a busy weekend in combat sports, highlighted by a live broadcast of the UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: Brunson vs. Machida PRELIMS on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 8:00 p.m. ET. On the same day, live coverage kicks off at 1:00 p.m. ET with GLORY 47 SuperFight Series followed immediately by the GLORY 47 Lyon main card at 3:30 p.m. ET. But first, one day earlier, M-1 Selection 16 airs live on Friday, Oct. 27 at 12:00 p.m. ET followed immediately by M-1 Challenge 84 at 12:30 p.m. ET.

The two-hour UFC FIGHT NIGHT PRELIMS begin on Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. ET with four exciting bouts, as welterweights Vicente Luque (11-6-1) and Niko Price (10-0, 1NC) collide, Antonio Carlos Junior (9-2, 1NC) faces Jack Marshman (22-6) in a middleweight bout, lightweights Hacran Dias (23-5-1) and Jared Gordon (13-1) battle, while Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (17-5) and Max Griffin (13-3) open the telecast with an exciting welterweight matchup.

Ahead of the live PRELIMS, Fight Network will live broadcast the UFC FIGHT NIGHT PREFIGHT SHOW, featuring coverage from the industry’s premier mixed martial arts analysts, as former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans joins fellow analyst Kenny Florian with host Karyn Bryant and reporter Heidi Androl conducting on-site fighter interviews. At the conclusion of Saturday’s live main card on TSN2, the live UFC FIGHT NIGHT POSTFIGHT SHOW airs at approximately 1:00 a.m. ET, recapping all the exciting action.

On Saturday afternoon, GLORY, the world’s premier kickboxing league, travels to Palais des Sports de Gerland in Lyon, France. Airing live at 1:00 p.m. ET, the GLORY 47 SuperFight Series features undefeated Florent Kaouachi (11-0, 3KO) making his GLORY debut against experienced veteran Abdarhmane Coulibaly (50-21, 23KO) in a light heavyweight affair, 23-year-old featherweight Massaro “The Project” Glunder (30-10-4, 20KO) draws Lyon’s Dylan Salvador (49-13-1, 21KO) for a tough test in enemy territory, No. 3-ranked super bantamweight contender Anissa Meksen (92-3, 29KO) goes toe-to-toe with No. 8-ranked Funda “Findik” Alkayis (29-2, 12KO), Ahaggan “Boom Boom” Yassine (27-6, 19KO) and Estonia’s Maxim Vorovski (30-3-1, 14KO) meet at middleweight, plus top welterweight prospects Alim “Professor” Nabiyev (45-6, 21KO) and Jimmy Vienot (56-12, 27KO) kick off the action.

The GLORY 47 Lyon main card at 3:30 p.m. ET is headlined by reigning GLORY light heavyweight champion Artem Vakhitov (18-5, 5KO) defending his belt against No. 2-ranked challenger Ariel Machado (45-8, 34KO). In other action, former GLORY welterweight champion “The Best” Cedric Doumbe (67-5-1, 39KO) begins his campaign back to title contention against heavy-handed veteran Yohan “Le Bucheron” Lidon (93-36-1, 56KO), plus a one-night, single-elimination featherweight contender tournament, as multiple-time French kickboxing champion Abdellah Ezbiri (43-12-1, 13KO) meets fellow French-Moroccan Azize “The Magician” Hliali (17-14-1, 2KO), while local favorite Fabio Pinca (102-25-3, 42KO) goes up against Uzbekistan’s Anvar Boynazarov (79-20-2, 45KO) on the other side of the bracket.

M-1 Global returns to Ice Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia on Friday, Oct. 27, beginning with M-1 Selection 16 live at 12:00 p.m. ET, featuring Spain’s Enoc Solves Torres (20-10-1) against Russian Andrey Seledtsov (7-4) in a middleweight bout, British heavyweight Phil De Fries (12-6) battling Russia’s Anton Vyazigin (8-1), India’s Sascha Sharma (14-3) facing Zalimbeg Omarov (8-2-1) in a featherweight tilt, Akhmadian Ozdoev (4-0) risking his perfect record against Daniil Prikaza (7-2-1) in a clash of Russian welterweights, plus Maxim Grabovich (5-5) takes on Timerlan Sharipov (4-1) in an all-Russian welterweight duel.

