Lightweight World Title
Travis Lizotte
Lincoln, Rhode Island- CES MMA rings in the New Year from it’s home at Twin River Casino, Saturday January 19th with a special matinee first bell at 2 pm Eastern time. With a New Year comes some very big changes for the Northeast’s elite combat sports promotion. A fresh off the presses deal with the UFC’s live streaming platform; UFC Fight Pass was struck earlier this month; ending a six year television partnership with AXS tv and AXS tv Fights. With more than 450,000 subscribers worldwide and an attachment to the UFC, the stakes at CES MMA just hit a whole new level! CES brass has a resolution; to kickoff their relationship with UFC Fight Pass in style, rolling out a stacked card highlighted by two World Title fights, as well as some UFC veterans making their long awaited returns to the CES MMA cage. In the Main Event CES Lightweight Champion Nate “The Snake” Andrews (14-1) looks to add to an impressive eight fight win streak (all finishes) when he puts his Lightweight Title on the line against BJJ Brown Belt and former Bellator/ LFA Lightweight Bryce Logan (9-3) in a fight that many believe will have UFC roster implications, regardless of the outcome. Newly crowned CES Bantamweight Champion and former Division 1 Wrestler (Appalachian State);Tony Gravely (16-5) defends his title for the first time in the Co-Main Event against CES fan favorite and rising star Kris Moutinho (7-2), a calculated striker who gets his first crack at the CES Crown.
Eight fight CES veteran Eric Spicely (8-0 in CES, 10-4 Overall) as well a three fight CES veteran Tateki Matsuda (3-0 in CES, 13-9 Overall) will make their highly anticipated returns from stints with the UFC. The grappling and submission specialist Spicely hopes to break a three fight losing streak when he welcomes Kansas City striker Leo Pla (12-7) to the CES cage for the first time. Born in Tokyo, Japan, Matsuda found his home with Sityodtong, Boston and is a pioneer of the Flyweight division here in New England, he too will be looking to nix a multi-fight losing skid as he returns to CES to test Flyweight top-prospect Josh Ricci (4-1) who will look to bounce back of the first loss of his professional career against the veteran Matsuda. CES 54 will also roll out two of the promotions biggest new signings; Light-Heavyweight William “Nightmare” Knight (3-0) takes on CES veteran 205’er Kevin “The North Woods Nightmare” Haley (6-3) and Super Prospect Kylie O’Hearn (1-0) makes her highly anticipated CES debut against Reality Fighting Women’s Bantamweight Champion; Jessy Miele (6-3).
Setting the stage for the six fight UFC Fight Pass Main Card will be an exciting four fight undercard that kicks off with a Catchweight bout featuring undefeated Philadelphia, PA product; Eugene “The Suitcase Kid” Aubrey (2-0) who looks to stay perfect against New England journeyman; Gil Pinheiro (0-2). Another top undefeated prospect; Brandon “The Kid” Marotte (4-0) will look to kick off 2019 much the same way he did in 2018, a year which saw Marotte go 4-0 and ascend the ranks of New England’s pro Featherweights. Marotte continues his climb against New England newcomer, Virginia's Chris “The Rocket” Rollins (5-8-1). Todd "The Matrix" Monroe (3-3) makes his first appearance for CES MMA and will be welcomed by Massachusetts’ submission specialist David Baxter (4-2), who has faced some tough competition since debuting with the CES promotion back in 2015. Finally, newly crowned New England Fights professional Cruiserweight Champion Yorgan deCastro (3-0) returns to the CES cage, where he is 2-0 in his career, as he welcomes Dallas, Texas’ Knockout artist Carlton “C-MAYJA” Little (7-6) to the CES cage for the first time.
CES MMA’s Michael Parente, as well as Massachusetts native and former UFC fighter Tom “Filthy” Lawlor will play host as UFC Fight Pass presents for the first time; CES MMA 54! Tickets are available and can be purchased by visiting CESMMA.com or by visiting the box office at Twin River Casino Events Center.
Gil Pinheiro (0-2) v. Eugene Aubrey (2-0)
Catchweight 165lbs
Gil Pinheiro
Fighting out of: Waterbury, Connecticut
Affiliation: Thornton Martial Arts
Record: 0-2 (losses to Camron Lachinov and Vinicius de Jesus)
Last fight: Unanimous Decision loss to Camron Lachinov at Premier FC 24
Eugene “The Suitcase Kid” Aubrey
Fighting out of: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Affiliation: Extreme Evolution Fight Camp
Record: 2-0 (2 first round Knockouts)
Last fight: First round Knockout (Punch) of Jake Kozorosky at Art of War Cage Fighting 9.
Breakdown: With just two fights since turning pro in 2015 including a current layoff of nearly 15 months, Connecticut’s Pinheiro will be looking to resurrect his career that has seen him go 0-2 with tough losses coming to very talented fighters who would go on to fight for Bellator MMA (Lachinov, de Jesus). Enter Eugene Aubrey, Aubrey has cruised to a 2-0 start as a professional, needing under three minutes in the cage to dispatch his first two opponents, both by knockout. Aubrey packs some serious power in this hands and hopes to used that power early and become the next career launched at Pinheiro’s expense.
Click below for our detailed breakdown of the remaining 9 fights on the CES 54 fight card!
