AXS TV FIGHTS, cable’s premier destination for in-depth reporting and coverage of the world’s fastest growing sport, MMA, has signed an exclusive broadcast rights agreement with CES MMA, the East Coast’s principal MMA organization. The multi-year deal follows the success of AXS TV FIGHTS: CES MMA XXV held Aug. 8. The new partnership officially begins with AXS TV FIGHTS: CES MMA on Jan. 30, 2015, it was announced today by Andrew Simon, CEO of AXS TV FIGHTS.
CES MMA joins AXS TV FIGHTS’ prestigious Friday night line-up of regional and international combat sports promotions, which features Las Vegas-based Muay Thai organization LION FIGHT, Texas-based Legacy Fighting Championship, Canadian MMA promotion Maximum Fighting Championship and Las Vegas’ Resurrection Fighting Alliance. CES MMA broadcasts will be called by AXS TV FIGHTS commentators UFC Hall of Famer Pat Miletich and award-winning sports journalist and renowned commentator “The Voice” Michael Schiavello.
Founded in 2010 as an expansion of the famed professional boxing promotion Classic Entertainment & Sports, CES MMA boasts an ever-growing roster of top MMA prospects to complement their stable of well-known fighters. Among the recognizable names topping the CES MMA fight cards are recently crowned lightweight champion and “The Ultimate Fighter 16” alum Julian Lane (8-3) and UFC veteran Ricardo Funch (8-4).
CES MMA has guided the careers of many fighters in their journey to achieve the next level, including Japanese fighter Tateki Matsuda (10-6), who, after appearing on AXS TV FIGHTS: CES MMA XXV, made his UFC debut at UFC Fight Night 50 against undefeated Chris Beal (10-0). Other success stories feature John “Doomsday” Howard (22-9), who went on a five fight KO streak under the direction of CES MMA before re-signing with the UFC in August 2013; Rob Font (11-1), the CES MMA featherweight champ, who went 6-0 in the CES cage before winning in his UFC debut at UFC 175 in July; and Brennan “the Irish Bad Boy” Ward (9-3), who went 3-0 in the CES cage before inking a Bellator contract and finding success in the Bellator middleweight tournament.
“We are excited to add an East Coast-based promotion to the AXS TV FIGHTS family,” said AXS TV Fights CEO Andrew Simon. “The new addition of CES MMA helps us continue to change the landscape of mixed martial arts and offer more live events from more promotions than any other U.S. television network.”
“CES MMA is excited to be entering into a long term partnership with AX TV FIGHTS,” said CES MMA Vice President Jimmy Burchfield Jr. “The team at AXS TV FIGHTS and Inside MMA are some of the most talented people in the industry. Joining forces provides us innovative marketing and programming platforms to showcase our highly competitive, exciting fights to a national audience. We are proud of the reputation that CES MMA fighters are UFC ready and viewers will soon get to see why.”