Former XFC Lightweight Champion Nick Newell (9-0) has revealed his own explanation as to why the promotion stripped him of the belt following what was reported as the one-handed fighter’s refusal to fight.
A congenital amputee, meaning he was disabled from birth, Newell is without a left hand however, the undefeated fighter become known around the world in 2012 when he submitted former Bellator contender Eric Reynolds, to win the XFC 155lb title in the first round.
Newell’s reputation has since been damaged somewhat, having been supposedly matched against Scott Holtzman (4-0), XFC president John Prisco revealed Newell had refused to defend the title, refused to face anyone who wasn’t a former UFC contender, hinted that the fighter was intimidated by his future opponent and that he had therefore been released. Read MMA PLUS’ coverage of the story HERE
In contrast, Newell gave his own explanation via Facebook, suggesting that he simply didn’t want to sign a long term deal, headlines have been “misleading” and that XFC “promoted a fight that didn’t exist yet.”
He explained: “The headlines are misleading and imply that I was stripped of my title because I refused to fight when in fact I just chose not to renew my contract with the XFC. I am not scared to fight anybody…[I] just have my eyes on bigger pastures.”
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