VIDEO: Nick Newell Receives His Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt

(…which begs the question, how are *your* New Year’s Resolutions going? / Props: YouTube.com/TapCancerOut)

By Oliver Chan

CagePotato favorite “Notorious” Nick Newell is off to a fast start in 2014, earning his black-belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Andrew Calandrelli at Ultimate MMA in New Haven. The video above was provided by Nick’s training partner Jon Thomas, who runs the awesome charity Tap Cancer Out, which if you recall is something Nick is very involved in. Nick’s pretty good at this Jiu-Jitsu thing, with 8 of his 11 pro MMA wins coming via submission.

If that’s not enough to make you feel like a lazy floor-turd, Nick also recently spent time with some future ninjas at the “Helping Hands Foundation” where he inspired other kids by teaching them that ten fingers are pretty overrated.

So just to summarize, it’s only February, and Nick’s 2014 to-do list looks like this:

1.  Earn his BJJ Black Belt

2.  Inspire the next generation of BAMF’s

3.  Win WSOF Title.

While we send our sincere congratulations to Nick for this huge achievement, we do have to ask him to scale it back a bit. Seriously, Nick…you’re making us all look bad.


(…which begs the question, how are *your* New Year’s Resolutions going? / Props: YouTube.com/TapCancerOut)

By Oliver Chan

CagePotato favorite “Notorious” Nick Newell is off to a fast start in 2014, earning his black-belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Andrew Calandrelli at Ultimate MMA in New Haven. The video above was provided by Nick’s training partner Jon Thomas, who runs the awesome charity Tap Cancer Out, which if you recall is something Nick is very involved in. Nick’s pretty good at this Jiu-Jitsu thing, with 8 of his 11 pro MMA wins coming via submission.

If that’s not enough to make you feel like a lazy floor-turd, Nick also recently spent time with some future ninjas at the “Helping Hands Foundation” where he inspired other kids by teaching them that ten fingers are pretty overrated.

So just to summarize, it’s only February, and Nick’s 2014 to-do list looks like this:

1.  Earn his BJJ Black Belt

2.  Inspire the next generation of BAMF’s

3.  Win WSOF Title.

While we send our sincere congratulations to Nick for this huge achievement, we do have to ask him to scale it back a bit. Seriously, Nick…you’re making us all look bad.

WSOF Check-In: Lightweight Tournament Announced, Newell & Spong Prepare for Fights This Saturday

(Learn more about lightweight rising star Nick Newell and the challenges he’s overcome | Video via MMA World Series Youtube page)

We’ve been following lightweight prospect Nick Newell’s unlikely and inspiring career for some time now here at CagePotato, and this Saturday he makes his next big move at the World Series of Fighting 4 event in Ontario, California. Newell will face TUF veteran Keon Caldwell.

Even though Newell hasn’t yet won his WSOF debut, the promotion announced that a win over Caldwell would earn Newell a spot in its upcoming lightweight tournament, which will crown the promotion’s inaugural 155-pound champion. If Newell does indeed enter that tournament, he’ll have a chance to prove once and for all that he’s truly a UFC-caliber fighter.

Why, you ask? Well, simply because the tournament is stacked with top international lightweights including a number of UFC veterans. Dan Lauzon will be in the tournament, as will the winner of an excellent WSOF 4 match up between Tyson Griffin and Gesias Calvacante.

Of course, all this doesn’t sit so well with Keon Caldwell’s camp, who tell MMA Junkie that they are worried of unfair treatment from the WSOF. While Newell has been publicly guaranteed a spot in the lightweight tournament if he’s victorious this weekend, Caldwell has been given no such offer. (“I just think they’re on the Nick Newell hype train,” said Caldwell’s trainer Richard Cox.)

Also fighting this Saturday will be kickboxing star Tyrone Spong, who will be headlining WSOF 4 against California-bred knockout artist Angel DeAnda. It will be Spong’s second World Series of Fighting appearance following his beat-down of Travis Bartlett in November. You can check out a lil’ video of Spong hitting people and acting cocky after the jump. Above, you can enjoy a mini documentary show on Newell’s life that takes you inside his camp, family, and home.


(Learn more about lightweight rising star Nick Newell and the challenges he’s overcome | Video via MMA World Series Youtube page)

We’ve been following lightweight prospect Nick Newell’s unlikely and inspiring career for some time now here at CagePotato, and this Saturday he makes his next big move at the World Series of Fighting 4 event in Ontario, California. Newell will face TUF veteran Keon Caldwell.

