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Older and wiser, Collins aims to complete the ultimate comeback story in world title bout this Saturday at
CES 72 at Foxwoods Resort Casino
CES 72 at Foxwoods Resort Casino
MASHANTUCKET, Conn. – In combat sports, title shots don’t come overnight. Neither does success. For Fran "The Fury" Collins, it’s taken more than a decade – with a lot of turbulence in between – to get closer than most to reaching the pinnacle of his craft.
In 72 hours, the 37-year-old Collins returns to the cage for the third time since his comeback to face New Hampshire’s Tim Caron for the vacant CES MMA World Middleweight Title in the main event of CES 72 scheduled for this Saturday, March 18 at Foxwoods Resort Casino’s Great Cedar Showroom.
The Collins-Caron main event headlines a full day of mixed martial arts, which also includes seven pro fights and six amateur bouts beginning at 6:30 pm. Among them is eight-time UFC veteran and Hartford, CT, native William "Knightmare" Knight (11-5), who has been added to the card in a heavyweight showdown against 22-fight vet Jordan Powell – Knight’s first appearance with CES MMA since January of 2020. Tickets are available online at CESFights.com or Foxwoods.com or the Foxwoods box office.
There’s a lot to unpack with Collins reaching main event status only nine months after resuming his career following a 10-year layoff. An Irish fighter competing for a world title on St. Patrick’s Day weekend is also a great surface-level storyline, but there’s more to Collins’ legacy than heritage.
Most fighters begin to reach their physical prime around the time Collins stepped away from the sport, and while there’s a chance he could’ve fought for a title much sooner had he not endured such a long layoff, Collins says the late 20s version of "The Fury" might not have been ready for such a life-changing opportunity.
"The difference is when you’re younger you’re just going out there having fun," Collins said. "MMA is more of an art to me now. I take it much more seriously from the stretching to the breathing to the mobility. There’s so much more that goes into this than just going out there and scrapping."
The fact Collins has reached this stage is impressive in and of itself. A U.S. Air Force veteran and recovering alcoholic – he’s been sober since June 12, 2020 – Collins spent part of his time away from MMA pursuing semipro football, a sport he dominated in high school. MMA temporarily kept him out of trouble; his drinking problems began after his military career, but when he turned pro in 2011 he managed to focus long enough until alcoholism consumed him again just a couple years.
Life changed when a coworker told him he had a drinking problem. He quit the next day, beginning the inevitable road back to MMA. Within two years, he returned to the cage, beating Deran Martinez in 23 seconds at CES 69 in June.
Make no mistake, the comeback wasn’t about scratching an itch or proving a point, nor was it some one-off bucket-list item. Collins decided to rededicate his life to this sport for the sole purpose of chasing a world title, an opportunity to open doors that could help him provide for his 12-year-old daughter.
"I knew I’d get here," Collins said. "I manifested it in my mind. It’s about knowing what I can do."
"The toughest part was getting my mind right. When you become sober, you have to relearn everything. It was mainly the mental game. Anyone who’s competed will tell you it’s 85 percent mental. It took a long time, even the first couple of fights. Then you get to a point where you are in a groove and you’re like, ‘Just put me in there with anyone.’"
Collins reached that point in his last fight at CES 70 against Mus'Aib Baiyina. He struggled early, ran out of gas, and then found his second wind in the final round, finishing the fight via ground and pound with just over two minutes remaining.
"After grinding through it, I got to the end and realized, ‘I’m still here,’" Collins said. "That was the turning point for me to declare I’m ready for a title shot."
He faces a tall order Saturday against the durable, 35-year-old Caron (12-5, 5 KOs), also a military veteran and a five-time Bellator vet who last fought for CES in 2018 while making an appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series that same year. Caron also comes in hot, having beat 7-2 Salaiman Ahmadyar and 9-3 Alton Cunningham in his last two fights.
"I’m not worried. I know it’s an ‘any given Sunday’ scenario and he’s more experienced, but when you fight against [coach and former UFC world heavyweight title challenger] Gabriel Gonzaga every day in camp, it’s hard to be scared of many things," Collins said.
