Nick Newell was scheduled to make his first XFC lightweight title defense on June 14th at XFC 24 in Tampa but the XFC has announced that Newell has been stripped of the title after not accepting the fight against Scott Holtzman. 
The XFC is now looking for a new opponent for Holtzman and the fight will be for the now vacant XFC lightweight title. According to XFC President John Prisco, an announcement on a new opponent for Holtzman will take place over the weekend.
In a press release sent out on Friday by XFC, Prisco stated he is disappointed that Newell will not be defending the XFC title next month.
“Extremely disappointed,” Prisco said via a XFC press release. “I’ve never had a champion refuse to defend his title. Signed fighters in our organization have put in the time, effort, and literally blood, sweat, and tears. We have some very talented Lightweights and every guy on the roster knows from the beginning they’re going to have to fight the top fighters in the division to get their crack at the belt. Hell, many of the guys in our organization have similar XFC records to Nick Newell. They have paid the price to get to this point in their career. So for Nick to deny Scott Holtzman, or any of those that earn their shot, the same opportunity that he was given, is disrespectful in my eyes. It’s always been our motto, if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. How can that happen, if your Champion will not defend his title. That’s not a true Champion.”
Newell (9-0) has gone 4-0 in the XFC since being signed to the organization after a tryout. Eight of his nine career wins have come in the first round and six of those have come in under two minutes.
When Newell signed with the XFC, he told Prisco that he was having trouble getting fights. The XFC was able to offer him fights with fighters that were willing to fight him and Prisco believes it’s hypocritical for him to turn down a fight.
“Listen, when Nick came to us at the XFC Tryouts, his biggest complaint was that no one would take a fight against him. Everyone was telling him, it’s a no-win situation taking the fight. If you beat him, you beat a guy with half an arm and if you lose, you just lost to a guy with half an arm. He knew by signing with our promotion that he was going to be guaranteed fights, as our fighters fight the person I put in front of them. Nick built his name on fighters who were willing to step up and fight him. And now, the opportunity he received, he is not willing to extend to Scott, even though they both carry the same XFC record (4-0). To me, that’s hypocritical and I have zero respect and no room for any individual that acts like that in my organization.”
Prisco went on to state in the press release that he believes Newell knew he would not be able to win and he saw Holtzman winning the fight in the first round.
“I think Nick knows what I believe. He was going to lose. Nick knows he can’t defend himself when someone like Scott puts him on his back. I believe Scott is one of the most talented 155ers on the planet. He’s training on the west coast right now with Benson Henderson for that very reason. In my eyes, I saw the fight going 1st round stoppage – Holtzman by ground and pound.”
“So I had to make one of the hardest phone calls that I’ve ever had to make as a promoter, I had to call Scott Holtzman and tell him that the current champion is unwilling to fight him for his earned title shot.”
Holtzman has issued a statement through the XFC and is disappointed that Newell did not want to face him.
“Its disappointing to hear that Nick Newell doesn’t feel I’m worthy enough to step into the cage with him, Holtzman said. “This is what happens when a fighter is surrounded by a bunch of ‘yes’ men. He starts to believe his own hype. Don’t get this story twisted, Nick Newell isn’t concerned about the ‘name’ he’s wanting to beat, he’s concerned about the name that was about to beat him. He’s gonna tell you all that this was about him wanting to beat a ‘UFC vet’, but its not. He knew a loss was coming and he’s playing damage control. He’s making sure he covers his ass. He’s making sure he can say, ‘yea I lost, but it was to a UFC vet’, instead of having to say he lost to Scott Holtzman.”
Prisco has always maintained that he does not want his organization to be a feeder league for the UFC and he wants to develop new talent. When the XFC was negotiating with Newell’s current management team for this fight, they made it clear that their client was only interested in fighting ex-UFC fighters.
“When negotiating with his management regarding this fight, they were telling me about being offered a lot of money to fight for another promotion. We responded that if it’s about money, bring us the best offer and we’ll agree to match that offer. They did, we matched it, and we were again refused by Nick saying he only wants to fight ex-UFC fighters.”
Newell or his management team have released a statement over being stripped of the XFC title and the comments made by Prisco.