Matt Bessette

“The Mangler”

MMA · Active

25-10 (1 NC)RECORD

8KO / TKO WINS

9SUBMISSION WINS

8DECISION WINS

Profile

Full name	Matthew James Bessette
Nickname	The Mangler
Date of birth	28 Dec 1984
Nationality	American
Birthplace	Hartford, USA
Lives in	Hartford, Connecticut, USA
Division	Lightweight
Team	Underdog Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Height	178 cm (5′10″)
Reach	178 cm (70″)
Stance	Orthodox
Years active	since 2007
Status	Active
Pro debut	15 Sep 2007
Last fight	Win vs Ryan Dela Cruz, 17 Sep 2021

Details on this page were compiled from public information on 13 Oct 2026 (the record is as of that date). Is this you? Claim this profile to correct anything and add your photo and bio. Claim this profile

Titles and honours

Former CES Featherweight Champion
Former CES Lightweight Champion
Former Reality Fighting Lightweight Champion
Former GFL Lightweight Champion

Background

American featherweight and lightweight from Hartford, Connecticut, and a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. He held CES titles in two divisions and fought twice in the UFC in 2018.

Fight history

36 professional fights. Newest first.

Result	Opponent	Method	Round	Time	Event	Date	Location	Notes
Win	Ryan Dela Cruz	Submission (reverse triangle choke)	3	4:48	CES MMA 64	17 Sep 2021	Hartford, Connecticut, USA	Won the vacant CES Lightweight Championship
Loss	Jeremy Kennedy	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	Bellator 253	19 Nov 2020	Uncasville, Connecticut, USA
Win	Charles Cheeks III	KO (punch)	3	4:01	CES MMA 60	24 Jan 2020	Lincoln, Rhode Island, USA	Won the vacant CES Featherweight Championship
Win	Tim Dooling	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	CES MMA 55	29 Mar 2019	Hartford, Connecticut, USA
Loss	Steven Peterson	Decision (split)	3	5:00	The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated Finale	6 Jul 2018	Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Loss	Enrique Barzola	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 220: Miocic vs. Ngannou	20 Jan 2018	Boston, Massachusetts, USA
No contest	Kurt Holobaugh	No contest (overturned)	1	2:59	Dana White's Contender Series 1	11 Jul 2017	Las Vegas, Nevada, USA	Originally a KO loss; overturned after Holobaugh's illegal IV use
Win	Rey Trujillo	TKO (doctor stoppage)	2	5:00	CES MMA 44	12 May 2017	Lincoln, Rhode Island, USA	Defended the CES Featherweight Championship
Win	Kevin Croom	TKO (punches)	3	0:32	CES MMA 41	27 Jan 2017	Lincoln, Rhode Island, USA	Defended the CES Featherweight Championship
Win	Joe Pingitore	Submission (heel hook)	2	4:38	CES MMA 37	12 Aug 2016	Lincoln, Rhode Island, USA	Won the vacant CES Featherweight Championship
Win	Ran Weathers	Submission (guillotine choke)	1	4:50	CES MMA 36	10 Jun 2016	Lincoln, Rhode Island, USA	Lightweight bout
Win	Keith Richardson	TKO (doctor stoppage)	2	3:14	Bellator 153	22 Apr 2016	Uncasville, Connecticut, USA
Win	Taurean Bogguess	Submission (triangle choke)	1	2:41	CES MMA 33	11 Mar 2016	Lincoln, Rhode Island, USA	Catchweight (150 lb)
Win	Kevin Roddy	Submission (heel hook)	1	3:47	Bellator 144	23 Oct 2015	Uncasville, Connecticut, USA
Loss	Lenny Wheeler	KO (punches)	1	0:39	CES MMA 30	14 Aug 2015	Lincoln, Rhode Island, USA	Catchweight (150 lb)
Win	Khama Worthy	KO (punch)	2	2:42	CES MMA 29	12 Jun 2015	Lincoln, Rhode Island, USA
Win	Josh LaBerge	TKO (doctor stoppage)	2	5:00	Bellator 134	27 Feb 2015	Uncasville, Connecticut, USA
Loss	Scott Cleve	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	Bellator 123	5 Sep 2014	Uncasville, Connecticut, USA
Loss	Daniel Weichel	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	Bellator 114	28 Mar 2014	West Valley City, Utah, USA	Bellator Season 10 Featherweight Tournament semi-final
Win	Diego Nunes	Decision (split)	3	5:00	Bellator 110	28 Feb 2014	Uncasville, Connecticut, USA	Bellator Season 10 Featherweight Tournament quarter-final
Win	Nick Piedmont	KO (punches)	1	1:41	Bellator 98	7 Sep 2013	Uncasville, Connecticut, USA	Featherweight debut
Win	Jeff Anderson	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	Reality Fighting: New Year's Bash	5 Jan 2013	Uncasville, Connecticut, USA	Catchweight (150 lb)
Win	Paul Barrow	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	Bellator 81	16 Nov 2012	Kingston, Rhode Island, USA
Win	Aniss Alhajjajy	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	Reality Fighting: Naples vs. Lee	22 Sep 2012	Uncasville, Connecticut, USA
Loss	Andres Jeudi	DQ (illegal upkick)	3	4:43	Reality Fighting: Mohegan Sun	2 Jun 2012	Uncasville, Connecticut, USA
Win	Saul Almeida	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	Bellator 63	30 Mar 2012	Uncasville, Connecticut, USA
Loss	Joe Proctor	Decision (unanimous)	5	5:00	Reality Fighting: Gonzaga vs. Porter	8 Oct 2011	Uncasville, Connecticut, USA	Lost the Reality Fighting Lightweight Championship
Win	John Benoit	Submission (guillotine choke)	2	4:59	GFL 10	15 Apr 2011	Lowell, Massachusetts, USA	Won the GFL Lightweight Championship
Win	Anthony Kaponis	Decision (split)	5	5:00	Reality Fighting: Eruption	9 Oct 2010	Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA	Won the vacant Reality Fighting Lightweight Championship
Win	Andrew Amaral	Submission (guillotine choke)	2	3:30	Reality Fighting: Ignition	17 Jul 2010	Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA
Win	Andrew Carron	Decision (unanimous)	3	4:00	Reality Fighting: Ferocity	7 Nov 2009	Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA
Loss	Chris Chappell	Submission (guillotine choke)	3	2:13	FFP: Untamed 26	28 Feb 2009	Westport, Massachusetts, USA
Win	Jeff Camera	TKO (punches)	2	2:18	Reality Fighting: Collision	19 Jul 2008	Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA
Win	Andres Lebron	Submission (rear-naked choke)	2	2:45	Reality Fighting: Nightmare	12 Apr 2008	Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA
Loss	Bill Jones	Decision (split)	3	3:00	Reality Fighting: Annihilation	19 Jan 2008	Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA
Win	Chris Correira	Submission (guillotine choke)	3		Reality Fighting: Invictus	15 Sep 2007	Concord, New Hampshire, USA	Pro debut