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February 21, 2012

CES Press Release--Opportunity is knockin’



Press Release on Chattelle vs. Doomsday Howard..this is going to be fight of the year material!! Thanks for keeping it around New England CES!!

Chattelle prepares for ultimate test against former UFC veteran Howard

LINCOLN, R.I. (Feb. 21, 2012) – Todd “The Hulk” Chattelle will make the jump from spectator to contender when he faces a fighter he’s spent most of life admiring from afar.

The reigning Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc., middleweight champion will put his title on the line against Boston, Mass., native and Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) veteran John “Doomsday” Howard in the main event of CES’ “Never Surrender” mixed martial arts event at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, R.I., on Friday, April 13th, 2012.

“I’ve always looked up to him because of what he’s accomplished,” said Chattelle, who was named the Boston Herald Fighter of the Year and Comeback Fighter of the Year in 2011, “but if he’s going to stand in the doorway, then I have to push through.”

Chattelle (10-6, 8 KOs), a Pawtucket, R.I., native, has followed most of Howard’s career, including “Doomsday’s” UFC debut in 2009 when he defeated Chris Wilson in Las Vegas, and his win over Tamdan McCrory seven months later in Philadelphia, both of which Chattelle attended. Now he has the opportunity to beat one of his idols in a fight that could take his career to the next level.

“Why not?” Chattelle said when asked if a win could land him a spot on a future UFC card. “I’ve faced four Top 5 guys in a row, and this will be the fifth.

“This is a big fight. I’m training harder than ever because he’s a UFC veteran, and because he is who he is. He’s been there, and I’m trying to get there.”

For Howard (15-7, 4 KOs), the goal is to get back to the UFC after the promotion released him in July following a three-fight losing streak, which culminated in a controversial, unanimous-decision loss to Matt Brown on June 26th. Howard had won his first four UFC bouts in the competitive welterweight division before the landslide began with a knockout loss to Jake Ellenberger in 2010, a fight stopped in the third round due to the swelling around Howard’s left eye. Beating Chattelle on April 13th won’t punch Howard’s ticket back to the UFC, but it’s a step in the right direction.

“I’ve got to take it fight by fight,” Howard said. “Right now, I’ve got to treat every fight like it’s the biggest fight of my career. Don’t think for a second I’m sitting back thinking, ‘Yeah, I’m a badass,’ or resting on past accomplishments.

“I’m not taking it lightly because I can’t. This is a lose-lose situation for me. If I win, it’s because I’m supposed to. If I lose, people will say, ‘You’re supposed to be in the UFC?’ For him, it’s a win-win. This is his test. I have nothing new to prove. I’ve been to the big show. This will be his chance to see where he belongs on the food chain. This is an opportunity for me to get back into the swing of things.

“I’m real confident, but I respect him.”

Chattelle might have the edge in familiarity; the fight will take place at his customary weight of 185 pounds, while Howard will be stepping above the welterweight division for the first time in five years. A less strenuous weight-cut could prove beneficial for Howard, who typically walks around at 205 pounds or heavier, though he admits he’s a “little nervous” about bulking up to face Chattelle.
“We’ll see what happens,” he said. “I’ll try to use my skill and experience to my advantage.”

“The fact of the matter is he’s just another opponent,” Chattelle countered. “Yeah, he’s a UFC veteran, but I’m the No. 1 fighter in New England. He doesn’t eat rock. He doesn’t eat metal. He’s a man, just like me.”

Considering he won’t turn 29 until March 1st, Howard can afford to take the one-fight-at-a-time approach.

“To tell you the truth, you really don’t hit your prime in this sport until you’re 32 or 33,” Howard said. “Look at [former UFC light heavyweight champion] Chuck Liddell. He started at 28. Look at him now. I’m just getting my second wind at 28. When I hit 30, I’ll hit my prime. That’s how I look at it. Some guys didn’t start until late in their career. Look at [UFC middleweight champion] Anderson Silva. I have the skill and the power and I’ll be ready to pursue it and become a No. 1 contender when I hit my prime.”

Chattelle has been doing his homework, starting with watching film from Howard’s previous fights, and continuing with a new workout regimen designed to improve his conditioning.

“He’s well-rounded,” Chattelle said of Howard. “He’s not great at any one thing, but he has a lot of heart and will fight until the end. He will last the whole fight, so I have to be well-conditioned and take my conditioning to the next level.

“I added new supplements, plus new training programs. I’m doing a lot of private training with certain people to make sure I’m ready for this. I’m doubling up on my workouts, morning and night.”

Chattelle, who previously worked 40 hours a week as a concrete finisher while training for upcoming fights, was recently laid off from his job, which has turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

“Now I can put everything into it, like a professional should, and see if I have what it takes to make it to this level,” he said. “I’m going real hard morning and night. I hope he’s ready to bang, because I’m not afraid to bang with anybody.”

“He’s the champion of CES, and I want to fight the champion,” Howard added. “This is a weird situation, because I really like him as a friend. He’s real down-to-earth, real humble. He’s coming up in the world, but sometimes you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. He hits real hard, and is really, really powerful, but he’s a raw talent. He’s got a lot to learn in this game.”

Chattelle is expecting a packed house at Twin River on April 13th. His phone hasn’t stopped ringing since CES announced the match-up at its previous show on Feb. 3rd.

“I’m usually doing all he calling, but this time, people are calling me,” he said.

“It’s pretty incredible. The fact of the matter is I never thought I’d be where I am at this point. When I started, I just wanted to try it out. I think it’s a good lesson; anything you do in life, if you believe in it and stick with it, it’ll turn out well, even if things don’t always go as they should.”

Tickets for “Never Surrender” 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.

(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “Never Surrender.” Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and must enter through the West entrance).

– CES –


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