It was just a little more than one year ago that not many mixed martial arts fans knew the name of Emanuel Newton, but that all changed when he knocked out Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal in the semifinals of the season eight light heavyweight tournament.
He would go on to win the tournament and would beat Lawal for a second time to win the interim Bellator light heavyweight title in November.
Newton (22-7-1) is happy to have his fights with Lawal being him and he will now face Attila Vegh in a light heavyweight title unification bout.
This will be the second time that Newton steps into the cage as their first meeting took place at Bellator 72 in the 2012 Summer Series tournament semifinal. Vegh would win the fight by split decision, but most people felt that Newton should have won the fight and moved onto the final. However, Vegh walked away victorious, won the tournament and defeated Christian M’Pumbu for the title last year.
When talking to TheMMAReport.com earlier this week, Newton maintained that he has nothing but respect for Vegh. While Newton believes that Vegh is a good person, he knows what his job is tonight and that is to walk out of the cage with the victory and the undisputed Bellator light heavyweight title.
“I think he’s a very good man and he’s never treated me with disrespect,” Newton said. “But it’s a fight and I’m going in there to win. And especially with the way my life is going now, I have the most confidence in myself, my style, my mind, my trainers and my training but mostly with my God. I’m going to go in there and I’m going to win fights, because he’s going to bless me with amazing victories.
Newton has grown as a fighter since there first meeting back in the summer of 2012 as he has won five fights in a row. One of the characteristics that Newton is known for in the cage is his odd style. It’s tough for fighters to prepare for his style, since Newton says no one can emulate his game.
“No one has a style like me. I have an awkward kicking style. I don’t take damage in fights because my side kicks keep people away. And if they land something, it doesn’t land with power because of the way I’m moving and the angle of my body. I can kick you at the same time and you’ll either be unconscious or it might only land with 20% power.”
Part of his unique style is how he has the ability to stay away from his opponents offensive attacks. Also, he has been working on a southpaw style and can actually fight naturally this way now.
“My opponents are always in danger too, even when my back is turned, and I’m never in danger. I’m never out of position. And now I have this southpaw style that I’ve been working on; I can fight a whole fight from southpaw naturally. My power is translating better from southpaw because my left side is actually my stronger side. I don’t anyone fights like me now and I’m still making things better and different.”
Newton has a simple message for Vegh prior to the two men stepping into the cage tonight and he is going to become the undisputed champion.
“So, Attila, you’re a good man and a good person. I wish all the best for you, but I’m going to beat you because I’m so prepared: I’m prepared to fight you, I’m prepared to win and I’m prepared to have an amazing victory.”