1. Background

2. Mixed martial arts career
    Early career: World Extreme Cagefighting and King of the Cage  Maximum Fighting Championship title and Shark Fights  Bellator MMA  Post-Bellator 

3. Championships and accomplishments

4. Mixed martial arts record

5. See also

6. References

Background

Newton was born in Inglewood, California, and grew up in Torrance, California. Growing up, Newton had an interest in swimming, surfing, and lifeguarding. Newton's father had done some boxing and Muay Thai training, but died when Newton was 10 years old. Newton wrestled and played football, as a defensive end at North High School (Torrance, California). Then, six years later, Newton's mother died and Newton lost interest in his schoolwork. His poor grades did not allow him to continue playing football, but he had improved enough by the start of the wrestling season to continue in that sport. After high school, he went to Cerritos College, but began training with former UFC fighter Paul Herrera, who has also trained former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz.^[3]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career: World Extreme Cagefighting and King of the Cage

Newton started his MMA career in 2003. Despite having lost his first two bouts against Brian Ebersole and Tim McKenzie respectively, he has fought for WEC once on August 20, 2004 against André Mussi, getting then his first victory via unanimous decision after three rounds.^[4]

Newton also fought for KOTC, obtaining a draw against the UFC veteran Hector Ramirez and a victory over the WEC veteran Richard Montoya.^[5][6]

After his win over Jeff Quinlan in IFL, Newton celebrated by buying a motorcycle. Unfortunately, Newton was involved in a crash while driving at 152 miles per hour on a highway in California. He was hit by a car and fell onto the pavement at an estimated 140 mph. He had never broken any bones before but had broken his arm from this accident. He had to have five surgeries on his arm, and developed a staph infection. The infection was so bad that he was in danger of having the arm amputated. Fortunately, the infection died down but Newton received a space between two of the bones in his arm.^[3]

Maximum Fighting Championship title and Shark Fights

With a record of 10–3–1, Newton signed with MFC.

Newton faced former UFC fighter David Heath on his debut for the title shot of the Light Heavyweight division. He won via submission in the second round.^[7]

Newton faced Roger Hollett for the title on December 5, 2008 at MFC 19. He won via unanimous decision and became the new MFC Light Heavyweight Champion.^[8]

Newton faced Trevor Prangley on May 15, 2009 at MFC 21. He lost his title via unanimous decision.^[9]

Newton also faced Ryan Jimmo, Dwayne Lewis, and Rodney Wallace on MFC. He lost his bout against Jimmo^[10] and won his last two bouts for MFC.^[11][12][13]

Newton was expected to face Ryan Jimmo again on April 8, 2011 at MFC 29 for the Light Heavyweight Championship. However, he was replaced by Zak Cummings due to injury.^[14]

On his two bouts for Shark Fights, he defeated Ilir Latifi and Ricky Shivers. In late 2011 he defeated UFC and K-1 veteran James McSweeney for Superior Cage Combat and closing a sequence of five consecutive victories, he signed with Bellator.^[15]

Bellator MMA

Newton made his debut on June 22, 2012 at Bellator 71 against Roy Boughton in the quarterfinal match of

On July 20, 2012 at Bellator 72 in the semifinals of the tournament he faced Attila Végh. He lost via split decision.^[17]

Newton faced Atanas Djambazov on January 17, 2013 at Bellator 85 in the quarterfinal match of Bellator Season Eight Light Heavyweight Tournament. He won via submission in the second round and advanced to the semifinals.^[18]

In the semifinals, Newton defeated former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Muhammed Lawal on February 21, 2013 at Bellator 90 via KO due to a spinning back fist.^[19]

In the finals at Bellator 94, Newton faced Mikhail Zayats and won via unanimous decision.^[20]

He was expected to face Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Attila Végh on November 2, 2013 at Bellator 106. However, due to Vegh getting injured, Newton instead had a rematch against Muhammed Lawal for the Bellator Interim Light Heavyweight Championship.^[21] He won the fight via unanimous decision to become the Interim Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion.

Newton faced current Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Attila Végh at Bellator 113 for a title unification bout on March 21, 2014.^[22] He won the fight via split decision to become the current unified Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion.

Newton made his first title defense against Joey Beltran on September 12, 2014 at Bellator 124.^[23] He won the fight in the third round due to a spinning back fist, the second time he has landed in his Bellator career.

Newton next faced Linton Vassell on October 24, 2014 at Bellator 130.^[24] He successfully defended his title, winning via rear naked choke submission in the fifth round.

For the third defense of his title, Newton faced Liam McGeary on February 27, 2015 in the main event at Bellator 134.^[25] He lost the back-and-forth fight via unanimous decision, during the course of the fight, Newton was nearly submitted in the first and third rounds with two triangle chokes, even being rocked at one point in the fourth round. Days after the fight, it was revealed that Newton had tested positive for Marijuana and was subsequently issued a three month suspension by the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulations.^[26]

Newton was a participant in Bellator's one-night Light Heavyweight tournament at Dynamite 1 on September 19, 2015.^[27] He faced Phil Davis in the opening round and lost via submission.

Newton had a rematch with Linton Vassell on February 19, 2016 at Bellator 149.^[28] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

On October 5, 2016, Newton was released from Bellator.

Post-Bellator

Newton faced UFC veteran Nikita Krylov on October 13, 2017 at Fight Nights Global 77. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

Championships and accomplishments

• Bellator Fighting Championships
  • Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship (One time)
  • Two successful title defenses
  • Interim Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)
  • Bellator Season Eight Light Heavyweight Tournament Winner
• Maximum Fighting Championship
  • MFC Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)
• Gladiator Challenge
  • GC Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record

See also

• List of Bellator MMA alumni

References

• François M. Richard
• François Méthot
• François Narmon
• François Navez
• François N'Doumbe
• François Ndoumbe
• François Ndoumbe Lea
• François N'Doumbé
• François (Ngarta) Tombalbaye
• François-Nicholas-Madeleine Morlot
• François-Nicolas Delaistre
• François Nicolas Leonard Buzot
• François Nicolas Madeleine Morlot
• François Nicolas Voirin
• François nicole
• François Nodot
• François Nomè
• François Norbert Blanchet
• François Nourissier
• François Octave Dugas
• François of Bonnal
• François Omam Biyik
• François Omam-Biyik
• François Oman-Biyik
• François Ouimet