CES MMA will crown a new CES Bantamweight Champ in the main event of CES 50
Nobody has fought more times in the CES Cage than the East Providence, R.I., product Andre “Afro Monkey” Ewell (18 total MMA bouts and one CES Boxing match), and he’s persevered through an up-and-down career, starting out his pro journey with 1-3 and 3-5 records early on. It’s also significant because he’s headlining our 50th event, and fighting for a title that his teammate (Andre Soukhamthath) vacated before signing with the UFC.
Dinis “Sweetbread” Paiva will clash with Andre “Afro Monkey” Ewell for the vacant CES MMA Bantamweight Championship in the main event of CES 50 on June 15 at Twin River Casino, LIVE on AXS TV Fights.
Widely regarded as one of the most popular fighters in CES MMA history, Paiva has more bouts under the CES banner than anyone else. The hard-hitting East Providence, R.I., product has won eight of his nine most recent fights, including four straight since 2016.
“It’s hard to put into words what this title would mean to me,” Paiva says after signing his 20th bout agreement for CES. “This is an opportunity that you dream about and look forward to for your whole career. Now that the title is finally on the line, I can’t wait to rise to the occasion to bring the belt home, and to keep the crown in New England.”
But California’s Andre Ewell has something else in mind.
The 12-4 bantamweight contender is riding high with three straight first-round finishes, and has had his hand raised in seven of his past eight outings. Last year, the Apex MMA product choked out UFC vet Willie Gates — and he’s hoping for another big finish against another top opponent in “Sweetbread” on June 15 in Rhode Island.
“All I know is this guy is going to have to adjust to me. He definitely hasn’t fought anyone like me,” Ewell says. “Ask the last few opponents I’ve had. They prepared for me and thought they had me down, then I’m a different person when that cage door locks … He’s about to jump in a swimming pool with a great white shark.”
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Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Executive Writer, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a passion for Combat Sports and also a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s also a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.
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