"I heard rumors that [Caron] says he’s going to knock me out. I find that funny considering he hasn’t finished any of his last few fights. We’ll see. All the best to him. Win, lose, or draw, we’ll shake hands when it’s all said and done."
Collins’ demeanor is that of a much more mature fighter who sees the game differently than he did a decade ago. Despite being nicknamed "The Fury" – an fitting nickname given his propensity to "go 110 percent with everything I do" – Collins has learned to pull back when necessary and push harder when it’s time to test his limits. He’s even imparted his wisdom on younger fighters when they’ve been willing to listen. But what’s most important now is focusing on Saturday night and what’s at stake. The Fran Collins who steps inside the cage this weekend is much more prepared for this opportunity than the one who took the region by storm more than a decade ago.
"If you are serious about this and it’s what you want to do, then each fight should sharpen one tool for the next fight," Collins said. "All of a sudden, you have this tool belt with everything in it. You have to remained focused. This is not a joke. You can lose your life inside that cage. This sport is not for the faint of heart."
Full fight card details are available online. Follow CES MMA on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @CESMMA.
In 72 hours, the 37-year-old Collins returns to the cage for the third time since his comeback to face New Hampshire’s Tim Caron for the vacant CES MMA World Middleweight Title in the main event of CES 72 scheduled for this Saturday, March 18 at Foxwoods Resort Casino’s Great Cedar Showroom.
The Collins-Caron main event headlines a full day of mixed martial arts, which also includes seven pro fights and six amateur bouts beginning at 6:30 pm. Among them is eight-time UFC veteran and Hartford, CT, native William "Knightmare" Knight (11-5), who has been added to the card in a heavyweight showdown against 22-fight vet Jordan Powell – Knight’s first appearance with CES MMA since January of 2020. Tickets are available online at CESFights.com or Foxwoods.com or the Foxwoods box office.
There’s a lot to unpack with Collins reaching main event status only nine months after resuming his career following a 10-year layoff. An Irish fighter competing for a world title on St. Patrick’s Day weekend is also a great surface-level storyline, but there’s more to Collins’ legacy than heritage.
Most fighters begin to reach their physical prime around the time Collins stepped away from the sport, and while there’s a chance he could’ve fought for a title much sooner had he not endured such a long layoff, Collins says the late 20s version of "The Fury" might not have been ready for such a life-changing opportunity.
"The difference is when you’re younger you’re just going out there having fun," Collins said. "MMA is more of an art to me now. I take it much more seriously from the stretching to the breathing to the mobility. There’s so much more that goes into this than just going out there and scrapping."
The fact Collins has reached this stage is impressive in and of itself. A U.S. Air Force veteran and recovering alcoholic – he’s been sober since June 12, 2020 – Collins spent part of his time away from MMA pursuing semipro football, a sport he dominated in high school. MMA temporarily kept him out of trouble; his drinking problems began after his military career, but when he turned pro in 2011 he managed to focus long enough until alcoholism consumed him again just a couple years.
Life changed when a coworker told him he had a drinking problem. He quit the next day, beginning the inevitable road back to MMA. Within two years, he returned to the cage, beating Deran Martinez in 23 seconds at CES 69 in June.
Make no mistake, the comeback wasn’t about scratching an itch or proving a point, nor was it some one-off bucket-list item. Collins decided to rededicate his life to this sport for the sole purpose of chasing a world title, an opportunity to open doors that could help him provide for his 12-year-old daughter.
"I knew I’d get here," Collins said. "I manifested it in my mind. It’s about knowing what I can do."
"The toughest part was getting my mind right. When you become sober, you have to relearn everything. It was mainly the mental game. Anyone who’s competed will tell you it’s 85 percent mental. It took a long time, even the first couple of fights. Then you get to a point where you are in a groove and you’re like, ‘Just put me in there with anyone.’"
Collins reached that point in his last fight at CES 70 against Mus'Aib Baiyina. He struggled early, ran out of gas, and then found his second wind in the final round, finishing the fight via ground and pound with just over two minutes remaining.
