WSOF 4's Nick Newell: 'I've learned growing up to have thick skin'

Nick Newell knew that a move to a bigger stage would bring new questions and doubts about his career in MMA. But from the outset, he wasn’t paying attention to any of that.

“I’ve learned growing up to have thick skin, and I think I turned a lot of heads and changed people’s minds,” Newell told MMAjunkie.com.

After his promotional debut at Saturday’s World Series of Fighting 4 event, Newell (10-0) showed again why he can’t be ignored as a legitimate MMA prospect.

The 27-year-old lightweight fighter, a congenital amputee who was born without a left arm below the elbow, brought a crowd to its feet at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif., by doing something extraordinary. Facing Keon Caldwell (9-2), a veteran of the UFC’s “Ultimate Fighter” reality show, he forced the fight to the mat and angled his body for a chokehold. Using both his normal and malformed limb, he coaxed a tap-out and earned a submission victory in the first round of his NBC Sports Network-televised bout.

Newell’s crafty move not only wowed fans, but won him time on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” as one of the day’s top plays. He improved to 10-0 in a career many thought would never happen.

“I worked so hard for everything, to get to the point where I’m at,” said Newell, who’s posted seven submission and two knockout victories while facing increasingly tougher competition. “It’s good to get the recognition and fight on such a big stage and be a part of such a big organization. I’m elated.”

Like many fighters, Newell found MMA after an amateur wrestling career. Although he went just 8-22 his freshman year, he posted a 115-23 mark in the next three, won all-state honors, and eventually served as captain of Western New England University’s Division III wrestling squad.

His move to MMA proved a rather smooth one, and he steadily racked up wins on the smaller circuit. But he recently split ties with the Florida-based Xtreme Fighting Championships, where he went 4-0 and claimed the regional promotion’s lightweight title. However, after stating he only wanted to fight ex-UFC fighters – to bolster his odds of getting a contract with the UFC, MMA’s most prominent organization – he and the organization severed ties, and Newell ultimately signed with WSOF.

With his debut win this past weekend, Newell has earned a spot in a four-man tournament organized by WSOF, whose NBC Sports Network deal makes it the de facto No. 3 promotion in MMA behind the UFC and Bellator. Experienced vets Justin Gaethje, Dan Lauzon and Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante are also set for the competition, which will crown the inaugural WSOF lightweight champion.

The field should present the biggest challenge of Newell’s still-young career. And, of course, the fighter is aware that scrutiny will follow him at every step, just as it has for his life outside the cage.

“It’s going to be like that forever,” he said. “‘Well, he beat this guy, but can he beat this guy?’ Then, one day when I lose, because everyone loses, I’m going to be the worst fighter in the world. I don’t really pay attention to what people say. I just go out there and do my thing.

“Just being a part of [the tournament] is not really enough for me. I’m coming to win it. I’m putting the whole 155-pound division on notice that Nick Newell is no joke, and he’s coming for that belt.”

For complete coverage of WSOF 4, check out the MMA Events section of the site.

(George Garcia and Brian Garcia contributed to this report.)