5 Fights Added to World Series of Fighting 4

5 Fights Added to World Series of Fighting 4

Slated for the live, fight-five NBC Sports Network telecast of the World Series of Fighting event is a light heavyweight (205 pounds) showdown between world kickboxing champion turned unbeaten MMA upstart Tyrone “King of the Ring” Spong (1-0) of Boca Raton, Fla. via Suriname and fellow hard-hitting KO artist Angel “The Dream” DeAnda (11-2).

The 27-year-old Spong is a veteran of 77 professional kickboxing bouts while DeAnda has scored (T)KOs in 10 of his 11 career MMA victories, including his last four starts

Red-hot Marlon Moraes (10-4) of Jupiter, Fla. will battle fellow streaking bantamweight (135 pounds) Brandon “Hot Rod” Hempleman (9-1) of Boise, Idaho. The 25-year-old Moraes is coming off his fourth consecutive victory – a stunning first round (2:55) KO of rival star Tyson Nam by way of head kick at the World Series of Fighting event on March 23 – while Hempleman is a winner of six consecutive fights.

In other main card action, World Series of Fighting President and six-time world kickboxing champion Ray Sefo (2-1) of Las Vegas will shed his business attire and put on his fighting trunks and combat gloves to face heavy-handed KO artist Dave Huckaba (20-5) of Sacramento, Calif.
Sefo, also a two-time Hall of Famer, has faced and defeated nearly every major rival of his era in the kickboxing ring, while Huckaba, a dangerous and seasoned power puncher, has earned 16 of his 20 career victories by way of (T)KO.

“This will be, without a doubt, our finest event to date in terms of the talent lined up from top to bottom,” said Sefo. “As a promoter, I am extremely proud of this fight card that our company has assembled for our fourth live event and, as a fighter who still has the burning desire to compete, I am naturally excited to have the opportunity to step in the cage and show what I can do in there against a seasoned opponent.”

In other main card action, Tyson Griffin (16-6) of Santa Rosa, Calif. will face off with fellow lightweight (155 pounds) star J.Z. Cavalcante (17-7-1) of Deerfield Beach, Fla. via Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Newly signed, undefeated phenomenon “Notorious” Nick Newell (9-0) of Springfield, Mass. will square off with Keon “The Black Assassin” Caldwell (9-1) of Moultrie, Ga. in another lightweight scrap. Newell has earned eight of his nine career wins by (T)KO or submission while, similarly, Caldwell has notched eight of his nine career victories by way of (T)KO.

In preliminary card action, welterweight (170 pounds) stars Jorge Santiago (25-11) of Boca Raton, Fla. via Rio de Janeiro and Gerald “Hurricane” Harris (21-5) of Tulsa, Okla. will collide.
Additional preliminary card bouts will be announced soon.

Unbeaten Nick Newell Signs with World Series of Fighting

Unbeaten Nick Newell Signs with World Series of Fighting

Unbeaten inspiration “Notorious” Nick Newell (9-0) of Springfield, Mass. has signed a multi-fight contract to compete for premier MMA promotion World Series of Fighting, it was announced today.

Newell is expected to make his debut for World Series of Fighting, live on NBC Sports Network,  on a summer date to be announced soon.

Born with only one arm, the 27-year-old, 5-foot-10 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt and skilled Muay Thai-based striker has defied all odds throughout his life, winning over 300 career high school and collegiate wrestling matches before transitioning to MMA.

As a lightweight competitor, Newell has finished eight of his nine career professional MMA opponents – six by submission and one by KO.  All but one of his victories came inside of the first round of action.

“Nick Newell is an incredible individual who exemplifies the sheer strength of the human spirit and the kind of courage and determination that martial arts embodies, so we are naturally thrilled to welcome him to the World Series of Fighting roster, and look forward to having him compete and, hopefully inspire, our national audience on NBC Sports Network,” said World Series of Fighting President, six-time world kickboxing champion and two-time Hall of Famer Ray Sefo.

Newell, a two-time wrestling team captain for Western New England University, also holds the Connecticut state record for most wins (53) in a season of high school wrestling.

On June 20, 2009, Newell made his professional MMA debut, scoring a monstrous first round TKO on Daniel Ford with a barrage of punches in Plymouth, Mass.  In his last start on Dec. 7, Newell made quick work of Eric Reynolds, submitting Reynolds with a rear-naked choke in the first round of their matchup in Nashville, Tenn.

Newell was honored with the 2011 Boston Herald Submission of the Year award after he forced Denis Hernandez to tap out from a splendid heel hook in the first round (1:11) of their bout in Tampa, Fla.

Nick Newell vs Scott Holtzman Title Fight Targeted for XFC 24

Nick Newell vs Scott Holtzman targeted for XFC 24 

A lightweight title fight between Nick Newell and Scott Holtzman is expected to take place in June at XFC 24 in Tampa, Florida.

Congenital amputee Newell (9-0, 4-0 XFC) who will be defending his belt for the fist time, having earned the strap at XFC 21 in December submitting Eric Reynolds by rear-naked choke in the first round, has finished 8 of his 9 opponents despite missing his left hand and most of his left forearm.

His opponent, challenger Scott Holtzman (4-0, 4-0 XFC) who turn pro in February 2012 has finished 3 of 4 opponents, and recent earned his title shot at February's XFC 22 beating Jason Hicks by unanimous decision in a number one contender bout.

XFC 24 is likely to take place at Times Forum, formerly St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, with the main card expected to air live on US fight network AXS TV.

For more on XFC 24, stay tuned to the Calendar section on out site.