"After grinding through it, I got to the end and realized, ‘I’m still here,’" Collins said. "That was the turning point for me to declare I’m ready for a title shot."
He faces a tall order Saturday against the durable, 35-year-old Caron (12-5, 5 KOs), also a military veteran and a five-time Bellator vet who last fought for CES in 2018 while making an appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series that same year. Caron also comes in hot, having beat 7-2 Salaiman Ahmadyar and 9-3 Alton Cunningham in his last two fights.
"I’m not worried. I know it’s an ‘any given Sunday’ scenario and he’s more experienced, but when you fight against [coach and former UFC world heavyweight title challenger] Gabriel Gonzaga every day in camp, it’s hard to be scared of many things," Collins said.
"I heard rumors that [Caron] says he’s going to knock me out. I find that funny considering he hasn’t finished any of his last few fights. We’ll see. All the best to him. Win, lose, or draw, we’ll shake hands when it’s all said and done."
Collins’ demeanor is that of a much more mature fighter who sees the game differently than he did a decade ago. Despite being nicknamed "The Fury" – an fitting nickname given his propensity to "go 110 percent with everything I do" – Collins has learned to pull back when necessary and push harder when it’s time to test his limits. He’s even imparted his wisdom on younger fighters when they’ve been willing to listen. But what’s most important now is focusing on Saturday night and what’s at stake. The Fran Collins who steps inside the cage this weekend is much more prepared for this opportunity than the one who took the region by storm more than a decade ago.
"If you are serious about this and it’s what you want to do, then each fight should sharpen one tool for the next fight," Collins said. "All of a sudden, you have this tool belt with everything in it. You have to remained focused. This is not a joke. You can lose your life inside that cage. This sport is not for the faint of heart."
Full fight card details are available online. Follow CES MMA on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @CESMMA.
INFORMATION
CES MMA is a mixed martial arts promotional company based out of Providence, R.I., founded by legendary boxing promoter Jimmy Burchfield Sr. It promoted the first sanctioned professional MMA event in the state of Rhode Island on Sept. 17, 2010 at Twin River Casino Hotel. Since its inception, CES MMA has been a gateway to the UFC developing the careers of UFC contenders Calvin Kattar, Rob Font, Charles Rosa, William Knight, Mike Rodriguez, Tony Gravely, Andre Soukhamthath and others. In October 2012, CES MMA promoted its first pay-per-view event at The Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, featuring the professional MMA debut of former WWE superstar Dave Bautista.
Since 1992, Foxwoods Resort Casino has offered guests The Wonder Of It All as the premier resort destination in the Northeast. As the largest resort casino in North America, Foxwoods offers a vast array of gaming in seven casinos; AAA Four-Diamond hotels, restaurants from gourmet to quick service, world-renowned spas, award-winning golf, state-of-the-art theaters, exclusive retailers and free-to-play online casino games. Foxwoods Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, a federally recognized Indian tribe located at one of the oldest reservations in existence, Mashantucket, in Southeastern Connecticut. As pioneers of the Indian casino gaming industry, the history of the Mashantucket Pequots reveals one of America's greatest come-back stories. Today, the tribe owns and operates one of the largest gaming resort destinations in North America, Foxwoods Resort Casino, along with a variety of complementary business enterprises, including Eastern Connecticut's premiere luxury golf experience, Lake of Isles, and the decadent Spa at Norwich Inn. As one of the highest revenue contributors and largest employers in Connecticut, the Mashantucket Pequots have hosted more than 330 million visitors since 1992 and contributed over $4 billion in slot revenue payments to the State through a first-of-its-kind agreement, established in 1993. Likewise, the tribe has contributed hundreds of millions in donations and sponsorships to support worthy charities, community events and programs, and other tribes in need, locally and throughout the United States.
