Bellator 225: Congenital amputee fighter Nick Newell earns dominant debut win
Nick Newell wasted little time in making his mark on his Bellator MMA debut, securing a dominant first-round submission victory over Corey Browning in their lightweight bout in front of a raucous home crowd in Connecticut.
Newell, who was born with a congenital amputation of his left arm just below the elbow, produced an impressive performance to submit Browning via arm-triangle choke at 3:15 in the opening round at Bellator 225 at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport.
Newell, 33, was making his Bellator bow after joining the promotion on a one-fight deal, after he missed out on the chance to join the UFC following a defeat to Alex Munoz on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series last year.
Nick Newell shines in his #BellatorMMA debut ?#Bellator225 results: Nick Newell def. Corey Browning via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 1, 3:15.
Newell has won 5 of his last 6 bouts.
— ON: MMA (@OnMMA) August 25, 2019
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But on Saturday night’s showing the man nicknamed ‘Notorious’ will have done much to impress the Bellator hierarchy as he eyes a longer-term contract with the promotion, while improving his record to 16-2 with the win.
Elsewhere on a night which remarkably saw all 14 fights end with finishes, Russian heavyweight Sergei Kharitonov defeated American Matt Mitrione in the main event – a re-run of their February bout which had ended in a no contest following a low blow from Mitrione.
On Saturday night Kharitonov secured a second-round TKO win, although the fight again witnessed bizarre scenes as Mitrione appeared distracted by mouthguard issues.
Sergey makes it 14/14 finishes tonight!
Which one was your favorite? #Bellator225 pic.twitter.com/ESf9LAyklc
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) August 25, 2019
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Kharitonov, 39, improved his record to 29-6, and is unbeaten since November 2016.
Fellow Russian heavyweight Vitaly Minakov also claimed victory in the co-main event, finishing UFC veteran Timothy Johnson with a big barrage of punches in the first round.
? Vitaly Minakov comes through in the #Bellator225 co-main event and makes a definitive statement! pic.twitter.com/XGtqkybG8x
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) August 25, 2019
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Minakov moved his record to 22-1, and bounced back from being handed his first-ever loss in a controversial decision defeat on his Bellator debut against Cheick Kongo back in February.
Bellator 225: Congenital amputee fighter Nick Newell earns dominant debut win
Source: RT