The M-1 Challenge 84 main card airs live at 2:30 p.m. ET, headlined by an M-1 welterweight championship fight between Russian standouts Alexey Kunchenko (16-0) and Sergey Romanov (12-1). In the co-main event, Brazil’s Caio Magalhaes (10-3) throws down with undefeated Russian Artem Frolov (9-0) for the M-1 middleweight crown. Rounding out the stacked line-up, battle-tested American veteran Joe Riggs (46-17) enters hostile territory against Russian middleweight Oleg Olenichev (9-4), Finland’s Janne Elonen-Kulmala (15-5-1) meets Russia’s Bair Shtepin (4-2) in a bantamweight bout and Finnish lightweight prospect Jani Salmi (9-3) looks to hand Russia’s Roman Bogatov (3-0) his first blemish.

The UFC FIGHT NIGHT PRELIMS, PREFIGHT SHOW and POSTFIGHT SHOW, plus GLORY 47 SuperFight Series, GLORY 47 Lyon and the M-1 Challenge 84 main card, will all be televised live exclusively in Canada, while M-1 Selection 16 airs live in Canada, the U.S. and over 30 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

For a full listing of Fight Network’s broadcast schedule, please visit www.fightnetwork.com, follow us on Twitter @fightnet, become a fan on Facebook and visit us on Instagram @fightnet.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Oct. 26th, 2017) — The bombs will burst Friday, Nov. 17th, 2017 at Twin River Casino as “CES MMA” returns for its season finale highlighted by one of the hardest hitters in the northeast.

Former world-title challenger and Providence, R.I., heavyweight “Ribz” Greg Rebello (22-8, 13 KOs) aims for his unprecedented 23rd professional win at “CES MMA 47” when he battles Derrick Brown (7-4, 3 KOs) of Myrtle Beach, S.C., one of six televised bouts airing live on AXS TV.

The first preliminary bout begins at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the main card on AXS TV Fights at 9.

Nov. 17th is Rebello’s 7th appearance on AXS TV, a fan-friendly stretch of dominance with six of those fights ending with a knockout. Following an appearance on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series in July, Rebello looks to regain his footing next month on his home turf, where he’s 9-4 lifetime, including thrilling nationally-televised wins over rival Tyler King and Keith Bell.

Tickets for “CES MMA 47” are priced at $40.00, $55.00, $100.00 and $125.00 (VIP) and can be purchased online at www.cesboxing.com, www.twinriver.com, www.ticketmaster.com or www.cagetix.com/ces by phone at 401-724-2253/2254 or at the Twin River Casino Players Club. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

The main card also features the return of Providence featherweight and three-time Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) vet Sean Soriano (10-5, 4 KOs), red-hot Providence lightweight Nate Andrews (11-1, 5 KOs) – a winner in his last five bouts -undefeated flyweight prospect Richie Santiago (5-0, 1 KO) of Milford, Mass., and Milford bantamweight Kris Moutinho (4-1, 1 KO).

Debut flyweight Jose Lugo of Milford, who boasts a 4-1 amateur record, and Providence featherweight Jon Douma (1-0) highlight the preliminary card. Douma comes off a win in his professional debut at “CES MMA 45,” submitting Jason Rine at 4:48 of the opening round.

The main card boasts some of the region’s top talent. Andrews, who hasn’t lost since 2014, is arguably New England’s hottest fighter. Following a frustrating loss to Gemiyale Adkins, the first of his career, Andrews dusted Jay Bakanowski in just 2:50 at “CES MMA 29” and then pieced together his most impressive performance to date nine months later at “CES MMA 33,” knocking out former CES MMA World Lightweight Champion Julian Lane at the 3:58 mark of the second round.