Since 1992, Foxwoods Resort Casino has offered guests The Wonder Of It All as the premier resort destination in the Northeast. As the largest resort casino in North America, Foxwoods offers a vast array of gaming in seven casinos; AAA Four-Diamond hotels, restaurants from gourmet to quick service, world-renowned spas, award-winning golf, state-of-the-art theaters, exclusive retailers and free-to-play online casino games. Foxwoods Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, a federally recognized Indian tribe located at one of the oldest reservations in existence, Mashantucket, in Southeastern Connecticut. As pioneers of the Indian casino gaming industry, the history of the Mashantucket Pequots reveals one of America's greatest come-back stories. Today, the tribe owns and operates one of the largest gaming resort destinations in North America, Foxwoods Resort Casino, along with a variety of complementary business enterprises, including Eastern Connecticut's premiere luxury golf experience, Lake of Isles, and the decadent Spa at Norwich Inn. As one of the highest revenue contributors and largest employers in Connecticut, the Mashantucket Pequots have hosted more than 330 million visitors since 1992 and contributed over $4 billion in slot revenue payments to the State through a first-of-its-kind agreement, established in 1993. Likewise, the tribe has contributed hundreds of millions in donations and sponsorships to support worthy charities, community events and programs, and other tribes in need, locally and throughout the United States.
–CES–
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Meeting can be viewed on the Board of Alders YouTube channel.
The Public Safety Committee of the New Haven Board of Alders will meet in person at 6 PM on
Tuesday, March 21, 2023 in the Board of Alders Chamber located at 165 Church Street New
Haven, 2nd Floor, to hear and act upon the following:
LM-2023-0047 ORDER CALLING FOR A WORKSHOP WITH NEW HAVEN POLICE CHIEF
AND THE DISTRICT MANAGERS, MEMBERS OF THEIR TEAM AND ALL
RELEVANT OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS STRATEGIES, PROGRAMS, AND ANY
NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY AIMED AT REDUCING CRIME.
This item is on file and available for public inspection in the Office of Legislative Services. 165
Church Street, New Haven. Per order: Hon. Brian Wingate, Chair: Attest: Hon. Michael Smart,
City Clerk.
If you need a accessibility related accommodation, please contact (203) 946 - 7651 (voice) or
(203) 946-8582 (TTY). In accordance with the City of New Haven Covid-19 requirements all
attendees must wear masks.
Public may send comments to publictestimony@newhavenct.gov.
Board of Alders Chamber
6:00 PM
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Meeting can be viewed on the Board of Alders YouTube channel.
The Public Safety Committee of the New Haven Board of Alders will meet in person at 6 PM on
Tuesday, March 21, 2023 in the Board of Alders Chamber located at 165 Church Street New
Haven, 2nd Floor, to hear and act upon the following:
LM‐2023‐0047
ORDER CALLING FOR A WORKSHOP WITH NEW HAVEN POLICE
CHIEF AND THE DISTRICT MANAGERS, MEMBERS OF THEIR TEAM
AND ALL RELEVANT OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS STRATEGIES,
PROGRAMS, AND ANY NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY
AIMED AT REDUCING CRIME.
This item is on file and available for public inspection in the Office of Legislative Services. 165
Church Street, New Haven. Per order: Hon. Brian Wingate, Chair: Attest: Hon. Michael Smart,
City Clerk.
If you need a accessibility related accommodation, please contact (203) 946 ‐ 7651 (voice) or
(203) 946‐8582 (TTY). In accordance with the City of New Haven Covid‐19 requirements all
attendees must wear masks.
Public may send comments to publictestimony@newhavenct.gov.
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Treasurer Erick Russell Announces $375 Million in Investment Commitments
at March Investment Advisory Council Meeting
HARTFORD, CT – In Wednesday’s meeting of the state’s Investment Advisory Council (IAC), Connecticut State Treasurer Erick Russell announced two pension fund investment commitments totaling $375 million.
“I appreciate the role the IAC played in reviewing and evaluating these additions to our investment portfolio,” said Treasurer Russell. “I believe these funds align well with our priorities and demonstrate solid long-term growth potential.”
In the state’s Private Investment portfolio, Treasurer Russell announced that his office had committed $175 million to Vistria Fund V, LP. In the Infrastructure and Natural Resources portfolio, he announced a commitment of $200 million to Global Infrastructure Partners V, LP.
Also in Wednesday’s meeting, Chief Investment Officer Ted Wright reported on Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds (CRPTF) performance attribution, and general investment consultant Meketa provided a CRPTF liquidity analysis.
