Matt Bessette

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Matt Bessette
Matt Bessette.jpg
Bessette in 2015
BornMatthew James Bessette [1]
(1984-12-28) December 28, 1984 (age 37) [2]
Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Other namesThe Mangler
Nationality American
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight145 lb (66 kg; 10.4 st)
Division Featherweight
Lightweight
Reach67 in (170 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of Hartford, Connecticut, United States
TeamUnderdog Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Ascension Athletics
Trainer Stand-up: Russell Leak [2]
BJJ: Fabiano Teles
RankBlack belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu [3] under Rafael Formiga [4]
Brown belt in Judo [3]
Years active2007–2021
Mixed martial arts record
Total35
Wins25
By knockout8
By submission9
By decision8
Losses10
By knockout1
By submission1
By decision7
By disqualification1
University University of Hartford
Notable school(s) Stafford High School
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Matthew James Bessette [1] (born December 28, 1984) is a retired American mixed martial artist currently competing in CES MMA where he is the reigning Featherweight Champion. A professional competitor since 2007, he has also competed for Bellator and the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Contents

Background

Bessette was born in Hartford, Connecticut. He was diagnosed with leukemia on August 13, 1988 at the age of three and was hospitalized for it. The doctors gave him 50% chance of survival, but became more optimistic after the initial treatments, which reduced significantly the leukemic cells. Bessette also developed asthma at an early age, although that never prevented him from competing in sports such as baseball, basketball, soccer, and football. After graduating from Stafford High School in 2003, Bessette attended the University of Hartford. While still in the university, he was introduced to mixed martial arts at the age of 22 and graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science degree. [2]

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

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Bessette started his professional career in 2007. He fought mainly for Connecticut-based promotion Reality Fighting. Bessette faced Anthony Kaponis on October 9, 2010 at Reality Fighting: Eruption for the vacant lightweight title. He defeated Kaponis via split decision in a five-round bout. [5] Bessette was set to make his first title defense against Joe Proctor on October 8, 2011 at Reality Fighting: Gonzaga vs. Porter. He lost his title via unanimous decision after five rounds. [6]

Bellator MMA

In 2012, Bessette signed with Bellator. [7] Bessette made his promotional debut against Saul Almeida on March 30, 2012 at Bellator 63. He won via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28). [8] Bessette faced The Ultimate Fighter 12 competitor Paul Barrow on November 16, 2012 at Bellator 81. He won via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27). [9] Bessette faced Nick Piedmont on September 7, 2013 at Bellator 98. He won via knockout early in the first round. [10]

Bessette faced Diego Nunes in the quarterfinal match of Bellator Season Ten Featherweight Tournament on February 28, 2014 at Bellator 110. [11] He won the back-and-forth fight via split decision. Bessette faced Daniel Weichel in the tournament semifinals at Bellator 114 on March 28, 2014. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Bessette faced Scott Cleve on September 5, 2014 at Bellator 123. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. [12] Bessette faced Josh LaBerge at Bellator 134 on February 27, 2015. [13] He won the fight due to a doctor stoppage between the second and third rounds.

After a two fight stint with CES MMA, Bessette returned to Bellator and faced Kevin Roddy at Bellator 144 on October 23, 2015. He won via submission with a heel hook in the first round. [14] Bessette faced Keith Richardson at Bellator 153 on April 22, 2016. He won in the second round due to a doctor stoppage. [15]

CES MMA

Bessette made his promotional debut on June 12, 2015 in the co-main event of CES MMA 29 against Khama Worthy. He won via knockout in the second round. [16] He returned for CES MMA 30 on August 14, 2015 against Lenny Wheeler. He lost via knockout in the first round, making it the first time in his career that he was knocked out. [17] After a return to Bellator, Bessette returned to CES MMA on March 11, 2016 to face Taurean Bogguess at CES MMA 33. He won via submission with a triangle choke in the first round. [18] He was originally scheduled to fight Tito Jones, but Jones backed out three days before the event due to injury. [19]

