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Boxing and MMA competitor Eric "Butterbean" Esch (77-8, 58 KO's in boxing, 12-6-1, 5 KO's and 7 submissions in MMA) has turned into a promoter. Under the Moosin USA banner, he's promoting an MMA event May 21st in Worcester, MA featuring former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia (26-6, 17 KO's, 2 submissions) taking on 5x world's strongest man Mariusz Pudzianowski (1-0, 1 KO) in the main event.
This will mark the first major arena to host a MMA event in New England since Massachusetts decided to regulate the sport.
One fight that will not be taking place on the card is a bout featuring another boxer turned MMA fighter: James "Lights Out" Toney. Butterbean says he almost had a deal in place for Toney to fight on his card in Worcester before Toney opted for a multifight contract with the UFC instead.
"We had a verbal commitment from James", Butterbean said, "I've known James for 20 something years and we had a verbal commitment. I can tell one story, I can tell another story but what really happened was I guess UFC heard wind and they shipped him off to Vegas.... They gave him ****** money to sign."
Bean then wished the UFC luck with the Toney experiment in a joking manner.
"Dana, have fun with your circus act". He said.
As far as how he thinks Toney will do in UFC, Butterbean warns that when transitioning from boxing to MMA, "boxer's have got to adapt."
"(Toney) is either going to be really good because he's a true athlete or it's going to be a circus act", Butterbean said.
However, right now the Bean is focused on promoting his own show in Worcester on May 21st.
This will mark the first major arena to host a MMA event in New England since Massachusetts decided to regulate the sport.
One fight that will not be taking place on the card is a bout featuring another boxer turned MMA fighter: James "Lights Out" Toney. Butterbean says he almost had a deal in place for Toney to fight on his card in Worcester before Toney opted for a multifight contract with the UFC instead.
"We had a verbal commitment from James", Butterbean said, "I've known James for 20 something years and we had a verbal commitment. I can tell one story, I can tell another story but what really happened was I guess UFC heard wind and they shipped him off to Vegas.... They gave him ****** money to sign."
Bean then wished the UFC luck with the Toney experiment in a joking manner.
"Dana, have fun with your circus act". He said.
As far as how he thinks Toney will do in UFC, Butterbean warns that when transitioning from boxing to MMA, "boxer's have got to adapt."
"(Toney) is either going to be really good because he's a true athlete or it's going to be a circus act", Butterbean said.
However, right now the Bean is focused on promoting his own show in Worcester on May 21st.
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