Wright, along with Principal Investment Officers Denise Stake and Peter Gajowiak, presented an overview of the recommendation for General and Real Assets Investment consulting services. This is the result of an RFP issued by the Office of the Treasurer in September 2022.
Regarding prospective investments, Principal Investment Officer Mark Evans presented the following Private Equity opportunities: JFL Equity Investors VI, LP; K6 Private Investors, LP; One Rock Capital Partners IV, LP; and One Rock Emerald Fund, LP.
“There’s no doubt that the market remains volatile,” said Treasurer Russell. “It’s important that the CRPTF remain focused on smart, strategic diversification, and we’ll continue to evaluate a broad scope of investment opportunities to continue to meet that goal.”
***
About the Office of the Treasurer
The Office of the Treasurer is charged with safeguarding Connecticut’s financial resources through prudent cash and debt management, with the State Treasurer serving as principal fiduciary for six state pension and nine state trust funds. Additionally, the Office enhances the state’s fiscal stability through programs promoting financial literacy and college savings, and it leverages business partnerships to support the advancement of Connecticut’s social and policy priorities, including combating gun violence and protecting our environment. The Office of the Treasurer is led by State Treasurer Erick Russell, the only Black elected state treasurer in the country. To learn more, visit portal.ct.gov/ott.
Join us for a multi-media presentation on Connecticut's African American heroines, presented by Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame. We will be joined by 2017 Hall of Fame inductee Regina Rush-Kittle, the first African American woman to become a CT State Police Sergeant, Lieutenant, Major and the commander of a barracks; she is currently the Chief Administrative Officer for New Haven.
First movie trailer for Creed 3 starring Michael B. Jordan, Jonathan Majors.
Join the Q House in celebrating the legacy of Constance Baker Motley in the opening of the Constance Baker Motley exhibit on Saturday, March 4 from 1-4pm
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The National Weather Service has issued both a Weather Advisory and a Wind Chill Advisory for our area.
Temperatures are continuing to drop steadily into the single digits – and, tonight, with the wind chill factor, the
temperatures will feel as low as 15 degrees below zero.
As such, the City of New Haven has activated its Severe Cold Weather Protocol. Our walk-in Warming Centers
are open with expanded capacity and will remain open 24 hours a day through Sunday at 12 noon to individuals
who might need a warm and safe place to stay. Their locations are as follows and can also be found on the city’s
website.
Warming Center Addresses:
Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen (DESK) 266 State Street, New Haven, CT
The 180 Center 438 East Street, New Haven, CT
Upon This Rock Ministries 882 Grand Avenue, New Haven, CT
Varick Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church 242 Dixwell Avenue, New Haven, CT
In addition, our public libraries are also serving as warming centers during their normal business hours. For
other immediate shelter-related needs, please call 2-1-1. As always, for medical and other life-threatening
emergencies, please call 9-1-1.
As much as possible, we encourage residents to not stay outside for extended periods of time. Stay warm, stay
safe, and check on your neighborhoods, friends, and loves ones who might need a helping hand. Thanks, New
SS
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COVID-19 at-home rapid test kits for New Haven residents and businesses. Por favor, espere para poder escuchar este mensaje en español.
Tomorrow, Saturday, December 31st, between 9 am and 11 am, New Haven residents and businesses can pick up free COVID-19 at-home rapid test kits at the New Haven Regional Fire Training Academy at 230 Ella T. Grasso Blvd in New Haven. Residents must present proof of residency to receive test kits.
Each vehicle will receive 5 boxes containing 2 tests each. Please note, the test kits have an expiration date of Jan. 23, 2023. As we begin to return to work and school in the new year, it is important that we remain vigilant about stopping the spread of COVID -19 by testing when experiencing symptoms. So, please take advantage of these free COVID-19 tests and make sure you are fully vaccinated. For vaccine information visit nhvvax.org or call +1 (203) 946-6999.
Individuals with disabilities who are homebound or who are unable to pick up a test kit due to a disability, should contact the Office of Services for Persons with Disabilities at 203-946-7651.
