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One in every of New England’s greatest success tales returns to the platform that helped launch his combined martial arts profession.
5-time UFC veteran Yorgan De Castro (6-3, 5 KOs) – born and raised in Cape Verde, and now combating out of Fall River, MA – headlines CES MMA 63 reside on UFC FIGHT PASS® on Friday, August 6, the primary of back-to-back occasions that weekend on the MGM Springfield promoted by regional big CES MMA.
Combating for the primary time since April, De Castro goals to get again into the win column when he faces hard-hitting heavyweight Rakim Cleveland (21-13, 13 KOs) of Iowa, who makes his long-awaited CES MMA debut greater than two years after a scheduled bout with Parker Porter was scrapped shortly earlier than CES 55 in 2019. CES 63 additionally marks the long-awaited return of 14-time UFC and six-time CES MMA vet John “Doomsday” Howard (28-16, 10 KOs) of Boston, who makes his first look with the promotion since 2017 in a welterweight bout in opposition to Huntington Seashore’s Ozzie Alvarez (8-6, 2 KOs).
Tickets for CES 63 can be found on-line at CESFights.com. CES 63 streams reside on FIGHT PASS starting at 8 pm ET with play-by-play announcer Michael Parente (@MichaelParente) and colour commentator Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon), a 27-time UFC vet, and FUN 107 on-air character and cageside correspondent Madelyn Grimaldi (@maddieonair).
CES 63 is the promotion’s first occasion in its dwelling base of New England since CES 61 in October of 2020. De Castro makes his fourth look with the promotion, getting into the CES MMA cage for the primary time since CES 54 when he defeated veteran Carlton Little by unanimous resolution to enhance to 4-0.
5 months later, De Castro seized the chance of a lifetime, defeating Alton Meeks by knockout in Week 1 of Dana White’s Tuesday Night time Contender Sequence to earn a four-fight contract with the UFC – a meteoric rise for an MMA late bloomer who had solely begun his professional profession two years prior.
De Castro’s run with the UFC featured its up and downs, from postponements, cancelations, and a layoffs amidst the COVID-19 pandemic to a well-deserved $50,000 “Efficiency of the Night time” bonus after flattening Justin Tafa in simply 2 minutes, 10 seconds at UFC 243 in Australia. The previous few years have introduced De Castro in every single place from Abu Dhabi to Nevada, however there’s no place like dwelling – New England, to be precise – the place the 33-year-old heavyweight is 4-0 in his professional profession, together with a 3-0 report with CES MMA.
Following a year-long run with the Skilled Fighters League (PFL) – a promotion wherein fighters compete in an everyday season, post-season, and championship format – and a dormant 2020 as a result of pandemic, Cleveland is again in enterprise in what might be an necessary showcase bout on the FIGHT PASS platform.
The 32-year-old veteran ended his COVID layoff in March and April with back-to-back wins on the regional circuit and was scheduled to face Cage Fury Combating Championships title-holder Jamelle Jones at CFFC 96in Might on FIGHT PASS, however a last-minute sickness pressured him to withdraw from the bout. Having confronted the likes of Bellator vet Houston Alexander, UFC heavyweight contender Tanner Boser, and UFC gentle heavyweight Maxim Grishin throughout his decade-long profession, Cleveland is hopeful a win over De Castro in entrance of FIGHT PASS’ wide-ranging viewers may land him a chance with one of many sport’s main promotions.
Additionally on the primary card, unbeaten New Britain, CT, bantamweight Carlos Candelario (7-0, 2 KOs) places his win streak on the road in opposition to the robust Miguel Restrepo (5-5, 3 KOs) of Brooklyn, and West Haven, CT, light-weight Eddy George (2-0, 2 KOs), one of many area’s most electrifying prospects, faces unbeaten Kobe Bowen (2-0) of Barbados. Bantamweight Ashiek Ajim (3-1, 2 KOs) makes his fifth look with the promotion in a showdown with Tampa’s Carlos Espinosa (6-4, 2 KOs); fellow bantamweight Will Smith (3-3, 1 KO) returns to face Albany’s Chris Disonell (5-4, 1 KO); and light-weight Kenny Champion (2-1, 2 KOs), additionally of West Haven, makes his CES MMA debut in opposition to Albany’s Frank Mazepa (0-1).
A number of CES MMA newcomers additionally make their long-awaited promotional debuts August 6. Light-weight Miguel Cuevas of Springfield faces Vermont’s Kody Murray within the professional debut for each fighters whereas featherweight Nick Fiore (1-0, 1 KO) of Haverhill, NH, battles New York’s Shaquan Moore (1-3). Featherweight Tom Pagliarulo (1-0) of Haverhill, MA, faces debuting Josh Hardy of Vermont and fellow featherweight Sage Philippe of Ludlow, MA, battles Connecticut’s Thad Jean.
CES 63 is the primary of two occasions scheduled that weekend at MGM Springfield. CES Boxing returns the next evening with reigning WBC USNBC Silver Tremendous Middleweight Champion Kendrick Ball Jr. (16-1-2, 11 KOs) defends his title in opposition to Meridian, MS, challenger Tyi Edmonds (14-3, 9 KOs) in the primary occasion.
Go to CESFights.com for extra data and comply with CES MMA on Fb, Instagram and Twitter at @CESMMA. Updates on CES Boxing can be discovered on Fb along with Instagram and Twitter by following @CESBoxing.
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