Newton dedicated to change

Former champ replacing injured Al-Hassan at MFC 28

A newly re-focused and re-dedicated fighter is hoping to re-establish himself as an elite fighter in the Maximum Fighting Championship.

 He’ll get the opportunity to prove he’s a changed man as an injury replacement at MFC 28: Supremacy.

 Former MFC light heavyweight champion Emanuel “The Hardcore Kid” Newton (13-6-1) has agreed to a new multi-fight contract with the organization, and he will take the spot of Razak Al-Hassan in a matchup against Rodney Wallace (10-3) on the MFC 28: Supremacy card.

 Al-Hassan, who dropped a close decision to Dwayne Lewis at MFC 27, has been sidelined due to an injured back. Wallace had reason to step away from the fight too, as sadly his mother passed away very recently, but “Sho Nuff the Master” has maintained his focus and will seek out his second straight win after getting a decision verdict over David Heath at MFC 27.

 Newton, who just turned 27, has shaken off the issues that dogged him since his title reign.

 “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,” said Newton, who has switched camps from Team Bodyshop to Kings MMA.

 While new trainer Raphael Cordeiro has coaxed out a more aggressive Newton to take advantage of his natural athleticism, changes the fighter undertook on his own have truly made the biggest difference.

 “I really had to revamp things,” explained 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%.”

 Along with all those changes, Newton has also become a new dad caring for his daughter Helena.

 On top of wearing the MFC’s 205-pound title belt, Newton is best-known for an 11-fight undefeated streak that started in April 2005 and ran to December 2008. His impressive run was punctuated by a second-round submission win via rear-naked choke over Heath in his organizational debut at MFC 18. One fight later, his streak had its ultimate highlight when he claimed the MFC’s 205-pound crown with a five-round decision over Roger Hollett at MFC 19.

 Unfortunately the title run was short-lived. At MFC 21, Newton dropped the belt in a five-round verdict against Trevor Prangley. Newton’s career seemed to derail further when he was on the wrong end of a three-round decision against Ryan Jimmo at MFC 23, but the 27-year-old bounced back albeit in an underwhelming performance from both fighters in a decision win over Dwayne Lewis at MFC 25.

 The Newton-Wallace fight is part of the six-bout main card for MFC 28: Supremacy that includes a light-heavyweight title bout between Ryan “The Big Deal” Jimmo and Dwayne “D-Bomb” Lewis, plus lightweight champ Antonio “Mandingo” McKee defends his belt against Drew “Night Rider” Fickett. And in a featured welterweight clash, home-town fan favorite Sheldon Westcott takes on iconic veteran Thomas “Wildman” Denny.

 Tickets for MFC 28: Supremacy which goes down Friday, Feb. 25 at the River Cree Resort and Casino just outside Edmonton, Alberta, are only available by calling the MFC Ticket Hotline at (780) 504-2024.