Stay healthy and stay safe, New Haven.
City of New Haven cold weather protocol
The National Weather Service is forecasting significant rain, high winds and freezing temperatures for our region. Wind gusts of up to 50 mph are expected, and coastal flooding is likely is some of the city’s low-lying areas, which may cause road closures. Then, beginning Friday afternoon and through the weekend, overnight temperatures are expected to drop into the teens and, with the wind chill factor, into the single digits.
The City has activated its severe cold weather protocols and I wanted to pass along a few quick safety tips for residents:
- Make sure to fully charge your cell phones and critical electronic and medical devices in preparation for a potential power outage;
- Drive with caution and, if possible, adjust your travel times, if you are traveling for the holidays. The rain followed by freezing temperatures may result in icy roads.
- Do not drive through flooded roadways – instead, turn around and choose a different route.
- Check in on your family, friends and neighbors.
- Call 9-1-1 for any storm-related emergencies.
Our walk-in winter Warming Centers will be open 24 hours a day beginning Friday 6pm. The list of warming centers can be found on the city's website: newhavenct.gov or by calling 211.
Most importantly, for kids in New Haven expecting a visit by Santa, know that -- no matter what -- that no winter storm can stop Santa Claus. Santa is still on his way and Santa is still coming to town. Happy Holidays!
Governor Lamont Activates Severe Cold Weather Protocol From Friday to Monday
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that based on a weather forecast indicating that Connecticut may experience below-zero wind chills over the weekend, he will be activating the state’s severe cold weather protocol beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, December 23, 2022, and remaining in effect through 12:00 p.m. on Monday, December 26, 2022. This is the first time the protocol is being enacted during the 2022-2023 winter season.
The purpose of the protocol is to ensure that the most vulnerable populations receive protection from the severe cold conditions, which could be life threatening if exposed to the elements for extended periods of time. While enacted, a system is set up for state agencies and municipalities to coordinate with United Way 2-1-1 and Connecticut’s network of shelters to make sure that anyone in need can receive shelter from the outdoors, including transportation to shelters.
Anyone in need is urged to call 2-1-1 to get connected to these services. Safety measures have been enacted at shelters and warming centers throughout Connecticut to adhere to the needs of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have an interesting set of weather conditions coming to our area over the next several days, first with a storm on Friday during the daytime that has the potential for heavy rain and very strong wind gusts, and then that will be followed by plummeting temperatures that night and remaining throughout the Christmas weekend, particularly during the evening hours,” Governor Lamont said. “This is the first time this season that we will have a stretch of frigid temperatures this low, and we want to remind everyone that shelters are available throughout Connecticut. Anyone in need can call 2-1-1 to get connected to a nearby location, and they can even provide transportation if necessary.”
The following actions are implemented while the protocol is enacted:
- The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security activates its WebEOC communications network, which is an internet-based system that enables local, regional, and state emergency management officials and first responders to share up-to-date information about a variety of situations and conditions. The system is used to monitor capacity at shelters across the state, enabling 2-1-1 to act as a clearinghouse to assist in finding shelter space for those who need it. Local officials, working through WebEOC, can alert 2-1-1 and the state when they open temporary shelters or warming centers.
- The Connecticut Department of Social Services, Connecticut Department of Housing, and Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services coordinate with 2-1-1 and the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, along with community-based providers, to provide transportation for people seeking shelter.
For emergency management news and resources, visit the state’s CTPrepares website at ct.gov/ctprepares or download the CTPrepares app to mobile devices at the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
- Twitter: @GovNedLamont
- Facebook: Office of Governor Ned Lamont
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT!! JANUARY 21st, Providence's MICHAEL "BLING BLING" VALENTIN (7-1-1) vs. Brockton's KEVIN WALSH (6-0) at CES Boxing "WINTER BRAWL" at Mohegan Sun Arena. TICKETS AVAILABLE THIS WEEKEND!!!
Childhood Psychiatric Disorders- Tom Ficklin Show, Friday Dec 16th at 11 am, please consider sharing as well. and Happy Happy HOlidays
Kle
