Tag: Nick Newell

‘Warrior’, as Reviewed by Real-Life MMA Fighter Nick Newell

Nick Newell Warrior movie review
(Wise choice, Nick.)

By Nick Newell

Though I’ve never done a movie review before, I have seen two or three of them in my day, so when CagePotato.com and Break.com asked me to do a review of the new MMA-themed film WARRIOR, I told them I’ll check my schedule. Under ten seconds later I happily agreed.

With the bar on MMA-themed movies being set to an embarrassing low with such Academy Award-worthy gems as Fighting and Never Back Down, I didn’t really know what to expect from WARRIOR. I actually left Never Back Down out of embarrassment after the chubby sidekick told the main character, “You’ve gotta train Mai Thai.”

Regardless, I did my best Bangs impression and took my Shorty to the movies to go see Warrior. After sitting through previews that accused Billy Shakespeare of being a plagiarizing charlatan and dancing gerbils driving ugly cars it was Showtime!

Nick Newell Warrior movie review
(Wise choice, Nick.)

By Nick Newell

Though I’ve never done a movie review before, I have seen two or three of them in my day, so when CagePotato.com and Break.com asked me to do a review of the new MMA-themed film WARRIOR, I told them I’ll check my schedule. Under ten seconds later I happily agreed.

With the bar on MMA-themed movies being set to an embarrassing low with such Academy Award-worthy gems as Fighting and Never Back Down, I didn’t really know what to expect from WARRIOR. I actually left Never Back Down out of embarrassment after the chubby sidekick told the main character, “You’ve gotta train Mai Thai.”

Regardless, I did my best Bangs impression and took my Shorty to the movies to go see Warrior. After sitting through previews that accused Billy Shakespeare of being a plagiarizing charlatan and dancing gerbils driving ugly cars it was Showtime!

I was fully expecting campy dialogue accompanied by terrible acting, and boy was I wrong. The plot made sense and unraveled well. All in all, WARRIOR really packs a punch (get it!). Tommy Conlon (Tom Hardy) is a former high school wrestling star and Marine with a past filled with demons, which eventually come out as the movie unwinds. After the death of his mother and going incognito for a number of years, Tommy returns to the home of his alcoholic and abusive father Paddy Conlon (Nick Nolte) to remind him that he’s a piece of shit while also asking him to help him train for MMA competition.

Unknowingly, his brother Brendan Conlon (Joel Edgerton), a retired MMA fighter with a failed stint in the UFC, is now a high school physics teach who spent all of his money on strippers and cocaine. Did I say strippers and cocaine? I meant he spent all his money on surgery for his ailing daughter who suffers from heart problems. Anyways he faces the possibility of the bank foreclosing on his home unless he comes up with some money fast.

Against the wishes of his wife he makes a comeback to the world of Mixed Martial Arts. Eventually there is a big-time tournament called Sparta with a winner-takes-all five million dollar purse. I’m not going to tell you whether or not they make it into the tournament, but they do. What follows is an epic mixed martial arts tournament that was a throwback to all my favorite movies from back in the day (all of which starred JCVD). The ending even got me a little choked up and made my girlfriend cry.

Although no cast will ever stack up to the original line up in Predator (body mass alone!) the main cast had a lot of depth and played their roles really well. Joel Edgerton played a real likable guy and I believe I noticed a little cauliflower ear. Tom Hardy was a BAD ASS anti-hero and had traps so big he could catch a bear. Nick Nolte was so grizzled and his skin looked like leather! His character was real old school and I believe he taught Chris Brown how to treat a woman.

I also thought it was pretty cool that for the tournament competitors they cast actual MMA Fighters Erik Apple, Nate Marquardt, and Anthony Johnson as well as Olympic gold medalist and pro wrestling superstar Kurt Angle playing a scary Russian stud which I know sounds corny and unbelievable but he makes it work by not talking (it’s true! It’s true). Other MMA fighters & personalities who make appearances include Roan Carneiro, Yves Edwards, Stephan Bonnar, Rashad Evans, Hans Marrero and referee Josh Rosenthal.