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

Featherweight Champion At CES MMA 37: Summer Gold, Bessette was set to take on Stephen Cerventes for the vacant CES Featherweight Championship, but he was replaced by Joe Pingitore. [21] Bessette won the featherweight belt with a heel hook submission victory in the second round. Bessette successfully defended his title with a TKO win over Kevin Croom at CES MMA 41. [22] At CES MMA 44, Bessette was scheduled to fight Jeremy Spoon but he was replaced with Rey Trujillo. [23] Bessette again successfully defended his championship with a TKO victory. [24]

Dana White Tuesday Night Contender Series

On June 22, 2017, it was announced that Bessette would headline the July 11 premiere event of the Dana White Tuesday Night Contender Series against Kurt Holobaugh. [25] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round. Five days after the fight, it was announced that Kurt Holobaugh used an illegal method of hydrating with an IV, the fight would be declared a no contest. [26]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In his UFC debut, Bessette replaced Arnold Allen against Enrique Barzola at UFC 220 on January 20, 2018. [27] at UFC 220 on January 20, 2018 . [28] He lost the fight via unanimous decision. [29]

Bessette faced Steven Peterson on July 6, 2018 at The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale. [30] He lost the fight via split decision. [31]

Post-UFC career

After being released from the UFC, Bessette returned to CES MMA, facing Tim Dooling in his promotional return at CES MMA 55 on March 29, 2019. Bessette won the back-and-forth fight via unanimous decision.

He then faced Charles Cheeks III for the vacant CES Featherweight Championship at CES MMA 60 on January 24, 2020. Bessette won the fight via knockout in the third round, claiming the championship for the second time in his career. [32]

After four years away from Bellator MMA, Bessette returned to face Jeremy Kennedy at Bellator 253 on November 19, 2020. [33] He lost the fight by unanimous decision. [34]

