One of the most inspirational and captivating fighters we’ve ever seen has to be “Notorious” Nick Newell.

Newell is most well known for being the fighter with one arm. But this hasn’t affected the highly decorated college wrestler what so ever as he’s amassed a professional MMA record of 14-1 with eleven of those wins coming by way of finish(nine submissions, two knockouts).

His one and only loss? Well, that came in a World Series of Fighting title against the then reigning champion and current top UFC lightweight contender, Justin “the Highlight” Gaethje. After Newell’s big return victory over Sonny Luque at LFA 35 last Friday, many have been buzzing about Newell needing to get his shot in the UFC and Gaethje is included in that crowd.

https://twitter.com/Justin_Gaethje/status/974027691971166208

I believe @NotoriousNewell deserves a shot. This sport hurts and it is unforgiving, much like some mma fans and critics. He will get hurt and lose like the the rest of us, it will not be because he is lacking in skill or suffering from a disability but because we are #Gladiators

Also chiming in with agreement with Gaethje was top UFC featherweight, Cub Swanson and former rival of Gaethje’s, Luis Palomino.

As one would imagine, the thirty-one-year-old Newell believes he’s ready as well.

“I didn’t know so many people cared about me so much [getting beat up by UFC fighters]. Oh my god, thank you for looking out for me. Where have you been my whole life?

They said the same thing about women. Like, ‘oh don’t have women in the UFC because no one wants to see them get beat up.’. Then you got chicks with their ears fallin’ off and their noses busted and crooked and people are like ‘sweet’ ya know?

I’ve trained with a lot of high-level guys and I know that i’m ready for the UFC and i’m more prepared and i’m going to win fights there and if I lose i’ve earned the right to lose.”

Do you think Newell should get a shot in the UFC?

 

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 3/14/2018.