Nick Newell scored a big win in his promotional debut at Bellator 225, submitting Corey Browning in the first-round in front of his home of Connecticut.
Nick Newell will be making his promotional debut at Bellator 225. Newell has famously competed with one arm in multiple promotions, amassing a 15-2 record in MMA. His best run came in WSOF, where he went 4-1 with two first-round submissions, and the lone loss coming in a title shot against top-five lightweight Justin Gaethje. Since 208, he is 2-1 with wins in LFA and CES, and the loss coming on Dana White’s Contender Series.
Corey Browning started his career at 3-2, then signed with Bellator and has since scored wins over two opponents as an underdog. In his promotional debut, he defeated Kimbo’s son Baby Slice, then submitted reality TV star Aaron Chalmers in February.
Nick Newell got off to a hot start, hitting Browning with several punches before landing a takedown. Newell got right into side control, then the crucifix position and landed several elbows. Browning got his arm free, but Newell then transitioned into mount. He began to establish an arm-triangle, and it was tight. Newell move to side control to lock up the choke. That was all she wrote as Browning was forced to tap.
On top of being his debut for a top promotion like Bellator, this bout was even more important for Newell, as he is originally from Connecticut. In his post-fight interview, he called out the people who doubted him and proclaimed that Connecticut is full of sharks.
Nick Newell def. Corey Browning by Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) in Round 1 (3:15)