Bessette was initially scheduled to fight for the vacant CES lightweight championship bout on September 17, 2021 at CES 64 against Bruce Boyington. [35] However, Boyington withdrew from the bout and was replaced by Ryan Dela Cruz. [36] He won the bout and the title via reverse triangle in the third round. After the bout, Bessette announced his retirement from MMA. [37] [38]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
36 matches25 wins10 losses
By knockout81
By submission91
By decision87
By disqualification01
No contests1
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Win25–10 (1)Ryan Dela CruzSubmission (reverse triangle choke)CES MMA 64: Bessette vs. Dela CruzSeptember 17, 202134:48 Hartford, Connecticut, United StatesWon the CES Lightweight Championship.
Loss24–10 (1) Jeremy Kennedy Decision (unanimous) Bellator 253 November 19, 202035:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win24–9 (1)Charles Cheeks IIIKO (punch)CES MMA 60: Bessette vs. CheeksJanuary 24, 202034:01 Lincoln, Rhode Island, United StatesWon the CES Featherweight Championship.
Win23–9 (1)Tim DoolingDecision (unanimous)CES MMA 55: Wells vs De JesusMarch 29, 201935:00 Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Loss22–9 (1) Steven Peterson Decision (split) The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated Finale July 6, 201835:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss22–8 (1) Enrique Barzola Decision (unanimous) UFC 220 January 20, 201835:00 Boston, Massachusetts, United States
NC22–7 (1) Kurt Holobaugh NC (overturned) Dana White's Contender Series 1 July 11, 201712:59 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesOriginally a KO (punch) win for Holobaugh; overturned due to his unlawful use of an IV before the fight.
Win22–7Rey TrujilloTKO (doctor stoppage)CES MMA 44: Bessette vs. TrujilloMay 12, 201725:00 Lincoln, Rhode Island, United StatesDefended the CES Featherweight Championship.
Win21–7 Kevin Croom TKO (punches)CES MMA 41: Bessette vs. CroomJanuary 27, 201730:32 Lincoln, Rhode Island, United StatesDefended the CES Featherweight Championship.
Win20–7Joe PingitoreSubmission (heel hook)CES MMA 37: Summer GoldAugust 12, 201624:38 Lincoln, Rhode Island, United StatesWon the CES Featherweight Championship.
Win19–7Ran WeathersSubmission (guillotine choke)CES MMA 36: Andrews vs. MuroJune 10, 201614:50 Lincoln, Rhode Island, United StatesLightweight bout.
Win18–7Keith RichardsonTKO (doctor stoppage) Bellator 153 April 22, 201623:14 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win17–7Taurean BogguessSubmission (triangle choke)CES MMA 33: Soukhamthath vs. NordbyMarch 11, 201612:41 Lincoln, Rhode Island, United StatesCatchweight (150 lbs) bout.
Win16–7 Kevin Roddy Submission (heel hook) Bellator 144 October 23, 201513:47 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Loss15–7Lenny WheelerKO (punches)CES MMA 30: Felix vs. LaneAugust 14, 201510:39 Lincoln, Rhode Island, United StatesCatchweight (150 lbs) bout.
Win15–6 Khama Worthy KO (punch)CES MMA 29: O'Neil vs. SteeleJune 12, 201522:42 Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States
Win14–6 Josh LaBerge TKO (doctor stoppage) Bellator 134 February 27, 201525:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Loss13–6 Scott Cleve Decision (unanimous) Bellator 123 September 5, 201435:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Loss13–5 Daniel Weichel Decision (unanimous) Bellator 114 March 28, 201435:00 West Valley City, Utah, United StatesBellator Season 10 Featherweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win13–4 Diego Nunes Decision (split) Bellator 110 February 28, 201435:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United StatesBellator Season 10 Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Win12–4Nick PiedmontKO (punches) Bellator 98 September 7, 201311:41 Uncasville, Connecticut, United StatesFeatherweight debut.
Win11–4Jeff AndersonDecision (unanimous)Reality Fighting: New Year's BashJanuary 5, 201335:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United StatesCatchweight (150 lbs) bout.
Win10–4Paul BarrowDecision (unanimous) Bellator 81 November 16, 201235:00 Kingston, Rhode Island, United States
Win9–4Aniss AlhajjajyDecision (unanimous)Reality Fighting: Naples vs. LeeSeptember 22, 201235:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Loss8–4Andres JeudiDQ (illegal upkick)Reality Fighting: Mohegan SunJune 2, 201234:43 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win8–3 Saul Almeida Decision (unanimous) Bellator 63 March 30, 201235:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Loss7–3 Joe Proctor Decision (unanimous)Reality Fighting: Gonzaga vs. PorterOctober 8, 201155:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United StatesLost the Reality Fighting Lightweight Championship.
Win7–2John BenoitSubmission (guillotine choke)GFL 10: Benoit vs. BessetteApril 15, 201124:59 Lowell, Massachusetts, United StatesWon the GFL Lightweight Championship.
Win6–2Anthony KaponisDecision (split)Reality Fighting: EruptionOctober 9, 201055:00 Plymouth, Massachusetts, United StatesWon the vacant Reality Fighting Lightweight Championship.
Win5–2Andrew AmaralSubmission (guillotine choke)Reality Fighting: IgnitionJuly 17, 201023:30 Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States
Win4–2Andrew CarronDecision (unanimous)Reality Fighting: FerocityNovember 7, 200934:00 Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States
Loss3–2Chris ChappellSubmission (guillotine choke)FFP: Untamed 26February 28, 200932:13 Westport, Massachusetts, United States
Win3–1Jeff CameraTKO (punches)Reality Fighting: CollisionJuly 19, 200822:18 Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States
Win2–1Andres LebronSubmission (rear-naked choke)Reality Fighting: NightmareApril 12, 200822:45 Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States
Loss1–1Bill JonesDecision (split)Reality Fighting: AnnihilationJanuary 19, 200833:00 Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States
Win1–0Chris CorreiraSubmission (guillotine choke)Reality Fighting: InvictusSeptember 15, 20073N/A Concord, New Hampshire, United States

See also

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References

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