On paper, 2015 did not appear to be a good year for former Bellator light-heavyweight champion Emanuel “Hardcore Kid” Newton.
Losses to Liam McGeary and Phil Davis marked the first time in six years that Newton had dropped back-to-back bouts. Still, Newton feels the year had a positive impact on his career and is looking forward to using what he learned as he starts his 2016 campaign.
“Last year I felt was a huge growing year for me,” Newton told MMAWeekly.com. “It’s been my whole career: I lose a couple and win a bunch, then I lose a couple more and win a bunch. I always come back a better person, a better man, with a deeper understanding of myself and everything that I am.
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“I don’t feel I did anything wrong. Things happened as they were supposed to. I learned there are certain things I cannot do and certain things I should not do, and with that learning, I should have a better year this year.”
Newton (25-9-1) will look to get back in the win column when he returns at Bellator 149 on Feb. 19 in Houston, Texas, in a rematch from with Linton Vassell (16-5) in a main card light heavyweight bout. Newton won their first match-up, which occurred in late 2014.
“I’m sure a lot can change in that time,” said Newton facing Vassell over a year later. “From what I saw in Linton’s last fight, he looked a lot the same, but I know he’s getting a lot stronger and more seasoned. I definitely know he’s grown as a fighter, but his style really hasn’t changed much since we fought last time.
“In the last fight, we went five rounds before I was able to finish him in the fifth, and he got me in a lot of bad situations, so it’s just a matter of refining and fixing the mistakes in the last fight so they don’t happen again.”
For Newton, getting a second win over Vassell is just as important is if he were facing a new opponent on his road back to the top of Bellator.
“Every fight in my life is the most important fight,” said Newton. “Not only am I furthering my career and getting closer to title contention, but I’m also able to provide for my family and for the people around me.
“This fight is very important to me. I never look past anybody. He put the time in, so I have respect for that, and I’m going to go in there and give him the best fight I can because he deserves it, just like he’ll do the same for me.”
Newton is looking for Feb. 19 to being the first step towards getting back to where he was a couple years ago and that much closer to reclaiming his title.
“My goal is to get all victories,” said Newton. “I want to have a winning year just like I’ve had before. I want to get all wins with finishes, God willing, and climb back to the top.”
Source: EMMANUEL NEWTON READY TO RETURN WITH A VENGEANCE AFTER ‘GROWING YEAR’ by Mick Hammond