Longtime fan-favorite Matt Bessette is back to his roots CES 55 in his own backyard to take on Tim Dooling.
“I’ve fought all over the United States, nothing feels like fighting where you were born, where I’ve trained, down the road from where I was treated for leukemia.”
Matt Bessette has long been a fan-favorite of the CES MMA promotion, and his name has possibly never been bigger than this exact moment. The Connecticut native is going to be fighting at the Hartford Convention Center on March 29 for CES 55. Bessette had a short-lived stint with the UFC, going 0-2, and although mercilessly attempting to get into the cage hungry for a UFC win, it never happened. Bessette announced on social media that he had been cut by the UFC.
“I’m not a salty person, they needed to run a business, it is what it is. That being said I wish I knew a while back, they told me to ‘stay ready’ so I have been in fight shape since October. I’ve been watching what I eat, not resting. I mean overall it was awesome though, fighting for the UFC was a career goal, can always say I did it.”
Bessette believes that a cage is a cage, and even under the bright lights of the UFC, he felt little difference from the CES or Bellator cages he has previously fought in. A goal was absolutely reached as many prospects can only dream of one day getting the call to be fighting on the UFC stage. Although in Bessette’s mind, a cage is a cage regardless of the name in the middle, he admits he learned a lot from his UFC experience.
“They are a different machine. It’s the top dog in our industry. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a huge accomplishment in my career but now I can take that experience and make myself a better fighter elsewhere.”
Bessette was very vocal on social media that he had a promotion in mind once his UFC stint had come to an abrupt ending. Professional Fight League is a tournament-based promotion in which the winner of every tournament (built by weight) earns a title and one million dollars, Bessette was sold on the idea.
“I haven’t made a ton of money in this sport, enough to pay bills but I am not living lavishly by any means. The idea of winning a million dollars doing what I love would be amazing. I think I could run on top of the division and take home some cash so maybe in the future.”
Bessette was quick to come up with another idea for his possible next promotion, and it would bring him overseas. ONE Championship and Rizin have been big on the free agent market over the last several months, and Bessette thinks it would be the chance of a lifetime to fight for one of these promotions.
“I want to fight in Japan so badly, it would be dope. I’m extremely interested in Rizin and ONE. I’ve heard fighters get paid very well, and just watching some of those cards it just seems like an insane fight atmosphere over there.”
“The Mangler” may have big ideas for the future, but his goal is to get a big welcome home win at CES 55. Many have wondered why the former CES featherweight champion is not getting an immediate title shot in his return. With a card that already boasts welterweight champion Jeremiah Wells and bantamweight champion Tony Gravely, why not add a third title fight to amp things up even more?
“I asked CES for (Bruce) Boyington, he was game but not until May due to some stuff going on, which is fine, life happens. So I’m focused on getting a win and then if he is still game in May we can do it then.”
In what arguably is the best CES MMA card to date, featuring some of the top champions and former champions of the promotion, Bessette knows all eyes are going to be glued to him. That’s the pressure that comes with being a local big-time fan-favorite.
“I feel the pressure to get a finish, I’m sure people are banking on a first-round finish. 100-percent I hear the noise and I look for those finishes but I can’t look to force anything. It is always difficult to finish anyone in this sport, especially in only five minutes, so I know this fight could go all three rounds and I’m ready for it.”
Tim Dooling, based out of New Jersey stands currently at 7-4, and has some pretty flashy knockout power of his own. Five of his seven wins have come from a finish. Dooling has not fought since November of 2017 and will be looking to spoil the hometown hero’s return to CES.
“I’ll be honest, don’t know a lot about Dooling, which actually usually works out for me. I think he will come forward with strikes, be creative, which I find I excel in striking exchanges with most fighters.”
Matt Bessette is hoping Dooling looks to exchange with him, he is hoping for someone who is willing to throw down and leave it all on the line. The Connecticut native spoke on the best way to beat him in the past, but how different that would go now in the present.
“My two UFC losses were from guys looking for takedowns just to hold on to win, not fight. I’ve probably lost seven fights from those types of guys, Dooling ain’t one of those guys though. Even if he was, I have been working on my wrestling with Trinity College and it has improved immensely, I’m a different animal now.”
Matt Bessette is taking none of this for granted, although he has got the call from the UFC, fought on some big stages and in some special places, nothing is going to feel as good as CES 55 on a stage he legitimately calls home.
“One of my best friends just made a post about my fight an hour ago. He said ‘The People’s Champ Matt Bessette’ and I laughed and really feel as though I am. I have such a special and proud following. I’ve won CES fighter of the year and all of those and it is because people love to watch me.”
“At the end of the day, if you are just fighting for a paycheck, you are doing it wrong. I fight for my fans, for the feeling and love of it, for the crowd’s screams, for the stories to tell my grandchildren one day, I mean that is what this is all about to me.”
Matt Bessette will sure have some big stories to tell one day, and he looks to add another chapter to his book with a return to the CES cage where it all began, who knows what the future holds for the UFC veteran, but we know what March 29 will hold, The Mangler back in the cage.
