Click link to see 2018 Ecfffs
All Posts (6)
Sort by
ALL PHOTOS BY BKS PHOTOGRAPHS
MATT BESSETTE
Hartford, Conn.
22-9, 7 KOs
VINICIUS DE JESUS
Stamford, Conn.
7-2, 3 KOs
WILLIAM KNIGHT
East Windsor, Conn.
4-0, 4 KOs
WHAT:
Official press conference to announceCES MMA 55 at the Connecticut Convention Center, the first sanctioned professional mixed martial arts event in the state of Connecticut.
WHERE:
Connecticut Convention Center
Meeting Room 17 (6thfloor)
100 Columbus Blvd.
Hartford, CT 06103
860-249-6000
WHEN:
Wednesday, March 13th, 1 p.m.
WHY:
CES MMA, the East Coast's No. 1 mixed martial arts promotion, makes history Friday, March 29th, 2019 as it teams with the Connecticut Convention Center to host the state's first sanctioned professional MMA event. Wednesday's press conference is open to all media.
CES MMA 55 features the highly-anticipated return of Hartford native and UFC flyweight contender Matt Bessette (22-9), heavyweight Parker Porter (8-5, 4 KOs) of nearby New Britain, and Philadelphia's own Jeremiah Wells (6-1-1, 2 KOs) in the first defense of his CES MMA World Welterweight Title.
The main card streams live on UFC Fight Pass with Michael Parente handling play-by-play alongside color commentator and longtime UFC vet "Filthy" Tom Lawlor. Showtime is 7 p.m. ET for the preliminary card. Tickets for the event are priced at $35.00, $50.00, $125.00 and $150.00 (VIP) and are available for purchase online at www.cesmma.com or www.ctconventions.com or by phone at 401-724-2253. All fights and fighters subject to change. UFC Fight Pass subscriptions are available at fightpass.ufc.tv.
Wells faces BrazilianVinicius De Jesus (7-2, 3 KOs) of Stamford, Conn., in the five-round main event. Wells aims to bring his welterweight world title back to Philadelphia, the site of his championship victory at CES MMA 52 in August. That night, Wells won his third consecutive fight with CES MMA, defeating the durable Jason Norwood by five-round unanimous decision to capture the vacant title. Wells also boasts wins over regional standouts Gary Balletto Jr. and Jon Manley and carries a three-fight win streak into his first title defense. The dangerous De Jesus, a four-time Bellator vet, has won his last two fights, including a unanimous decision victory over Tim Caron in October and a dominant first-round knockout against Rodolfo Barcellos at Bellator 216.
The 34-year-old Bessette, a seven-time CES MMA vet, returns to the promotion for the first time since May of 2017 and fights in his home state for the first time since 2016 when he starred on the main card of Bellator 153at Mohegan Sun Arena. Bessette is 6-1 lifetime with CES MMA and has won seven of his last nine fights, including a career-best seven-fight win streak from October of 2015 to May of 2017. During that stretch, Bessette captured the then vacant CES MMA World Featherweight Title with a win over Joe Pingitore at CES MMA 37 and later headlined CES MMA 41with an impressive, third-round knockout win over Kevin Croom.
Porter makes his third appearance with CES MMA. The 33-year-old veteran has the noteworthy distinction of appearing on the promotion's inaugural event in 2010, where he submitted regional rival Lee Beane in the opening round of their scheduled three-round heavyweight bout, and now appears on its first event in Connecticut later this month. Eight years removed from his victory at CES MMA 1, Porter returned to the promotion to face Keith Bell at CES MMA 53. In between, Porter bounced from Bellator to Reality Fighting and enters his homecoming bout on the 29thhaving won two of his last three overall.
CES MMA 55also features the return of Providence, R.I., middleweight Eric Spicely (11-4, 2 KOs) and unbeaten Connecticut light heavyweight William Knight (4-0, 4 KOs) in separate bouts. A six-time UFC and nine-time CES MMA vet, Spicely aims for his second consecutive win following a successful return to the promotion in January in which he earned just his second career win by knockout, stopping Leo Pla at 3:53 of the opening round. Knight also fought in January at CES MMA 54, recording his fourth career win by knockout against veteran Kevin Haley.
Visit www.cesmma.com, www.twitter.com/cesmma or www.facebook.com/cesmma for more information, or follow CES MMA on Instagram at @CESMMA.
|
CONNECTICUT MAYORS JOIN FORCES TO RECOVER DAMAGES FROM OPIOID CRISIS
New Task Force Formed to Advocate for Legislation
New London, CT – March 6, 2019 – New London Mayor Michael Passero, former state senator and current Mayor of New Haven, Toni Harp, Wallingford Mayor William Dickinson Jr. and New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart have announced that they will collectively co-chair a new bipartisan coalition, the Connecticut Opioid Strategy Task Force (COST). The mission of the coalition is to advocate for the Opioid Accountability Act, legislation that will clarify Connecticut municipalities’ abilities to seek damages from the corporations that have caused and are fueling the current opioid epidemic. Other municipal stakeholders including The Connecticut Council of Municipalities (CCM), Connecticut Uniformed Professional Firefighters Association, Connecticut Association of Directors of Health (CADH), prevention and treatment providers and child welfare advocates are joining the coalition to amplify the message to their legislators.