On a scale of 1 to 2, with 1 meaning it blew ass and 2 meaning it was a good flick, it is definitely a 2. So gather up your broskis and make the trip to your local theatre and see WARRIOR!!!

Holler at Nick Newell on Facebook and Twitter.

Aw Crap: Staph Infection Knocks Nick Newell Out of Shark Fights 19


(Come on bro, I’m trying to eat breakfast over here.)

By Nick Newell

Unfortunately due to some circumstances that are out of my control I will not be able to make my Shark Fights debut on September 10th. I have a staph infection on my face that will not heal in time to be cleared for combat. This is my first experience with staph and it couldn’t have come at any worse of a time.

Having wrestled in high school and college I am no stranger to the existence and possibility of skin infections, but I have never experienced anything like this. I always make sure to shower immediately after practice and regularly clean my gear. None of my training partners have staph so it truly is a mystery as to how I got it. I used a complementary pillow on a recent airline fight and I believe that may have been the culprit.

It all started on Saturday, August 20th. I was experiencing ear pains, my skin itched and my head was sensitive to the touch. I decide to take action and get it checked out as soon as possible. My regular doctor was away on vacation so I went to the walk-in clinic (big mistake). The doctor gave me a pill to fight infection and a cream to fight fungus. The head and ear pains went away and my skin stopped itching so bad, I was under the impression that I would be all cured in about a week. I was wrong. The entire week I avoided any contact to my face. I focused solely on cardio exercises, strength training and hitting pads. I avoided all wrestling, grappling and sparring as to not spread my infection on myself, to my partners and to allow it to properly heal.


(Come on bro, I’m trying to eat breakfast over here.)

By Nick Newell

Unfortunately due to some circumstances that are out of my control I will not be able to make my Shark Fights debut on September 10th. I have a staph infection on my face that will not heal in time to be cleared for combat. This is my first experience with staph and it couldn’t have come at any worse of a time.

Having wrestled in high school and college I am no stranger to the existence and possibility of skin infections, but I have never experienced anything like this. I always make sure to shower immediately after practice and regularly clean my gear. None of my training partners have staph so it truly is a mystery as to how I got it. I used a complementary pillow on a recent airline fight and I believe that may have been the culprit.

It all started on Saturday, August 20th. I was experiencing ear pains, my skin itched and my head was sensitive to the touch. I decide to take action and get it checked out as soon as possible. My regular doctor was away on vacation so I went to the walk-in clinic (big mistake). The doctor gave me a pill to fight infection and a cream to fight fungus. The head and ear pains went away and my skin stopped itching so bad, I was under the impression that I would be all cured in about a week. I was wrong. The entire week I avoided any contact to my face. I focused solely on cardio exercises, strength training and hitting pads. I avoided all wrestling, grappling and sparring as to not spread my infection on myself, to my partners and to allow it to properly heal.

Saturday night one week later, just as the winds started blowing and the rain started pouring for Hurricane Irene, my face began to feel funky and the cream the walk-in doctor gave me began to burn when I applied it. I woke up Sunday morning with no power and my face had broken out badly. I continued to take my medication as prescribed. I was powerless to leave my house as Hurricane Irene was causing all kinds of havoc outside. By Monday the storm had subsided, trees were down everywhere, many of my family and friends’ houses had been flooded (thank God nobody got hurt), the power was out everywhere and my face was even worse. I was not able to get an appointment on Monday anywhere as they scrambled to get power back and get operations back in order.

I was able to get an appointment with a dermatologist first thing Tuesday morning and he hit me with the bad news. I had a severe case of staph all over my face and neck. The kind of infection I have had become resistant to the medication the walk-in doctor gave me and the cream he gave me was useless from the get go and actually caused a reaction that made the staph break out worse.

