At 35, Nick Newell is confident he has the ability to hang with the elite.
Newell, a congenital amputee, is no stranger to beating the odds, shining in some of the best MMA organizations across the U.S.. He went 4-1 under the WSOF banner, with his lone loss coming in a title fight against current UFC lightweight contender Justin Gaethje.
Since coming out of retirement in 2018, Newell (16-3 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) has had mixed results, including a failed stint on Dana White’s Contender Series. But after recently signing a four-fight deal with Bellator, Newell is happy for the opportunity to show that he can compete against the best.
“Right now it’s just about being the best version of yourself that you could possibly be,” Newell told MMA Junkie. “So I’m making sure that everything is falling into line right now, and just proving myself as a martial artist is my goal, showing that I’m capable of great things and I’m able of competing at the highest level and winning, and that’s where I’m at right now. So I’m really enjoying my run. I’ve been enjoying doing business with Bellator obviously, and I’m excited for this fight.”
Newell returns for the first time since October 2019 when he takes on Bobby King on Friday at Bellator 260 in Uncasville, Conn. He’ll head into the cage with something to prove after such a long layoff.
“I just like to fight. At the end of the day, even though I’m a little older, and I came back, I love competing, and I love fighting, and I love showing what I can do,” Newell said. “Bellator is a perfect stage for that, so for me, that’s where I’m at right now, and I’m gonna show everyone that I’m one of the best in the world.”
Starting with Bellator 260, Nick Newell ready to prove he’s ‘one of the best in the world’
