Undefeated Nick Newell Signs with World Series of Fighting
Unbeaten inspiration “Notorious” Nick Newell (9-0) of Springfield, Mass. has signed a multi-fight contract to compete for premier Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotion World Series of Fighting, it was announced today. Newell is expected to make his debut for World Series of Fighting, live on NBC Sports Network, on a summer date to be announced soon.
Born with only one arm, the 27-year-old, 5-foot-10 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt and skilled Muay Thai-based striker has defied all odds throughout his life, winning over 300 career high school and collegiate wrestling matches before transitioning to MMA.
As a lightweight (155 pounds) competitor, Newell has finished eight of his nine career professional MMA opponents – six by submission and one by KO. All but one of his victories came inside of the first round of action.
“Nick Newell is an incredible individual who exemplifies the sheer strength of the human spirit and the kind of courage and determination that martial arts embodies, so we are naturally thrilled to welcome him to the World Series of Fighting roster, and look forward to having him compete and, hopefully inspire, our national audience on NBC Sports Network,” said World Series of Fighting President, six-time world kickboxing champion and two-time Hall of Famer Ray Sefo.
Newell, a two-time wrestling team captain for Western New England University, also holds the Connecticut state record for most wins (53) in a season of high school wrestling.
On June 20, 2009, Newell made his professional MMA debut, scoring a monstrous first round (4:20) TKO on Daniel Ford with a barrage of punches in Plymouth, Mass. In his last start on Dec. 7, Newell made quick work of Eric Reynolds, submitting Reynolds with a rear-naked choke in the first round (1:22) of their matchup in Nashville, Tenn.
Newell was honored with the 2011 Boston Herald Submission of the Year award after he forced Denis Hernandez to tap out from a splendid heel hook in the first round (1:11) of their bout in Tampa, Fla.
