MMA Returns To Beverly's North Shore Theater For First Time In 6 Years

BEVERLY, MA — Mixed martial arts bouts will return to the North Shore Music Theater in Beverly for the first time in six years on Friday when the theater hosts a night of CES MMA matches that will be broadcast worldwide on UFC Fight Pass.

The Northeast promoter CES MMA's show features a battle for the vacant CES World Heavyweight Championship between UFC veteran William "The Knightmare" Knight and rising star Domingos Barros.

Knight, from Hartford, Connecticut, was a member of UFC owner Dana White's Contender Series before earning a contract with UFC. Known for his powerful striking, he takes an 11-5 record into Friday's bout against Fall River's Barros, who enters the fight at 7-1 after making a name for himself on the Bellator fighting circuit.

"We are thrilled to announce this exciting main event for CES MMA 73," CES MMA President Jimmy Burchfield Jr. said. "William Knight is a proven fighter with a wealth of experience, while Domingo Barros is a rising star in the sport.

"This fight has war written all over it, and we can't wait to see how it plays out."

CES MMA first came to the North Shore Music Theater in April 2016 and had a second shot in April 2017. This is the first time returning to the theater since 2017.

The card includes several amateur and professional fighters from throughout New England.

West Haven, Connecticut's Eddy George (6-0) faces Yemi Oduwale (9-4) in a lightweight contest. New Hampshire's Brandon Marotte (7-1) clashes with Danbury, Connecticut's Regivaldo Carvalho (7-4) in a featherweight matchup and featherweight bout with local amateur sensation Lucas Rosa (6-1), a Wheaton College student.

Tickets for the bouts are still available here.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)