Newton Ready For Lindland:canadian Veteran Faces Toughest Test Friday Since His Return
Newton Ready for Lindland: Canadian Veteran Faces Toughest Test Friday Since His Return By Peter Parsons
Carlos Newton made his return to the world of MMA last September as the coach of the Toronto Dragons in the IFL. After a two-year absence from fighting, Newton stepped back into the ring at the K-1 Hero’s event last October, defeating Tokimitsu Ishizawa in just 22 seconds by TKO. Newton closed out 2006 in a rematch with fellow IFL coach Renzo Gracie, losing a controversial split decision at the IFL’s World Team Championship Finals on December 29th. "As soon as they said split decision, I was like, ‘Oh boy.’" Newton continues, "We still have a lot of progress to be made in this industry as far as the judging goes." This was one of a few close decisions in Newton’s career that he found himself on the short end of, including split decision losses to Dan Henderson at UFC 17 and Daiju Takase at Pride: Bushido 3. "For me, that type of disappointment is nothing new, you know I have a lot of blemishes on my record, so in time it’s something I learned to take in stride and take it as it comes. I continuously fight the best guys in the world and I think everyone respects that," said the 13-12 Newton. Newton will undoubtedly be fighting one of the best fighters in the world on Friday night as he returns to the IFL ring in Houston, Texas. Newton will be facing fellow IFL coach Matt Lindland, who is considered by many to be the top middleweight in the world. When asked to comment on the recent signing of Lindland by BodogFight to face the number one heavyweight in the world, Fedor Emelienenko on April 6 in Russia, Newton responded, "that’s up to him and his manager you know to make those decisions, for me personally I wouldn’t take a fight like that." Newton continues, "Some guys have their own reasons and you’ve got to respect his decision. I’m sure they’re going to do great. Matt’s a tough guy and Fedor’s not going to take him lightly." Newton did not reveal a set game plan for his fight with Lindland, but had this to say, "Game plan is to go out there and fight hard and throw everything at him. I don’t know how serious of an opponent he takes me, but I know he respects my skills. I’m a comfortable 185 now and I think he’s going to get a little bit more then what he expects and it’s going to be a great fight." A victory over Matt Lindland would show that the former UFC welterweight champ still belongs at the top of the MMA heap. Newton remains confident that he still has what it takes to compete with the best. "I know he’s the top middleweight in the world right now and I just want to see how I will do against someone of his caliber. I strongly believe that I can win this fight, it’s a good match-up for me." Newton remains unfazed when talking about his underdog role in his fight with Lindland. "That kind of stuff doesn’t play in my mind one bit, underdog or not, a fight’s a fight and you got to do your best each time." Training for the fight has been going very well for Carlos. "I just rolled the training from the Renzo fight straight through. After the Renzo fight I only took about three or four days off and went right back into the gym again," said Newton, who has been training with his IFL Dragons. "When you have so many talented fighters in the same room, there’s a real wealth of knowledge and experience there that you can easily tap into. Very often as a coach it goes both ways, you’re learning and teaching at the same time," said the jiu-jitsu expert Newton who trains his kickboxing with long time trainer and manager Terry Riggs and his boxing with Everton McEwen. When asked if the two-year layoff helped rejuvenate his career, Newton replied, "The layoff helped rejuvenate ME. It was the break I needed. I needed to sit back and relax and enjoy some of my accomplishments." Newton, the first ever Canadian UFC champion was a pioneer in the Canadian MMA scene. "I think I definitely paved the way for Canadian fighters. I think the other guys would admit to that. I’ve been doing this for 12 years, that ain’t no drop in the bucket." Newton plans on fighting for quite some time yet. "I’m still fairly young, I’m only 30 years old, I’ll be doing this for at least another eight years." This is good news for fans of the "Ronin" who can look forward to watching the charismatic fighter continue his MMA journey starting Friday night with his toughest fight since returning to MMA last fall. |
IFL Press Release: "INTERNATIONAL FIGHT LEAGUE’S TOTAL IMPACT" PROGRAM TO DEBUT ON MARCH 13 ON MYNETWORKTV New Series Chronicling IFL Stars’ Bout Action and Life Out of Ring Will Air Mondays 8-10 p.m. NEW YORK, February 1, 2007 – A new television series, "International Fight League’s Total Impact," which follows the athletes, coaches and personalities of the International Fight League, the world’s first team-based professional mixed martial arts organization, heads this spring’s new lineup on MyNetworkTV. The program will air each Monday from 8-10 p.m. across the entire MyNetworkTV network, which reaches more than 95% of U.S. homes, beginning on March 13. This marks the first regularly-scheduled over-the-air broadcast of the sport of mixed martial arts. In the IFL, 12 five man teams (10 based in the United States, one based in Toronto and one in Tokyo) each with a world champion coach, will vie over a nine month, 11 event season for the first-ever IFL Championship. IFL cameras will cover the stories of each of the athletes both in and out of the ring, bringing fans all of the event and behind the scenes action. Segments will take viewers up close during the competition and also into the locker rooms, training routines, and home lives of this diverse set of athletes who are a part of the world’s fastest growing professional and recreational sport. Each program will be re-broadcasted on Saturdays from 8-10 p.m. local time in each market. |