Even though Newell hasn’t yet won his WSOF debut, the promotion announced that a win over Caldwell would earn Newell a spot in its upcoming lightweight tournament, which will crown the promotion’s inaugural 155-pound champion. If Newell does indeed enter that tournament, he’ll have a chance to prove once and for all that he’s truly a UFC-caliber fighter.

Why, you ask? Well, simply because the tournament is stacked with top international lightweights including a number of UFC veterans. Dan Lauzon will be in the tournament, as will the winner of an excellent WSOF 4 match up between Tyson Griffin and Gesias Calvacante.

Of course, all this doesn’t sit so well with Keon Caldwell’s camp, who tell MMA Junkie that they are worried of unfair treatment from the WSOF. While Newell has been publicly guaranteed a spot in the lightweight tournament if he’s victorious this weekend, Caldwell has been given no such offer. (“I just think they’re on the Nick Newell hype train,” said Caldwell’s trainer Richard Cox.)

Also fighting this Saturday will be kickboxing star Tyrone Spong, who will be headlining WSOF 4 against California-bred knockout artist Angel DeAnda. It will be Spong’s second World Series of Fighting appearance following his beat-down of Travis Bartlett in November. You can check out a lil’ video of Spong hitting people and acting cocky after the jump. Above, you can enjoy a mini documentary show on Newell’s life that takes you inside his camp, family, and home.

Elias Cepeda

Video: Check Out Potato Nation Member Nick Newell’s Appearance on Inside MMA Ahead of His XFC Debut Friday

(Video courtesy of YouTube/HDNetFights)

Proving Ground winner and Potato Nation member in good standing Nick Newell appeared on Inside MMA on Monday with Ron Kruck to talk about his upcoming XFC fight and the tragic passing of his good friend Abi Mestre back in April.

“Notorious” Nick’s XFC debut will be a bittersweet one as Abi won the XFC contest for a slot on the promotion’s roster and Nick came second. After Mestre was killed in a motorcycle accident in the spring, the XFC reached out to Nick and offered him the contract in Abi’s place and he accepted with the blessing of Abi’s family.


(Video courtesy of YouTube/HDNetFights)

Proving Ground winner and Potato Nation member in good standing Nick Newell appeared on Inside MMA on Monday with Ron Kruck to talk about his upcoming XFC fight and the tragic passing of his good friend Abi Mestre back in April.

“Notorious” Nick’s XFC debut will be a bittersweet one as Abi won the XFC contest for a slot on the promotion’s roster and Nick came second. After Mestre was killed in a motorcycle accident in the spring, the XFC reached out to Nick and offered him the contract in Abi’s place and he accepted with the blessing of Abi’s family.

Newell will take on 3-3 Florida fighter Denis Hernandez Friday night at XFC 15 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, FL. The event will be broadcast live on HDNet, so if you get the chance to watch it, tune in and cheer on one of our own.

Good luck, Nick!

Video: ‘Proving Ground’ Winner Nick Newell Is Rising Above the Challenges

Nick Newell: 2011 CagePotato.com ‘Proving Ground’ Winner – Watch more Funny Videos

With less than two weeks until Nick Newell‘s fight against Jesse Zeugin at Shark Fights 19 (September 10th; Independence, MO), Break Media Creative Lab spent some time with Nick and put together this killer video profile. (Thanks guys!) The undefeated lightweight — and winner of our Proving Ground competition — discusses his competitive nature and the unique challenges he’s faced during his quest for MMA greatness. Check it out, and stay tuned for more exclusives from “Notorious” leading up to the fight. And as always…

“Like” Nick Newell on Facebook
Follow Nick Newell on Twitter
“Like” Shark Fights on Facebook
Follow Shark Fights on Twitter


Nick Newell: 2011 CagePotato.com ‘Proving Ground’ Winner – Watch more Funny Videos

With less than two weeks until Nick Newell‘s fight against Jesse Zeugin at Shark Fights 19 (September 10th; Independence, MO), Break Media Creative Lab spent some time with Nick and put together this killer video profile. (Thanks guys!) The undefeated lightweight — and winner of our Proving Ground competition — discusses his competitive nature and the unique challenges he’s faced during his quest for MMA greatness. Check it out, and stay tuned for more exclusives from “Notorious” leading up to the fight. And as always…

“Like” Nick Newell on Facebook
Follow Nick Newell on Twitter
“Like” Shark Fights on Facebook
Follow Shark Fights on Twitter