Andre Soukhamthath Knee Strike Short Circuits Kin Moy in CES MMA 37 Main Event

The CES MMA bantamweight championship still belongs to Andre Soukhamthath.

Soukhamthath wiped out Kin Moy with a second-round knee strike and follow-up hammerfists to retain the 135-pound title in the CES MMA 37 “Summer Gold” headliner on Friday at the Twin Rivers Casino in Lincoln, Rhode Island. Moy (8-3) met his end 2:32 into round two, as he was unable to recapture the magic that led him to a January 2014 victory over “The Asian Sensation.”

It remained competitive until the champion connected with decisive shot. Moy attacked the body, struck well in combination and integrated his punches and kicks throughout a closely contested first round. In the second, however, Soukhamthath (11-3) found the opening he needed. He snatched a double collar tie as Moy moved toward him and delivered a knee up the middle that folded the challenger where he stood. Soukhamthath then pounced with hammerfists to seal the deal.

In the co-main event, Bellator MMA veteran Matt Bessette submitted Joe Pingitore with a second-round heel hook to claim the vacant CES MMA featherweight crown. Pingitore (6-3-1) conceded defeat 4:38 into round two, his two-fight winning streak at an end.

Bessette (20-7) was met with serious resistance. Pingitore floored him twice with right hands, once in each round, but his follow-up attacks failed to net the finish he sought. With roughly a minute to go in the second round, Pingitore put the Hartford, Connecticut, native on the canvas with an overhand right and wandered into his guard in his haste to finish. Bessette went to work on an omoplata before turning his attention to the legs and securing the fight-ending heel hook.

The 31-year-old Bessette has won five fights in a row.

Meanwhile, MMA Lab rep Ashley Gooch captured the vacant CES MMA heavyweight championship, as he cut down Greg Rebello with third-round punches. Gooch (10-4) pulled the plug 1:10 into round three, recording his eighth consecutive victory.

Rebello (20-7) was in charge for much of the match, as he paired stinging straight lefts with two-punch combinations, slick counters and occasional leg kicks. The Team Sityodtong export staggered Gooch with one of those straight lefts and flurried for a potential stoppage, but the 41-year-old Arizonan did not fall. A little more than a minute into round three, Rebello walked into a laser beam of a right hand and collapsed to his back. Gooch followed up with punches on the ground that finished the job and opened a gash near Rebello’s left eye.

Elsewhere, “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 13 graduate Chuck O’Neil disposed of Roy Jones with punches in the first round of their middleweight showcase. In his first appearance since October 2012, Jones (7-5) succumbed to blows 2:24 into round one.

After freeing himself from an attempted guillotine, O’Neil (17-8) assumed top position and climbed to full mount. From there, he unleashed his ground-and-pound until referee Kevin MacDonald had seen enough. The 30-year-old O’Neil has won six of his past eight bouts.

In other action, Ruslan Melikov (4-1) submitted Pat McCrohan (2-1) with a bulldog choke 4:44 into the second round of their encounter at 185 pounds; Mike Rodriguez (4-1) knocked out Stephond Ewins (3-4) with a flying knee 3:38 into round one of their light heavyweight confrontation; Hamzah Marquis Brewster (2-0) submitted Roosevelt Archie (0-2) with an arm-triangle choke 2:17 into the second round of their pairing at 135 pounds; and Dylan Lockard (1-0) took a unanimous decision from Mak Kelleher (1-3) in a three-round featherweight contest.