The co-main event of CES MMA 33 on March 11 in Rhode Island will be a middleweight bout between former training partners as former CES MMA welterweight champion Chuck O’Neil meets Dennis Olson.
The fight booking was announced by CES MMA on Thursday.
CES MMA 33 will come from the Twin River Casino in Lincoln, Rhode Island and will be headlined by a title fight as Andre Soukhamthath and Kody Nordby will battle for the inaugural CES MMA bantamweight title.
O’Neil (15-8) moved up to the middleweight division last year after losing the CES MMA welterweight title and lost to Daniel Vizcaya by submission at CES MMA 31. Prior to his recent defeats, he had won four in a row and three of those wins came by stoppage.
“When I was offered the fight, I messaged (Olson) and said at the end of the day, this is a sport, a fight is a fight. I’m still going to respect him before, during and after,” said O’Neil. “At the end of the day, I’m going to come out on top and get my hand raised. I feel great right now. I’ve been training hard and this will be a good fight.”
Olson (14-10) has dropped back to back fights in Bellator and he is 2-3 in his last five fights.
This will be his first fight in CES since 2013 and he has gone 1-1 in his previous fights in the promotion.
“We trained together for a while, but time goes on and relationships change,” Olson said. “I don’t not like Chuck, but for the time being, our only relationship is as opponents. No love will be gained or lost in there. I’m going in looking to finish fast.”
The current CES MMA 33 fight card is below.
Andre Soukhamthath (9-3) vs. Kody Nordby (6-3)
Chuck O’Neil (15-8) vs. Dennis Olson (14-10)