Former UFC fighter Matt Bessette talks historic homecoming at CES 55

Bloodyelbow.com

After parting ways with the UFC in January, Matt Bessette wanted to try something new — but then a former employer came calling with an opportunity he couldn’t resist.

Bessette meets Tim Dooling in his return to CES, a New England-based promotion, at CES 55 on Friday night in Hartford, Connecticut. He fought seven times for CES, where he was the featherweight champion, before signing with the UFC in 2018. Bessette went 0-2 in the Octagon.

After that chapter of his career came to an end, Bessette wanted to fight for either PFL or ONE Championship — there is a lot of money up for grabs in PFL, and he has always wanted to fight in Japan.

CES director of operations Pat Sullivan approached Bessette about possibly returning to the promotion, and at first, Bessette declined so he could pursue the other ventures he had in mind.

“I love CES — the platform they give me, the opportunities they’ve given me,” Bessette told Bloody Elbow. “They helped pave my way to the UFC. Fighting on AXS TV and getting a world title, that’s awesome. I can never repay them in that regard. But at the same time, I wanted to fight elsewhere.”

But a few days later, Sullivan told Bessette that CES was putting on a historic show in Hartford, Bessette’s hometown. It would be the first MMA event sanctioned by the state of Connecticut.

“As soon as Pat Sullivan was like, ‘Hey, we’re coming to Hartford,’ I was like, ‘Alright, that changes things. I’m there, man. I’m definitely there,’” Bessette said. “The fact that I get to fight so close to where I was born, where I was treated for leukemia, where I’ve trained for the last decade, I’m just happy and grateful to get the chance to fight in Hartford.”

Bessette said he signed a three-fight deal with CES, but that it has out clauses that say he can leave CES if he gets a big offer from a different promotion, such as ONE or PFL.

Bessette said he is on a shortlist of replacement fighters for PFL’s featherweight roster, but that ONE wasn’t interested, likely because he is on a losing skid. He doesn’t think there’s much of a chance PFL will come calling this year, however, because he wouldn’t expect any fighters to drop out of a $1 million tournament.

Bessette has stepped into cage as a professional 31 times, but he said his upcoming hometown fight at CES 55 is the biggest and most important one of his career.

“This is No. 1 for me,” Bessette said. “When I’m done fighting, fighting for the biggest promotion is gonna be cool, but fighting at home — where I’m at all of the time, where I grew up. I am Connecticut. I am nowhere else. I’m a Connecticut guy, I’m a Hartford guy. That’s my home. I’m probably gonna be in Connecticut for the rest of my life. My family is out here, I’ve lived out here my whole life. Fighting here for my friends, for my fans, for my family, it’s gonna mean a lot more once I get that victory.”

Bessette said he was “a little bummed” not to get a third chance in the UFC, but that at the same time, it’s a bit of a relief to not have to wait on the UFC matchmakers to tell him when he’s fighting next.

“I gotta tell you, it’s a better feeling not being constantly in limbo with the UFC and Sean Shelby,” Bessette said. “At first, it hurt a little bit, but then I was like, ‘Man, now I’m the one who gets to set the dates.’ They’re not calling the shots anymore, which is kind of cool.”

Bessette said he would obviously return to the UFC if it wanted him back, but he doesn’t plan on pushing for it as much as he did before getting signed last year. Bessette said he spent years of trying to be ready at all times in case the UFC had a short-notice opportunity — and that took a toll on him.

“I’m not gonna put myself in a position to be at the mercy of a matchmaker for the UFC anymore,” Bessette said. “If I were to get the opportunity, for sure I’d take it. But I’m not gonna be the guy who’s dieting all the time, fight-ready — it’s just a lot on your body, a lot on your mind. It’s difficult when all you’re thinking about is the possibility of getting that call.”

Though he may not be satisfied with how things went in the UFC, Bessette said he is glad he will be able to retire at peace knowing he accomplished his one goal in the sport.

“It’s crossing something off a list,” Bessette said. “It’s something I worked at for a long, long time. In 2011 or so, we had this white board at the gym, and people would just write down goals. Mine said: ‘UFC or bust.’ That was my only goal. It was far in the future and I knew it, but that was the only thing I saw from 2010 on.”

The card Bessette is on, CES 55, is historic because it’s the first show sanctioned by the state of Connecticut. Several promotions, including the UFC and Bellator, have hosted shows in Connecticut before, but they’ve all been on Indigenous reservations and therefore not sanctioned by the state. Reservations have their own athletic commissions, separate entities from the state athletic commission with different jurisdiction.

Bellator has promoted several events at Mohegan Sun Arena, which is located on the Mohegan Indian Reservation, home to the federally recognized Mohegan Tribe. The reservation is located in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The UFC has gone to Foxwoods Resort Casino, which is owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation on their reservation in Ledyard, Connecticut.

When Connecticut legalized MMA in 2013, it put up major financial hurdles that discouraged promoters from putting on events in the state. According to combatsportslaw.com, the state required promoters to “be liable for any health care costs incurred by such competitor for the diagnosis, care and treatment of any injury, illness, disease or condition.” In 2017, that was reduced to promoters being required to provide health insurance coverage for their athletes.

Considering these hurdles have been loosened in recent years, it’s unclear why the first MMA card in Connecticut is only taking place now. Regardless, with CES 55 just a few days away, Bessette hopes that means more cards are on the way.

“I think if we can get a really good crowd at CES, the better it looks for future events,” Bessette said. “It’s going to be up to the crowd, and how they respond to this event, how many people show up. Are they gonna be loud and stupid, or are they gonna be good fans? Is it gonna be a good sporting event, or is it gonna be a hostile environment?”

A CES show in Hartford wouldn’t have felt right without “The Mangler” on it. But the pressure is on for Bessette, as he’ll have more family and friends at this fight than most of his previous outings.

But Bessette said he more than ready for it. He actually hopes he is nervous ahead of Friday’s homecoming, because it helps him stay focused.

“Gimme the pressure. Gimme all that smoke,” Bessette said. “I love it.”