Nick ‘Mr. Misunderstood’ Newell Exclusive Interview

Need proof that MMA World Series of Fighting's "Notorious" Nick Newell has arrived as a big time mixed martial artist?  Just check the amount of rumors about him floating around cyberspace.  Whether it be about his fight camp affiliation (for the record, Fighting Arts Academy is his primary home, with some additional cross training undertaken at American Top Team), his fighting style, or his attitude, there are plenty of opinions, rumors and speculation about Newell out there for consumption.

 

In fact, its been an overarching theme to his recent rise to fame – it seems that every week there is a new piece of news on him. The message boards light up with questions about whether or not he’s really that good. Others ask whether Dana will ever change his stance on hiring him, much like he flipped on his view of women’s MMA. However, all of these articles and commentaries have one thing in common; everyone has misjudged him. 

 

Part of the trouble with such a quick rise to popularity is that misconceptions run wild. People try to break the whole story before it’s complete and others just want to frame the newly popular into the perfect picture. Newell has certainly been no exception to the rule. 

 

‘Why would Newell cross train at American Top Team when he’s already a grappler?’ and ‘Why not go somewhere where he can work on striking?’, the talking heads ask. 

 

But here is where Newell’s self-image continues to diverge from this grand public view. 

 

“I don’t see myself as a grappler” he says, shrugging off the fact that seven of his ten wins have come via submission. “It’s just something that has come up more with my opponents. I’m comfortable in my striking”.

 

Fans seem to forget about just how comfortable he is. Having finished each of his last two opponents so fast with so little time on the feet, it’s easy to forget just how good his striking is. Just one fight before that he collected his first knockout by finishing David Mays, who had only been knocked out once in a ten-fight career. In that fight he showed punches and elbows from close range, kicks from distance and eventually a devastating knee to end the night. 

 

And it misconceptions don’t end there. 

 

After leaving XFC to head over to World Series of Fighting, Newell was called cocky and arrogant by a handful of people including the president of his former company. He was at the blunt end of claims of getting ahead of himself and thinking he’s higher than matchmakers. Spending a few short moments with him, most will see that isn’t the case. 

 

When asked to comment on who he’d like next, he repeatedly declined. “I don’t like to call people out. I feel like there are a bunch of good matchups there.”

 

There are certainly plenty of interesting fights out there. WSOF’s lightweight division may be their deepest. With eight former UFC fighters and veterans from various other top promotions, there is no shortage of people to match Newell up with. 

 

“JZ [Calvalcante] is a name I keep hearing. If that’s what they [World Series of Fighting] want, I’ll fight him.” he says responding to the rumors. “If they wanted me to fight (Jacob) Volkmann, I’d fight him too”.

 

His openness is a promoter’s dream. Marketable, well-rounded and to put it in his own words: “I just love to fight, it’s what I do”. 

 

And fight he will. Critics be damned.