All of Andrews’ wins have ended before the final bell, including five knockouts and six submissions. The heavy-handed Rebello has a similar knack for ending fights quickly with four of his last victories coming by way of knockout, including three in the opening round. He last won on May 12th at “CES MMA 44,” submitting the game Kevin Ray Sears in the final round of their scheduled three-round bout.

The up-and-coming Santiago, who faces Shawn Mack (0-1) of Grand Rapids, Mich., fights for the sixth time in 14 months and makes his sixth appearance with CES MMA. The rear-naked choke is his weapon of choice as the finishing in four of his five wins, including an impressive dismantling of 7-fight vet Miguel Restrepo in the second round at “CES MMA 45” in August.

Facing two-time CES MMA and former Bellator vet David Garcia (4-3, 2 KOs) of La Grange, Ill., Moutinho looks to rebound from his first career loss following a submission at the hands of Brandon Seyler at “CES MMA 45.” In his previous four bouts, Moutinho scratched and clawed his way to three unanimous decision victories and earned his first career knockout via head kick against Rine at “CES MMA 41.”

Visit www.cesmma.com, www.twitter.com/cesmma or www.facebook.com/cesmma for more information, or follow CES MMA on Instagram at @CESMMA.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Oct. 25th, 2017) — When studying up on his latest opponent, Cranston, R.I., welterweight Gary Balletto Jr., most internet searches redirected Sharif Jones to video and highlights of Balletto Jr.’s father, former professional boxer Gary “Tiger” Balletto.

“At first I was like, ‘Wait, I can’t be fighting this guy! Shit, I bit off more than I can chew!'” Jones said with a laugh.

The innocuous mix-up is just part of being the son of a famous fighter while looking to carve your own legacy in the sport, even if it’s a different genre, as is the case with Balletto Jr., who’s now 4-1 in mixed martial arts as he prepares for fight No. 6 on Friday, Oct. 27th, 2017 at Twin River Casino on the main card of “CES MMA 46.”

The other twist to carrying the Balletto name is the perception that the younger Balletto is one-dimensional, the byproduct of growing up with a father who boxed 36 times as a professional without having to worry about armbars, leg kicks or takedowns.

The reality is the 22-year-old Balletto Jr. (4-1, 2 KOs) is as well-rounded as they come, a student of the game who has improved his ground game mightily under the guidance of former pro Pete Jeffrey, though he doesn’t mind being pigeonholed if it gives him an advantage on fight night.

“I can only hope!” Balletto Jr. said. “It would definitely give me an element of surprise. I think my grappling has gotten much stronger and maybe underrated for my name. That’s definitely an advantage for me, I think. If they want to press it that hard to the ground, I’m no stranger to grappling.”

Tickets for “CES MMA 46” are priced at $40.00, $55.00, $100.00 and $125.00 (VIP) and can be purchased online at www.cesboxing.com, www.twinriver.com, www.ticketmaster.com or www.cagetix.com/ces by phone at 401-724-2253/2254 or at the Twin River Casino Players Club. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

The first preliminary fight begins at 7 p.m. ET and the televised main card begins at 9 on AXS TV Fights.

Friday’s fight against Jones (3-2, 1 KO), a gritty Philadelphia native who’s fought the best of the best in the lightweight division, will be Balletto Jr.’s toughest to date, plus there’s the added bonus of again appearing on AXS TV, which broadcasts the top fights live to a worldwide audience.

Following in the footsteps of his father, who starred on ESPN’s short-lived The Contender reality series, Balletto Jr. made his network debut at “CES MMA 45” against Nick Alley and looked every bit like a seasoned pro, stopping his opponent at the 58-second mark of the second round for his fourth consecutive win.

The 22-year-old looked cool, calm and collected in front of the camera, even with the butterflies eating away at him on the inside.

“There’s no way to block that out,” he said. “It’s definitely going through your mind like, ‘Wow, here we are, it’s happening again, we’re back in and there’s only one way out,’ so it’s a cool feeling.”

For Jones, Friday is uncharted territory, not only because of the TV aspect, but because it’s his first fight at 170 pounds. A natural lightweight, Jones has never fought heavier than 160, which he did once as an amateur, but he’s never been one to turn down a challenge, as evident by his resume. The combined record of his five opponents is an impressive 15-6-1, which includes a recent bout against 6-time Bellator vet Will Martinez Jr. in June.

