Mayor Gives Key to the City to Ultimate Fighting Champ

WOONSOCKET, RI — Andre Soukhamthath has made his mark in the Ultimate Fighting Championships. On Friday, the 28-year-old will receive the key to the city from Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt. The mayor will do the presentation at Twin Rivers Casino during the preliminary card of a Mixed Martial Arts promotion.

Soukhamthath is a Woonsocket hometown hero. He moved to Woonsocket in 2003 at the age of 15 and quickly made his presence known, starring as a goaltender for the Woonsocket High School boys' soccer team, where he still holds the school record for most shutouts in a season. He was a two-time All-Division standout and team captain and MVP his senior season.

Soukhmathath also played varsity basketball for four years, performed in the school's theatrical version of "Jesus Christ Superstar" and ran the youth boxing program at the Woonsocket Boxing Club for two years in addition to winning a Rocky Marciano Tournament title as an amateur at Woonsocket's famed Stadium Theater.

"The city of Woonsocket is proud to witness the success that its beloved son, Andre Soukhamthath, has experienced early on in his professional career," said Baldelli-Hunt. "Within our community, Andre stands as a role model for those who work hard in order to reach their goals and achieve results. The support of the entire city of Woonsocket is behind Andre as he continues to accomplish great things while representing the city that holds him close to its heart."

He made his debut with the Mixed Martial Arts Promotion in February 2012 and compiled a record of 11-2 over the next four and a half years. He held the world title in March 2016, before he turned to the Ultimate Fighting Championships in Las Vegas last August.

In addition to his reign as the CES MMA World Bantamweight Champion, Soukhamthath was also named the CES MMA Fighter of the Year in 2012 and owns the promotion's longest win streak with seven consecutive victories between 2012 and 2014.