Nick Newell announces retirement from MMA

[Edge Guerrero]

After decision win at WSOF 24

MASHANTUCKET, Conn. – In a surprising move, recent WSOF lightweight title challenger Nick Newell won his fight Saturday night, then announced his retirement.

Newell (13-1) will leave MMA with just one loss – to current WSOF lightweight champ Justin Gaethje in a July 2014 title fight. Newell, born with a congenital amputation of his left arm, said that at 29, with more than half his life spent in wrestling and MMA, his body can no longer take the toll.

He also said he believes his retirement will stick.

“Never say never, but this is not like I’m going to change my mind on Monday,” Newell told MMAjunkie after WSOF 24, which took place at Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Mashantucket, Conn. “This is something serious. I think this is it. I think it’s time, and I’m going to focus on some other things.”

Newell took a unanimous decision from Tom Marcellino (7-4) on the main card, which aired on NBCSN. But due to audio issues, his in-cage retirement announcement wasn’t part of the broadcast.

Newell wasn’t able to get off a ton of offense in the win over Marcellino, and his opponent was far from thrilled at the decision, which saw Newell take a trio of 29-28 scores. But his top position for much of the fight apparently was enough to get the job done.

Newell, a Connecticut native who won in front of his home fans, acknowledged it wasn’t his best performance.

“It’s a hard decision, but I think I’ve proven a lot,” he said. “I was never the best in the world, but I was always a fan favorite and I always came to fight. Tonight was not the real me, and I don’t want to give that to my fans. I want them to remember me as the guy throwing people over his head and going bonkers and heel hooking people. I’m not that 25-year-old kid that can come out like a whirling dervish looking for blood. I’ve been doing this since I was 14 and I never stopped because I always wanted to be the best version of me possible, and my time is up.”

For the rest of the interview clikc here:http://mmajunkie.com/2015/10/after-decision-win-at-wsof-24-nick-newell-announces-retirement-from-mma

- Congratualtions to Nick Newell and good lucky in his new jorney.

If I could ease your mind, calm the storm inside
Pull your drifting heart back from a cruel and bitter tide
Show you that tomorrow everything will be just fine
Oh in due time

Somewhere down the road your stars will show
Somewhere down the road you're almost home
You're almost home

If you believe in nothing else
Just keep believing in yourself
There will be times of trouble, it's gonna hurt like hell
This much I know, all ends well
It all ends well

If I could heal the scars
Show you what you are
Bind the wounds of disbelief
That brought you down so hard
I would be the tourniquet around your doubting heart
Oh in due time

Somewhere down the road your stars will show
Somewhere down the road you're almost home
You're almost home