Newell returns to MMA on Friday at LFA 35
“The Nick Newell you saw a couple years ago was a boy. Even though I was 29 years old, I wasn’t mature like I am now.”
Nick Newell won eleven fights in a row and the XFC lightweight championship along with it. Then he got dropped vs. Justin Gaethje for the WSOF lightweight championship, and bounced back to win two more in WSoF. But in October of 2015 he retired at age 29 in front of a hometown crowd.
Newell opened up FAA-CT in West Haven, Connecticut, and began turning out new fighters. Then the only man to ever defeat him entered the UFC and has made a sizable splash. And Newell’s body healed. So he unretired, signed with Legacy Fighting Alliance, and makes his return on Friday in the main event of LFA 35 on Friday in Houston, Texas. Newell fights Sonny Luque (10-6) at a 160-pound catchweight. Newell is 31, Luque is 36.
I experimented with a few things to see how my body handled it, said Newell to Mick Hammond for MMAWeekly.com. Once my business had sustained me for a little bit, my body felt good and I was ready to go.
I’m an adult now. The Nick Newell you saw a couple years ago was a boy. Even though I was 29 years old, I wasn’t mature like I am now. I have a lot going on and it has made me stronger and better. Teaching helped improve my game a lot; the little things that I could get away with before, I paid attention to those, and my game has gone through the roof.
Sonny’s a tough guy. He’s probably pretty hungry because he’s a little bit older than I am and this is the biggest opportunity he’s ever had. This is the biggest fight he’s ever had, so I’m sure he’s going to come at me hard and tough, but I’ve seen that before.
I’m going to be cool and calculated. I’m faster. My timing is better. My footwork is better. I see no issue where he’s best – on the feet – and if he over-commits or whatever, I can throw him on the ground whenever. Once we hit the ground, I feel like I have a pretty big advantage.
I don’t talk about what’s next. I talk about what’s here. I know I’m one of the best in the world. I know where I belong in this sport. I can compete with anyone. You’ll hear all about [what ’s next] after my fight.
Just so there is no confusion, where Newell wants is the UFC.