Nick Newell is a man I have been hearing about for the last year or so. He has popped up here and there in the media as both a talented prospect and as an one-armed oddity. The pundits are somewhat divided on him. There are those who seemed quite revved up for his arrival into the bigger organizations to see him tested against more well known competition, and also his detractors who argue that his 9-0 record was paved with padded contenders to facilitate a feel-good story.
The time may have come to find out which camp will win out. Newell has recently left the XFC (Xtreme Fighting Championships) as the lightweight Champion and is now entering the WSOF (World Series of Fighting) where he is hoping to be placed against competition he may use to silence the doubters.
Nick is a strange case for fans, promoters and opponents alike. He was born missing the half of his left forearm and hand. In high school and college he put in the work and became an accomplished wrestler in the Northeast and now he has turned his attention to mixed martial arts. Although his full attention seems to be directed towards his new sport of choice not everyone is willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
It is hard for many to believe that a man with only one hand is capable of competing and even beating men with two. I understand the logic. If they are even in skills the guy with double the hands of the other should win. This has not been the case for the last nine men Newell has faced. Promoters are hesitant to jump on the bandwagon for fear of being made a fool of. This man is only 9-0 and has just been accepted into the WSOF but it is noticeable news. The level of media is both a blessing and a curse because the first time he loses many people will emerge from the woodwork to say they told the collective you, “we told you so”. Promoters don’t want to be caught on the wrong side of that coin, but they love to not use the attention as long as he keeps winning.
Newell has faced the same sort of opposition from would-be opponents. They don’t want to even take fights with him because they view it as a lose-lose situation; they either beat up a crippled man or god forbid, they lose to one. But that is why I feel the man deserves his chance. Against all of these extra external pressures and circumstances, he is able to still focus on training and fighting, and in case you have forgotten, he is still winning too.
Newell has asked for it and in the WSOF he will find the tougher competition and the names to beat to silence his naysayers. I myself admit my curiosity in seeing if he can hang with the tier above the local circuit. The WSOF is a feeder league and there he will meet other hungry up and comers along with veterans who are just over the hill. Both will be big tests, but if he keeps winning everyone will have to take notice and before long you may see Newell under the big lights and in the UFC. Then again I may be wrong and he might just fade away. I don’t know. That’s the fight game, and that is why it is interesting.
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