All pending municipal suits were dismissed or stayed in January, making Connecticut the only state in the nation where municipalities have been denied the ability to seek damages from the corporations that they believe are responsible for the crisis in their communities. In response to this ruling, legislation has been proposed that would clarify that the injuries borne by municipalities fighting the opioid crisis are cognizable and, if proven, recoverable in court. This legislation would not upend Connecticut law or overturn precedent, nor would it have any impact on the State of Connecticut’s case. That suit could take years to resolve and, in the meantime, this legislation would simply provide Connecticut municipalities the ability to seek injunctive relief and damages.
“Every state and federal court in the nation currently adjudicating opioid cases is allowing municipalities’ claims to go forward – except in Connecticut,” said New Haven Mayor Toni Harp. “It is fundamentally unfair that this is the only state where taxpayers are forced to bear the costs of the opioid epidemic with no ability to seek recourse. Even if Connecticut eventually reaches a settlement in its suit, there is no guarantee the monies will find their way back to where the block-to-block battle to contain this epidemic is being waged. The only way to guarantee restitution on a local level is for municipalities to sue on their own behalf.”
“Connecticut communities are being crushed by the direct cost of the crisis through the increased investment in services and resources required to deal with the epidemic,” continued Mayor Passero. “This means critical financial and personnel resources are being diverted from programs designed to meet the needs of the rest of our citizens and the entire community suffers.”
“With 50,000 people dying every year and 1,000 overdoses a day, there is no denying that this is national public health emergency,” said Mayor Stewart. “Connecticut municipalities are simply asking, as are the hundreds of other municipalities across the country that have filed suit, that the drug companies and pharmaceutical executives who made billions in profits, while leaving devastated communities in their wake, be held accountable. “
“It is important to note that this is a bipartisan issue that cuts across political, geographic and social lines to impact every community in our state,” added Mayor Dickinson. “We encourage municipalities, fire and rescue organizations and concerned individuals to contact their representatives and encourage them to support the Opioid Accountability Act.”
To join COST or learn how to reach your state representatives, please visithttp://www.opioidscostct.com/
About the Connecticut Opioid Strategy Task Force
The Connecticut Opioid Strategy Task Force (COST) is a bipartisan coalition of municipal stakeholders advocating for legislation that will allow Connecticut municipalities to seek damages from corporations involved in the manufacture and distribution of the pharmaceuticals that are fueling the current opioid crisis in their communities. To learn more or to join the coalition please visit http://www.opioidscostct.com/
###
The R&B Princess of Los Angeles, Nikia teams up with Wo Billz on her latest single, "Truth Syrum"
California native, Nikia is an RnB/Pop singer born in NY to a family with a large musical background. At the age of 13, Nikia begins her professional career and signs her first deal at the age of 15 with a Los Angeles independent record label, Swooper Records. “Truth Syrum” featuring Wo-Billz speaks about the women out there who have been in cheating relationships. Nikia sings about all the signs that prove that they are creeping and cheating behind their woman’s back.
At the age of 16, Nikia released her first single "Wanna Get with You" and made some waves in the industry. She went on to write and release a Spanish crossover album which made a big hit overseas. A couple of years later, Nikia decided to broaden her horizons and take her talents across the states. During that time, she releases three albums, two EPs and five singles.
Nikia's brand is receiving her accolades for many accomplishments. She has appeared in many publications and web portals including The Heat, High Alliance and CIE Fashion Magazines, This is Platinum Hip-Hop, 24/7 Hip-Hop News and She Bloggin' websites.
Although it seems so long since her 2016 EP release of "She is Me," Nikia's long-awaited album "No Fairytale" is set to release later this year along with her reality series from "Sister to Sister."
Stay in tune with her by connecting with her on her social media networks and digital music outlets.
CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Mayor Harp to Join Students, United Way, Yale New Haven Health to Kickoff Region’s Largest Read Across America Event
NEW HAVEN—Join us this Friday morning (March 1, 2019) for a brief photo opportunity and celebration with local elementary students, Mayor Toni Harp, and officials from United Way and Yale New Haven Health. In honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, over the next week, United Way is matching volunteer readers with classrooms at eight schools across the towns of Branford, Hamden, New Haven, Orange, and West Haven. Our goals are to foster a love for reading in these children at a young age, and to make reading fun!
WHAT: Kickoff press conference in New Haven
WHEN: Friday, March 1, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.
WHERE: Strong School, 130 Orchard St., New Haven, CT
WHO: United Way of Greater New Haven, Strong School Students, Mayor Toni Harp, and Yale New Haven Health
OUR 2019 READ ACROSS AMERICA SPONSORS AND PARTNERS: Yale New Haven Health, Comcast, Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, Ion Bank Foundation, Marcum, Quinnipiac University, Start Community Bank, The Children's Museum, Tyco Print and Promo, City of New Haven, Town of Hamden, Town of Branford, City of West Haven, and Town of Orange.
About United Way of Greater New Haven:
At United Way, we bring people and organizations together to create solutions to Greater New Haven’s most pressing challenges in the areas of Education, Health, and Financial Stability. We tackle issues that cannot be solved by any one group working alone. Learn more at uwgnh.org.
