Former Maximum Fighting Championship light heavyweight titleholder Emanuel Newton has signed a new contract and will replace an injured Razak Al-Hassan against UFC veteran Rodney Wallace at MFC 28 on Feb. 25.
Though Newton has lost three of his last four bouts, his most recent outing resulted in victory, as he bested the aforementioned Lewis at MFC 25 in May.
“You’re going to see a totally different fighter now, not just physically and mentally but emotionally, too. I’ve got a lot more drive now,” Newton said in a release.
“The Hardcore Kid” recently switched camps from Team Bodyshop to Kings MMA and has reportedly reinvented himself for his upcoming contest.
“I really had to revamp things,” said Newton. “I’ve stopped smoking, drinking, partying. I’m still a young guy, but I’m at an age now in the sport where I want to make some good money, so I need to be clean and I have to be dedicated to training hard. I can’t have a hard night of partying and then not be able to train. I don’t want anything bad in my body. I’m clean, I’m pure and I’m 100 percent.”
Newton, 27, won the light heavyweight title at MFC 19 in 2008, earning a unanimous decision over Roger Hollett. A World Extreme Cagefighting and International Fight League veteran, Newton posted a 10-fight win streak from 2005 to 2008. He holds seven of his 13 career victories by decision.