Former Teammates O’Neil, Olson to Meet in CES MMA 33 Co-Headliner
Former training partners Chuck O’Neil and Dennis
Olson will square off in the co-main event of CES MMA 33, the
promotion announced on Thursday.
The event is scheduled to take place on March 11 at the Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I., and is headlined by a bantamweight championship clash between Andre Soukhamthath and Kody Nordby. AXS TV will televise the action live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
O’Neil, who participated on “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 13 and
fought on the reality show’s finale, Olson, who has fought under
the Bellator umbrella four times, used to train together several
years ago in New Hampshire. Both admit that there is no bad blood
between them.
“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,” O’Neil said in a release. “I’m still going to respect him before, during and after. 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.”
O’Neil has dropped two fights in a row after a recent hot streak saw him win six of seven bouts. The Tri-Force MMA fighter lost a decision to Dominique Steele at CES MMA 29 in June and then was submitted via rear-naked choke in the first by Daniel Vizcaya at CES MMA 31.
Olson finds himself in a rut as well. “The Menace” has dropped two consecutive bouts and is 3-7 over his last 10 battles. The Team Triumph rep was last seen getting knocked out in the first round by Brennan Ward at Bellator 144. And like his upcoming counterpart, he knows he can’t let anything get in the way of victory.
“We trained together for a while, but time goes on and relationships change,” Olson stated. “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 event is scheduled to take place on March 11 at the Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I., and is headlined by a bantamweight championship clash between Andre Soukhamthath and Kody Nordby. AXS TV will televise the action live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
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“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,” O’Neil said in a release. “I’m still going to respect him before, during and after. 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.”
O’Neil has dropped two fights in a row after a recent hot streak saw him win six of seven bouts. The Tri-Force MMA fighter lost a decision to Dominique Steele at CES MMA 29 in June and then was submitted via rear-naked choke in the first by Daniel Vizcaya at CES MMA 31.
Olson finds himself in a rut as well. “The Menace” has dropped two consecutive bouts and is 3-7 over his last 10 battles. The Team Triumph rep was last seen getting knocked out in the first round by Brennan Ward at Bellator 144. And like his upcoming counterpart, he knows he can’t let anything get in the way of victory.
“We trained together for a while, but time goes on and relationships change,” Olson stated. “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.”
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