Nick Newell has been itching to take a step up in competition. Well, the undefeated lightweight prospect will finally get his wish now that he’s found a new home with the World Series of Fighting.
“Notorious” announced via his Twitter account on Tuesday morning that he will be joining the budding MMA promotion’s rapidly growing roster.
The organization was quick to congratulate its newest employee.
Officials have yet to announce when Newell will make his WSOF debut, although MMAFighting.com is reporting that it could happen in August or September.
No news yet on who the 27-year-old lightweight’s first opponent will be.
The ever-popular Newell, who sports a spotless professional record despite having been born with only one fully developed arm, was recently stripped of his XFC title after opting out of a contract extension with the promotion.
The former champ was slated to defend his belt against Scott Holtzman before parting ways with the XFC.
“Notorious” won the lightweight strap last December when he submitted Bellator veteran Eric Reynolds with a rear-naked choke just 1 minute and 22 seconds into the opening frame at XFC 21. The win marked his eighth first-round finish out of nine career fights and his sixth via submission.
Newell ultimately decided against defending his belt, with hopes of facing UFC-caliber competition.
While the WSOF is still a young organization, with guys like UFC vets Tyson Griffin, Jacob Volkmann and Dan Lauzon on the roster, you can be sure that the ex-XFC title holder will finally get his shot at some of the sport’s bigger names.
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