Once he figured out which Balletto he was fighting, Jones concluded whatever Balletto Jr. brings to the table Friday is nothing he hasn’t seen already.

“When he tries to hit me or take me down, I’ve been there before. I can weather the storm,” Jones said. “I know he’s never fought anyone like me with the aggression I come with, the head movement, the gas tank.

“I’ve won by two leglocks, but I’ve never been submitted. I’ve finished people. I can fight on the ground with Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts, or choke him out, like I did to two other opponents. Stuff like that, you can’t teach. That’s straight heart. When Martinez had me in a triangle, people thought I was out, but I got out of it. Can [Balletto Jr.] do that if he’s in the same position? When he’s on the opposite side or being on the scorecard, can he fight back?”

Balletto Jr. hasn’t done as much homework on Jones – “I know what I need to know,” he said – but is confident in his improved grappling under Jeffrey’s guidance, which paid off in submission wins over Cruz Johnson and Chris Torres. Balletto Jr.’s growth from a loss in his pro debut to four consecutive wins, all in dominant fashion, is impressive to watch, and the best may still be on the horizon.

“I’ve wrestled and grappled before, growing up and stuff, but I owe my whole style to Pete. We work very closely together on developing our philosophy as a fighter and a grappler,” Balletto Jr. said. “Just being comfortable and knowing what to do from each position, just the mindset and strategy is the biggest part of grappling in MMA. It’s different than grappling in jiu-jitsu. It’s a different kind of grappling.

“We’ve put together a great philosophy and strategy for grappling and it’s only getting better. We’re constantly learning and evolving, which is a rare thing with most fighters and coaches. It’s a wonderful thing.”

For once, Jones doesn’t have to focus on cutting weight the week of the fight and can instead concentrate more on strategy. What he lacks in size, he said, he’ll make up for with speed and aggressiveness, plus he won’t experience the energy drain common with fighters who have to cut weight the night before, but don’t rehydrate properly on fight day.

“I’ve got respect for him because of the legacy his dad left behind and I respect his game,” Jones said, “but this isn’t something I’ve never seen before.”

The main event of “CES MMA 46” features the return of former CES MMA Middleweight World Champion “Doomsday” John Howard (24-13, 9 KOs) of Boston, who faces submission specialist Roger Carroll (16-14) of Claremont, N.C.

“CES MMA 46” also features the return of East Providence, R.I., bantamweight Dinis Paiva (9-6, 5 KOs), who faces Pennsylvania vet Brandon Seyler (7-5, 1 KO), both of whom will be fighting on the televised main card, plus the professional debut of Oyster Bay, N.Y., welterweight John Gotti III in a three-round bout against Johnny Adams (0-1) of Rutland, Vt.

Also on the main card, lightweight Josh LaBerge (11-6, 5 KOs) of Fall River, Mass., returns to face Jonathan Lemke (6-8, 5 KOs) of Auburn, Maine, and bantamweight Rico DiSciullo (7-1, 3 KOs) of Peabody, Mass., faces Justin King (6-5) of Lawrence, Ind. Justin Sumter (3-1, 2 KOs) of New Haven, Conn., returns in a lightweight bout against Rahway, N.J., vet Shedrick Goodridge (6-9, 2 KOs).

Also returning Oct. 27th, Providence featherweight Marquis Brewster (3-0) battles Raymond Yanez (4-11, 1 KO) of Marion, Ohio, on the preliminary, where joining featherweight Pat McCrohan (2-1, 1 KO) of Berkley, Mass., who faces Buck Pineau (1-3) of Ashland, Maine. New Bedford bantamweight Jessie Pires makes his professional debut in the prelims against Syracuse, N.Y., newcomer Michael Taylor.

Visit www.cesmma.com, www.twitter.com/cesmma or www.facebook.com/cesmma for more information, or follow CES MMA on Instagram at @CESMMA.