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Very interesting story here. I can not picture this guy competing in the UFC, but so far he has been impressive. If he looks good tomorrow night he will get his UFC contract.
http://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/24169764/nick-newell-step-away-being-first-one-handed-ufc-fighter
WEST HAVEN, Conn. -- It's 10:15 on a sunny Wednesday morning, and the man Dana White said would "never" compete in the UFC is less than a week away from doing just that.
Nick Newell, wearing a black and maroon shirt with gray shorts, leads a small group of fellow fighters in a light jog around the gym while Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" blares from the speaker. As the 15 people transition into stretches before a grappling session, Newell smiles and cracks a light joke that makes another teammate at Fighting Arts Academy burst into laughter. He seems calm and confident despite being six days away from the most important fight of his life.
"The truth is, I've done all the hard work," Newell says. "I knew what I needed to do, and I got it all done in the practice room. I feel super confident. I feel prepared. I've been under the bright lights before. I've won world titles. To me, it's just another fight, even though the circumstances are a little bit bigger."
Newell will face Alex Munoz (4-0) on Tuesday in White's "Tuesday Night Contender Series." If the promotion is impressed with his performance, he will earn a contract to fight in the UFC. Newell is one of thousands of fighters who dream of one day making the UFC. Reaching that level in itself is special. But his case is unique because he is a congenital amputee with a left arm that extends just below his elbow.
If you think competing with one arm sounds crazy, you're not the only one. UFC president White said the same thing in 2012 -- "It's hard to fight here with two arms" -- but has since changed his stance after watching Newell dominate opponents en route to a 14-1 record and world titles in other organizations.
"To be honest with you, I'm not doing this for me or for the organization or anything like that," White said after UFC 225 in June. "I'm doing it for this kid. This kid came in and begged -- this is his dream, this is what he lives for and this is what this guy has worked his whole life to do.
"He wants it so bad. And I'm sitting there going, 'This is crazy, man, but I'm going to do it. I'm going to give you your chance.'"
That time is finally here.
http://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/24169764/nick-newell-step-away-being-first-one-handed-ufc-fighter
WEST HAVEN, Conn. -- It's 10:15 on a sunny Wednesday morning, and the man Dana White said would "never" compete in the UFC is less than a week away from doing just that.
Nick Newell, wearing a black and maroon shirt with gray shorts, leads a small group of fellow fighters in a light jog around the gym while Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" blares from the speaker. As the 15 people transition into stretches before a grappling session, Newell smiles and cracks a light joke that makes another teammate at Fighting Arts Academy burst into laughter. He seems calm and confident despite being six days away from the most important fight of his life.
"The truth is, I've done all the hard work," Newell says. "I knew what I needed to do, and I got it all done in the practice room. I feel super confident. I feel prepared. I've been under the bright lights before. I've won world titles. To me, it's just another fight, even though the circumstances are a little bit bigger."
Newell will face Alex Munoz (4-0) on Tuesday in White's "Tuesday Night Contender Series." If the promotion is impressed with his performance, he will earn a contract to fight in the UFC. Newell is one of thousands of fighters who dream of one day making the UFC. Reaching that level in itself is special. But his case is unique because he is a congenital amputee with a left arm that extends just below his elbow.
If you think competing with one arm sounds crazy, you're not the only one. UFC president White said the same thing in 2012 -- "It's hard to fight here with two arms" -- but has since changed his stance after watching Newell dominate opponents en route to a 14-1 record and world titles in other organizations.
"To be honest with you, I'm not doing this for me or for the organization or anything like that," White said after UFC 225 in June. "I'm doing it for this kid. This kid came in and begged -- this is his dream, this is what he lives for and this is what this guy has worked his whole life to do.
"He wants it so bad. And I'm sitting there going, 'This is crazy, man, but I'm going to do it. I'm going to give you your chance.'"
That time is finally here.
