With unblemished record intact, WSOF 7 winner Nick Newell ready to take on all comers

VANCOUVER – Even though Nick Newell is quickly becoming one of MMA’s must-see athletes, “Notorious” refuses to buy into his own hype.

Newell (11-0) added another impressive victory to his undefeated record on Saturday when he submitted Sabah Fadai (7-3) in the first round with a standing guillotine choke at World Series of Fighting 7 in Vancouver.

The victory, which took place at PNE Agrodome and aired on NBC Sports Network, marked the 10th first-round finish in 11 career wins for Newell, a resume that stands out to even the most casual of fans.

While his status as a frequent first-round finisher continues to grow, Newell brushes off any expectations that come along with his fighting style and says he only takes what his opponents give him.

“I never expect to finish anyone within a certain timeframe,” Newell told MMAjunkie after his WSOF 7 victory. “He gave me the opening, I took it and got the win.”

An argument can be made that Newell is one of the top stars, if not the top star, in WSOF. With so much buzz surrounding him, it might make sense to fast-track the fighter into a championship fight.

At just 27, Newell is content with being developed at a slow pace. But that doesn’t mean he would pass up the opportunity to get to the top of the mountain in a hurry.

“If they offered me a title shot next, I would gladly take it,” Newell said. “But I’m in no rush to get the belt. I’m sure I will get a step up in competition next and I’ll be ready for anyone they put in front of me.”

Newell’s 81-second submission of Fadai was one of the highlights of the card, and few walked away more impressed with his efforts than WSOF President Ray Sefo.

“Nick Newell is phenomenal,” Sefo said. “He is setting a new trend, submitting and stopping people in the first round, so he just makes it look too easy. He’s a young fighter who continues to grow.

“The sky’s the limit for Nick. That being said, he’s going to continue to step up in level of competition and he’s right in the mix for a title shot in the near future.”

Having fought twice in a less than four-month span, Newell is seeking some time off from training to relax with his family and friends over the holiday season.

The fighter admits training camps take a big physical toll on his body, and he likes a break after his fights. That said, if the right opportunity comes up, you could see the American back in the cage sooner rather than later.

“I train extremely, extremely hard, and it takes a lot out of my body,” Newell said. “So I only like to fight a couple of times a year. But I don’t have any injuries, so if they call me to fight again next month, I’ll be ready.”

For more on WSOF 7, check out to the MMA Events section of the site.