Newton Prevails in Bellator’s Battle of the Underdogs
By BOB EMANUEL JR. | Scripps Howard News Service
When Bellator MMA signed former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal last year in a ballyhooed addition, he was expected to become one of the faces of the promotion.
Lawal, who also appeared on fellow Spike TV property “Total Nonstop Action” professional wrestling, set a goal to win Bellator’s Season Eight light heavyweight tournament on his way to a second championship run.
But the plan went awry when Emanuel Newton caught Lawal with a spinning back fist, and knocked him out in the first round of the tournament semifinal last month.
“He (Lawal) was always dropping his hands after an exchange,” Newton said. “So I knew his chin was open. I was thinking I could land a spinning back fist or a spinning hook kick or a spinning elbow, something in that area of spinning and having an awkward angle because he always had his hands down. A spinning back fist came first.”
Last week, Newton faced Mikhail Zayats in the light heavyweight tournament finale at Bellator 94 at the University of South Florida Sundome in Tampa, Fla., and emerged victorious with a unanimous decision.
Zayats (21-7) scored an upset of his own in the opening round of the tournament in January when scored a first-round knockout of veteran Renato “Babalu” Sobral. Zayats, who has won 11 of his last 12 fights, then defeated Jacob Noe to advance to the finale.
“He’s a lot faster,” said Newton of his opponent prior to the fight. “He’s smaller than the average light heavyweight. He’s going to be awkward and throw a lot of awkward strikes. I think his submission game is dangerous. You’ve got to watch out for that.
“With me, I have to make sure there are no holes. Whatever holes I can find on him, just capitalize on those and the mistakes he makes. I’m going to be the bigger, more physical fighter. I think technique-wise, when it comes down to the wrestling aspect, my Greco wrestling is really going to shine through that night.”
Newton’s ascension should not come as a surprise. The 10-year veteran has an 19-7-1 record and has now won nine of his last 10 fights. His lone loss was a split decision to current Bellator light heavyweight champion Attila Vegh in the semifinals of Bellator’s summer series tournament in July. Now with a victory over Zayats, Newton has earned a rematch with Vegh.
“I didn’t even lose that fight,” said Newton of his match against Vegh. “I think it was a combination of things. I outstruck 116 to 64 strikes. I had the only takedown in the fight and the cage control. There’s no way … he won the fight. He knows that. All Bellator knows that. But that’s just what happens when you leave it in the hands of the judges.”
