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Backstage News, Front Row Pics

“CES MMA XXII” @ Twin River Casino, Lincoln, RI ~ A Great MMA Experience from Start to Finish

Knockout

Felix’ devastating knockout kick comes at 2:29 in the first round

We at Flashwounds have been covering MMA for years now (and thoroughly enjoying ourselves), focusing our coverage primarily on two well-known MMA outlets and their appearances at two large casinos each about an hour and a half’s drive from our main office in Massachusetts.

Johnston

John Johnston, still unbeaten and now the first-ever CES Heavyweight Champion

Then, last week, after having been added to the press release distribution list of CES MMA earlier in the week and experiencing (via email) how friendly, organized, and dedicated to arming the media with as much information as possible the team in charge of the their events is, we were lucky enough to be invited to cover “CES MMA XXII” at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, Rhode Island on Friday night, March 14.  The night was billed as a particularly special one, as it would feature the first ever CES Heavyweight Title Bout (won, much to the excitement of longtime fans and a new legion of fans alike, by local favorite John Johnston, above).

Not knowing what to expect from either this new (to us) MMA organization or from the venue, we arrived a bit in advance of the 6pm door time and were very relieved to discover that there is ample parking (valet and self), all outdoor and all one level…no need to wander around looking for the right elevator to bring you back to where you hope is the level on which you parked your car.  (A note to members of the press who aren’t yet familiar with Twin River: be sure to use the Main Event entrance, because if you attempt to use any other and are carrying photography equipment or any sort of backpack, laptop, etc., you will politely be asked by security to go back around to the Main Event entrance).  It also bears mention that no backpacks/large bags are allowed into the gaming/food area of the casino, so if you plan to grab a bite or test your luck before a show, leave your gear in the car and then go back for it right before doors open.

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But back to our first impression of the venue that was to be our home for the night and for the CES team that were to be our host.  The Will Call table for CES press and non-press alike was clearly marked and easily accessible ~ and manned by the same guys who had been so great to communicate with that whole week.  With our media lanyards ‘round our necks, we headed the few feet to the half of the gigantic lobby available for use until the doors open.  Now, not only is the lobby spacious and inviting (and apparently the entrance many of the MMA VIPs use, too, as we saw a slew of well-known fighters walk by), but it also has plenty of comfortable seating and clean rest rooms…

Once doors opened (promptly, which is always appreciated!), we were able to wander around the rest of the lobby a bit before heading inside the arena itself ~ there were merch tables, a bar (with reasonably priced drinks…imagine that!), and plenty of space for greeting familiar spaces.

And then we entered the arena.

Ring GirlTo say that CES spoils members of the media would be an understatement.  Seats at the editorial press table were marked with each person’s name, there were complimentary bottles of water, bowls of bar snacks, and full program books (along with copies of the evening’s scheduled fights) set out at each spot, and there were power strips for us to plug into every few feet…Photographers each had a personal seat cage-side, too (and for those of you who are or who have seen photographers at other MMA shows, you know that photogs are often not afforded chairs or even their own spaces), along with the same complimentary bottle of water.

There was a huge screen in each corner of the room that allowed spectators to view all the action no matter where they were in the floor-level-only seating configuration (it’s so frustrating when a fight “disappears” behind a post and you miss vital seconds of a bout).  There were two bars inside the arena and fresh popcorn popping, too.  All these “extra attention” elements made for a very comfortable environment.

CES famThe production value of the event was a slight change from the other arenas to which we were accustomed, too, but in a very positive way.  Yes, the lights and sound were exactly what they should be, but CES takes a different approach to how it introduces each fighter for each bout…there’s the usual loud rock-n-roll music to get the crowd and the fighter going, but each intro is about 30 seconds long at most…we’re spared what has become the over-the-top, unnecessary entrances that are reminiscent of WWE pageantry, a level of theatricality that MMA battled for years (and is still battling) to distance itself from so as to be taken seriously as a genuine sport, not a “show.”  There are ring girls galore, but they are pretty and sexy, not…well, anything less classy than that.  And what really gave the impression that CES is a tight-knit group… staff, fans, fighters, and sponsors alike… were the occasional pauses in the fight program so that a moment of silence could be observed for a fighter’s fallen or ailing family member, so that a birthday or anniversary could be announced, or so that something of some significant personal meaning to part of CES could be shared with all in attendance. CES obviously sees the value in maintaining very professional industry standards and practices while not losing sight of the fact that fighting and competition are the primary focus in the cage, but need not totally negate more personal touches… Make no mistake, though, the level of fighting inside that cage rivals that of any other MMA outlet… CES is the real thing.

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As veteran members of the press, it was also really nice to see that along with other members of the media who were obviously pros and had been doing their jobs… video, photography, podcast, editorial… for many years, CES has extended press passes to a few individuals who were just starting out and didn’t necessarily have a website or newspaper or magazine backing them, but who hoped to jumpstart their MMA-coverage careers.

bochniakvsenache-dsc_4965_0So, before you check out our pics and the fight results from the event, let me sum things up for you:

CES owner and staff:  A+

CES fight card and fight quality:  A+

Accommodation of the needs of fans and media:  A+

Overall CES/Twin River experience:  A+

Really, what more is there to say, except that if you’re new to the MMA world and have yet to see a live fight, make your “first time” a CES event (there’s one coming up on April 25, in fact), if you’ve already seen a ton of MMA fights but have never had the chance to make a CES bill at Twin River, it’s time you did, and if you’re a member of the media who hasn’t yet covered CES, what are you waiting for?

www.cesmma.com
www.twinriver.com

 
Official “CES MMA XXII” Fight Results:

  • Luis “Rockstar” Felix def. Drew “Night Rider” Fickett (KO @ 2:29 of Rnd 2)
  • John Johnston def. Josh “Heavy” Hendricks (TKO @ 4:30 of Rnd 1)
  • Chuck “Cold Steel” O’Neil def. Roger “The Leprechaun” Carroll (Unanimous Decision)
  • Charles Rosa def. Brylan VanArstdalen (Armbar @ 3:25 of Rnd 1)
  • Chip “The Surgeon” Moraza-Pollard def. Thomas “The Tank” Egan (Unanimous Decision)
  • Andres “The Black Shark” Jeudi def. Brendan “The Honey Badger” Rooney (Unanimous Decision)
  • Brendan “Bad Luck” Fleming def. Robert Sullivan (Unanimous Decision)
  • Josh “The Problem” LaBerge def. Steve McCabe (KO @ 0:37 of Rnd 1)
  • Kyle “Killer B” Bochniak def. Marius Enache (TKO @ 1:14 of Rnd 2)
  • Tommy “Ice Man” Venticinque def. Rick Rivera (Rear Naked Choke @ 3:40 of Rnd 1)