Nick Newell: I can’t wait to see Gaethje’s face when I take him down
Content Provided by: Dan Bonnell mass-mma.com
“Nick Newell has almost never fought anyone with any kind of grappling skills. So I don’t know what he’s going to do when he can’t take me down.He can’t stop a right hand or a right head kick,” Gaethje said. “That’s what I’m going to throw, over and over.”
Shocking words from WSOF lightweight champion Justin Gaethje as he prepares for #1 contender Notorious Nick Newell. “Good for him I like that he said that , why doesn’t he just go ahead and not train his wrestling for the fight? I cant wait to see his face when I do take him down. Im not invincible to strikes, but if (Throwing a right hand or Kick) that was such a secret, why has’nt anyone else been able to do that? I hope he does come out like that, i hope he does. Make your self as predictable as possible, see what happens…”
Gaethje was quoted in his recent interview with MMAJunkie.com back in March that he felt it “Impossible for Newell to take him down and choke him out as he (Newell) has done so many times before to past opponents. Newell, a jiu jitsu black belt welcomes the challenge and uses the comments as fuel as he prepares for the long awaited world title shot he so eagerly awaits.
When asked if he felt he was more of a submission specialist than a striker Newell responded “I don’t know I have a black belt in jiu jitsu but I feel like i’m just as good a striker as I am on the ground. I love fighting, I enjoy this life im always gonna try to win the easiest and safest way possible. I’ve beat strikers by taking them down. You never see me get outclassed on the feet. I have much better footwork. There is a big question mark about my striking ability because i havent really needed to use it. I’ve fought lots of strikers and i try to fight smart so i take them down. I plan on showing a well rounded game.”
Gaethje has made it clear that being a Div. 1 All-American, that he is the best wrestler Newell will have ever fought and that he will give him fits and wont allow him to take him down. Newell answered in kind “Maybe I haven’t fought someone with his wrestling pedegree on paper but I don’t think he has ever fought someone with as good of wrestling that i have as well. MMA wrestling is different. I have good MMA wrestling. He certainly hasn’t fought anyone as good as me on the ground. (Being an All-American) Doesn’t mean I cant take him down.I cant wait to see his face when i do!”
Newell went on to say “My real advantage is that I have technique because I work harder and im a better fighter. That’s my advantage.”
“I really feel like i have a world class training camp right here at home. I have some of the best coaches in the world. My head coach Jeremy Libiszewski at Fighting Arts Academy is a genious when it comes to MMA and strategy. My boxing coach Scott Labrie, great help from Callendrelli’s in CT and my strength and conditioning coach Matt Ramos. They make me work hard, i get my ass kicked everyday”
Justin Gaethje defends his WSOF title belt for the first time July 5th against the undefeated Nick Newell (11-0) at WSOF 11. For more information on Nick Newell and the WSOF fightcard, stay tuned to MassMMA.com