BEVERLY, Mass. (April 10th, 2017) -- Fight week fever has gripped the North Shore this week as CES MMA returns to Beverly featuring today's premier fighters and tomorrow's stars.
"CES MMA 43," scheduled for Saturday, April 15th, 2017 at 7 p.m. ET at the historic North Shore Music Theatre, is CES MMA's second show in a 15-day stretch, hectic pace that featured Chris Curtis retaining his CES MMA World Welterweight Title in March and could conclude Saturday with several regional standouts stating their case for a shot at a world title.
Tickets for "CES MMA 43" are priced at $45.00, $55.00 and $100.00 (VIP) and are available online at www.cesmma.com, www.nsmt.org, or www.cagetix.com/ces or by phone at 978-232-7200 or 401-724-2253/2254. Doors open at 6 p.m. ET and the first bout begins at 7. All fights and fighters are subject to change. The event features five professional bouts and six amateur fights on the preliminary portion of the card.
Gloucester, Mass., featherweight Pedro Gonzalez (11-5) ends a 12-month layoff when he faces Brazilian Bruno Dias (19-9) of Woburn, Mass., in Saturday's main event.
Injuries forced Gonzalez to withdraw from his scheduled world title bout against Matt Bessette at "CES MMA 37" in August. Bessette went on to win the CES MMA World Featherweight Title against Joe Pingitore and will defend it for the first time against Jeremy Spoon at "CES MMA 44" in May, but a win by Gonzalez this weekend could set the stage for his long-awaited shot at the belt if both he and Bessette make it through the spring unscathed.
What about Diaz? The Brazilian submission specialists -- a staggering 14 of his 19 wins have come by forcing his opponent to tap -- is in desperate need of a win after dropping his last two on foreign soil in Russia, but dethroning Gonzalez, who has won his last four, in his own United States debut immediately puts him in the conversation among elite 145-pounders in the northeast.
Somerville, Mass., bantamweight Rico DiSciullo (6-1, 2 KOs) finds himself in a similar spot, needing a win after suffering his first career loss at "CES MMA 38" against David Garcia. The electrifying prospect faces former Bellator and CES MMA vet Matt Lozano (8-4, 1 KO) of Lancaster, Pa., on Saturday in an important fight for both sides. Lozano debuted with the promotion at "CES MMA 34," earning an impressive unanimous decision win over Johnny Campbell.
The "CES MMA 43" main card also features unbeaten Massachusetts lightweight Connor Barry (3-0) of Holbrook making his third CES MMA appearance in a three-round bout against three-time CES MMA vet Andrew Osborne (7-10-1, 3 KOs) of Fayetteville, N.C.
Quincy, Mass., light heavyweight Mike Rodriguez (6-2, 4 KOs) returns following his record-setting 7-second knockout win over Hector Sanchez at "CES MMA 41" and Myrtle Beach middleweight Justin Sumter (2-1), now training in Milford, Conn., makes his CES MMA debut in a separate three-round bout against Pawtucket, R.I., vet Abe Pitrowski (6-2, 1 KO).
Similar to its North Shore debut in 2016, CES MMA will feature six amateur bouts on the preliminary card, a tremendous opportunity for the region's up-and-coming future stars. Unbeaten bantamweight Marquis Brewster earned a promotional contract with CES MMA by winning his amateur finale a year ago at "CES MMA 35" and is now 2-0 since June.
On Saturday, featherweight Billy Keenan (6-2, 2 KOs) of Salem, Mass., faces Schenectady, N.Y., native Cody Dickershaid (7-7, 4 KOs) in the featured amateur bout while bantamweight Yarty Kim (1-0, 1 KO) of Boston battles Mike Kimbel (2-2, 1 KO) of Waterbury, Conn.
Also on the preliminary amateur card, lightweight Jurrell Laronal (1-1, 1 KO) of Dorchester, Mass., takes on Waterbury's Jordan Riley (1-1), heavyweight Larry Perna (2-1, 2 KOs) from Bronx, N.Y., faces Ron Marshall (1-2) of Hampton, N.H., and Boston light heavyweight Zeal McGrew (2-1) faces Glen Falls, N.Y., vet Harold Ricketts (1-2). Rob Rios (0-4) of Cromwell, Conn., and Dylan Youngblood (0-2) of Pittsburgh, Pa., aim for their first amateur win when they face one another in a bantamweight bout.
Visit www.cesmma.com, www.twitter.com/cesmma or www.facebook.com/cesmma for more information, or follow CES MMA on Instagram at @CESMMA.
-- CES --