He informed me that it won’t go away for at least two weeks and will still be apparent by the time the fight doctor sees me, and he would not clear me to fight. He put me on new medication and informed me that the infection will spread with any physical contact. This meant three weeks of no wrestling, grappling or sparring before a fight that I wouldn’t get medically cleared to compete in anyways.

Even though I knew the dermatologist was right, I went to my doctor for a second opinion and he just reaffirmed everything the dermatologist had told me. Out of respect for Shark Fights and my opponent Jesse Zeugin I must respectfully bow out of my fight on September 10th in Independence, Missouri.

I would like to apologize to Shark Fights, Jesse Zeugin, CagePotato.com, Break.com, and all the fans who supported me to get this far. The Proving Ground contest was awesome and the promo video was absolutely amazing. I have trained long and hard to get where I am today. Fighting is my life and I love it more than anything else I’ve ever done. I work a full time job to pay the bills and dedicate absolutely all my time outside of that to training and becoming a better martial artist. I hardly see my friends and family. I truly know I have what it takes to make it to the top of our sport and I hope that Shark Fights will still provide me with the opportunity to prove it. I hope to get on their October 15th card in NV and show everybody what I’m truly capable of inside the cage. Thank you for your time, I am sorry for all the commotion and I hope this will all work out and I can fight next month.

Follow Nick Newell on Facebook and Twitter, and stay tuned for updates on his return.

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

Exclusive: Nick Newell vs. Jesse Zeugin Booked for Shark Fights 19

CagePotato.com has confirmed with Shark Fights officials that Proving Ground winner Nick Newell (5-0) will make his promotional debut at Shark Fights 19 against fellow lightweight Jesse Zeugin, a 29-year-old fighter from Missouri who holds a 5-2 record with all wins by submission within the first two rounds. Zeugin last competed at Titan Fighting Championship 18 in May, where he lost to Joe “The Nose” Wilk via anaconda choke. He trains out of the Springfield Fight Club alongside TUF 12 finalist Michael Johnson and Strikeforce/Bellator vet Zak Cummings.

Shark Fights 19 takes place September 10th at the Independence Events Center in Independence, Missouri. We’ll release the full fight lineup in the next few days. If you want to come hang out with us at the show, get your tickets here, and follow Shark Fights on Facebook and Twitter.

CagePotato.com has confirmed with Shark Fights officials that Proving Ground winner Nick Newell (5-0) will make his promotional debut at Shark Fights 19 against fellow lightweight Jesse Zeugin, a 29-year-old fighter from Missouri who holds a 5-2 record with all wins by submission within the first two rounds. Zeugin last competed at Titan Fighting Championship 18 in May, where he lost to Joe “The Nose” Wilk via anaconda choke. He trains out of the Springfield Fight Club alongside TUF 12 finalist Michael Johnson and Strikeforce/Bellator vet Zak Cummings.

Shark Fights 19 takes place September 10th at the Independence Events Center in Independence, Missouri. We’ll release the full fight lineup in the next few days. If you want to come hang out with us at the show, get your tickets here, and follow Shark Fights on Facebook and Twitter.

CagePotato Proving Ground: Nick Newell Is Your #1 Contender!


(Props: facebook.com/nicknewellmma)

After locking down the popular vote by a wide margin last week, we’re proud to announce that undefeated lightweight fighter “Notorious” Nick Newell has been crowned the “#1 Contender” in our Proving Ground competition. With his unique personal story, boyish charm, and the fact that he’s never let an opponent survive past the first round, we thought he was the perfect candidate to represent us at Shark Fights 19, September 10th in Independence, Missouri. (Tickets available here.) It’s an opportunity that could bring Nick steady fights for the first time in his career, televised matches, money, power, and fame. Today marks the beginning of that journey, and we’re incredibly psyched to be a part of it.

