Matt Bessette

Bellator MMA In 2012, Bessette signed with Bellator. Bessette made his promotional debut against Saul Almeida on March 30, 2012 at Bellator 63. He won via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28). Bessette faced The Ultimate Fighter 12 competitor Paul Barrow on November 16, 2012 at Bellator 81. He won via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27). Bessette faced Nick Piedmont on September 7, 2013 at Bellator 98. He won via knockout early in the first round.

Bessette faced Diego Nunes in the quarterfinal match of Bellator Season Ten Featherweight Tournament on February 28, 2014 at Bellator 110. He won the back-and-forth fight via split decision. Bessette faced Daniel Weichel in the tournament semifinals at Bellator 114 on March 28, 2014. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Bessette faced Scott Cleve on September 5, 2014 at Bellator 123. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. Bessette faced Josh LaBerge at Bellator 134 on February 27, 2015. He won the fight due to a doctor stoppage between the second and third rounds.

After a two fight stint with CES MMA, Bessette returned to Bellator and faced Kevin Roddy at Bellator 144 on October 23, 2015. He won via submission with a heel hook in the first round. Bessette faced Keith Richardson at Bellator 153 on April 22, 2016. He won in the second round due to a doctor stoppage.

CES MMA Bessette made his promotional debut on June 12, 2015 in the co-main event of CES MMA 29 against Khama Worthy. He won via knockout in the second round. He returned for CES MMA 30 on August 14, 2015 against Lenny Wheeler. He lost via knockout in the first round, making it the first time in his career that he was knocked out. After a return to Bellator, Bessette returned to CES MMA on March 11, 2016 to face Taurean Bogguess at CES MMA 33. He won via submission with a triangle choke in the first round. He was originally scheduled to fight Tito Jones, but Jones backed out three days before the event due to injury.

Bessette returned to CES MMA on June 10, 2016 to face Jairo Soares at CES MMA 36, but Soares was pulled the day before the fight for testing positive for performance enhancing drugs. Soares's replacement was Ran Weathers, whom Bessette defeated via submission in the first round.

Featherweight Champion At CES MMA 37: Summer Gold, Bessette was set to take on Stephen Cerventes for the vacant CES Featherweight Championship, but he was replaced by Joe Pingitore. Bessette won the featherweight belt with a heel hook submission victory in the second round. Bessette successfully defended his title with a TKO win over Kevin Croom at CES MMA 41. At CES MMA 44, Bessette was scheduled to fight Jeremy Spoon but he was replaced with Rey Trujillo. Bessette again successfully defended his championship with a TKO victory.

Dana White Tuesday Night Contender Series On June 22, 2017, it was announced that Bessette would headline the July 11 premiere event of the Dana White Tuesday Night Contender Series against Kurt Holobaugh. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round. Five days after the fight, it was announced that Kurt Holobaugh used an illegal method of hydrating with an IV, the fight would be declared a no contest.

Ultimate Fighting Championship In his UFC debut, Bessette replaced Arnold Allen against Enrique Barzola at UFC 220 on January 20, 2018. at UFC 220 on January 20, 2018 . He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Bessette faced Steven Peterson on July 6, 2018 at The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale. He lost the fight via split decision.

On January 8, 2019 it was reported that Bessette was removed from the UFC roster.

Post-UFC career After being released from the UFC, Bessette returned to CES MMA, facing Tim Dooling in his promotional return at CES MMA 55 on March 29, 2019. Bessette won the back-and-forth fight via unanimous decision.

He then faced Charles Cheeks III for the vacant CES Featherweight Championship at CES MMA 60 on January 24, 2020. Bessette won the fight via knockout in the third round, claiming the championship for the second time in his career.

After four years away from Bellator MMA, Bessette returned to face Jeremy Kennedy at Bellator 253 on November 19, 2020. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Bessette was initially scheduled to fight for the vacant CES lightweight championship bout on September 17, 2021 at CES 64 against Bruce Boyington. However, Boyington withdrew from the bout and was replaced by Ryan Dela Cruz. He won the bout and the title via reverse triangle in the third round. After the bout, Bessette announced his retirement from MMA.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts CES MMA CES MMA Featherweight Championship (Two times) Two successful title defenses (first reign) CES MMA Lightweight Championship (One time) Reality Fighting RF Lightweight Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record Win

Ryan Dela Cruz Submission (reverse triangle choke) CES MMA 64: Bessette vs. Dela Cruz

Hartford, Connecticut, United States Loss

Jeremy Kennedy Decision (unanimous) Bellator 253

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Charles Cheeks III KO (punch) CES MMA 60: Bessette vs. Cheeks

Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States Win

Tim Dooling Decision (unanimous) CES MMA 55: Wells vs De Jesus

Hartford, Connecticut, United States Loss

Steven Peterson Decision (split) The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Enrique Barzola Decision (unanimous) UFC 220

Boston, Massachusetts, United States NC

Kurt Holobaugh NC (overturned) Dana White's Contender Series 1

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Rey Trujillo TKO (doctor stoppage) CES MMA 44: Bessette vs. Trujillo

Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States Win

Kevin Croom TKO (punches) CES MMA 41: Bessette vs. Croom

Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States Win

Joe Pingitore Submission (heel hook) CES MMA 37: Summer Gold

Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States Win

Ran Weathers Submission (guillotine choke) CES MMA 36: Andrews vs. Muro

Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States Win

Keith Richardson TKO (doctor stoppage) Bellator 153

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Taurean Bogguess Submission (triangle choke) CES MMA 33: Soukhamthath vs. Nordby

Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States Win

Kevin Roddy Submission (heel hook) Bellator 144

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Loss

Lenny Wheeler KO (punches) CES MMA 30: Felix vs. Lane

Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States Win

Khama Worthy KO (punch) CES MMA 29: O'Neil vs. Steele

Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States Win

Josh LaBerge TKO (doctor stoppage) Bellator 134

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Loss

Scott Cleve Decision (unanimous) Bellator 123

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Loss

Daniel Weichel Decision (unanimous) Bellator 114

West Valley City, Utah, United States Win

Diego Nunes Decision (split) Bellator 110

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Nick Piedmont KO (punches) Bellator 98

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Jeff Anderson Decision (unanimous) Reality Fighting: New Year's Bash

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Paul Barrow Decision (unanimous) Bellator 81

Kingston, Rhode Island, United States Win

Aniss Alhajjajy Decision (unanimous) Reality Fighting: Naples vs. Lee

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Loss

Andres Jeudi DQ (illegal upkick) Reality Fighting: Mohegan Sun

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Saul Almeida Decision (unanimous) Bellator 63

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Loss

Joe Proctor Decision (unanimous) Reality Fighting: Gonzaga vs. Porter

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

John Benoit Submission (guillotine choke) GFL 10: Benoit vs. Bessette

Lowell, Massachusetts, United States Win

Anthony Kaponis Decision (split) Reality Fighting: Eruption

Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States Win

Andrew Amaral Submission (guillotine choke) Reality Fighting: Ignition

Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States Win

Andrew Carron Decision (unanimous) Reality Fighting: Ferocity

Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States Loss

Chris Chappell Submission (guillotine choke) FFP: Untamed 26

Westport, Massachusetts, United States Win

Jeff Camera TKO (punches) Reality Fighting: Collision

Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States Win

Andres Lebron Submission (rear-naked choke) Reality Fighting: Nightmare

Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States Loss

Bill Jones Decision (split) Reality Fighting: Annihilation

Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States Win

Chris Correira Submission (guillotine choke) Reality Fighting: Invictus

Concord, New Hampshire, United States