Keep your eye on the Proving Ground homepage in the coming weeks as we announce Nick’s opponent and release exclusive videos detailing Nick’s preparation for the big fight. Please become a Fan of Nick Newell on Facebook, and follow him on Twitter. Thanks as always to Shark Fights for making this possible; do us a favor and follow them on Facebook and Twitter as well.


(Props: facebook.com/nicknewellmma)

After locking down the popular vote by a wide margin last week, we’re proud to announce that undefeated lightweight fighter “Notorious” Nick Newell has been crowned the “#1 Contender” in our Proving Ground competition. With his unique personal story, boyish charm, and the fact that he’s never let an opponent survive past the first round, we thought he was the perfect candidate to represent us at Shark Fights 19, September 10th in Independence, Missouri. (Tickets available here.) It’s an opportunity that could bring Nick steady fights for the first time in his career, televised matches, money, power, and fame. Today marks the beginning of that journey, and we’re incredibly psyched to be a part of it.

Keep your eye on the Proving Ground homepage in the coming weeks as we announce Nick’s opponent and release exclusive videos detailing Nick’s preparation for the big fight. Please become a Fan of Nick Newell on Facebook, and follow him on Twitter. Thanks as always to Shark Fights for making this possible; do us a favor and follow them on Facebook and Twitter as well.

‘Proving Ground’ Finalist of the Day: Nick Newell Is Tired of You Ducking Him

(Please don’t bust on my shaky interviewing skills for this one; we can’t all be Helwani.)

While in Boston for CagePotato’s first (and last) UFC Fan Expo appearance, I had the opportunity to meet Nick Newell, an undefeated lightweight fighter from Massachusetts. After teaching me how to use my microphone, Newell discussed how he got into MMA, and the advantages and disadvantages of being a congenital amputee. The worst part about having one hand? Nobody wants to fight you. Here’s what he told us last year:

“The last five fights I’ve trained for, I’ve only gotten to do two of them, from people pulling out. Last time I was supposed to fight a guy and he never even showed up to weigh-ins. So it’s real hard for me to get fights. I’m not picky with who I fight, I’ll take whoever. And I feel like a lot of leagues are afraid to use me, because they don’t want to be labeled as a ‘freak show’ match. But it’s not like that at all. I train probably harder than anyone else, and I dedicate my life to this.”

For the five men who were actually brave enough to step into the cage with Nick in professional fights…well, they lost. Nick has finished all of his opponents in the first round, submitting the last four in under two minutes. And yet he still can’t find regular work in this sport — which is why a contract with Shark Fights would be so important for his career.

Visit Nick’s Proving Ground page to watch him demolish three of his past opponents, and click his Facebook “Like” button if you want to see him represent CagePotato.com at Shark Fights 19!


(Please don’t bust on my shaky interviewing skills for this one; we can’t all be Helwani.)

While in Boston for CagePotato’s first (and last) UFC Fan Expo appearance, I had the opportunity to meet Nick Newell, an undefeated lightweight fighter from Massachusetts. After teaching me how to use my microphone, Newell discussed how he got into MMA, and the advantages and disadvantages of being a congenital amputee. The worst part about having one hand? Nobody wants to fight you. Here’s what he told us last year:

“The last five fights I’ve trained for, I’ve only gotten to do two of them, from people pulling out. Last time I was supposed to fight a guy and he never even showed up to weigh-ins. So it’s real hard for me to get fights. I’m not picky with who I fight, I’ll take whoever. And I feel like a lot of leagues are afraid to use me, because they don’t want to be labeled as a ‘freak show’ match. But it’s not like that at all. I train probably harder than anyone else, and I dedicate my life to this.”

For the five men who were actually brave enough to step into the cage with Nick in professional fights…well, they lost. Nick has finished all of his opponents in the first round, submitting the last four in under two minutes. And yet he still can’t find regular work in this sport — which is why a contract with Shark Fights would be so important for his career.

Visit Nick’s Proving Ground page to watch him demolish three of his past opponents, and click his Facebook “Like” button if you want to see him represent CagePotato.com at Shark Fights 19!