© Marc Wickert
www.knucklepit.com
20 September 2006
Carlos Newton first received international MMA attention on May 15, 1998, when he made his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut at UFC 17: Redemption, defeating Bob Gilstrap by triangle before going the 15-minute distance against Dan Henderson, only to lose by decision.
Carlos later went on to win UFC's Welterweight Title on May 4, 2001, when he submitted Pat Miletich by bulldog choke at UFC 31:Locked and Loaded. Newton also fought in PRIDE, where among other names he defeated Renzo Gracie at Bushido 1, on October 5, 2003.
More recently, Carlos was approached by the IFL to coach a Canadian-based team for the International Fighting League (IFL): the world's first team-based MMA organization.
And Newton is now leading one of the new teams entering phase two of the organization's competition. IFL's first season commenced with four teams: Anacondas (6-4), Pitbulls (2-3), Silverbacks (7-3) and Tiger Sharks (7-8). They have now added four more teams: Dragons (0-0), Razorclaws (0-0), Sabres (0-5) and Wolfpack (3-2).
On Saturday, September 23, Carlos's team, the Dragons, will be competing against Frank Shamrock's Razorclaws at The MARK of Quad Cities, Moline, Illinois. During the week before the competition, 'The Ronin' was in the US, preparing for his team to make their IFL debut.
"I'm in the hotel in Illinois. The Dragons guys are here and I'm just getting them filled in. They'll be ready to fight the Razorclaws on Saturday night," says Newton.
Carlos, at age four, what made you take up a martial art?
"Basically, I came home from school and I told my step-dad that a kid hit me. And my step-father hit me and told me, 'Don't you come home and tell me a kid hit you and you didn't hit him back.' So I learnt karate for self defense as a young boy."
You were born in Anguilla, British Virgin Islands. Why did you move from there to Ontario?
"For a better education and for a variety of choices for the future. I was also the eldest of five boys, and I knew it would make life easier for my family in the near future. I met my aunt in Canada for the first time and lived with her."
How did you celebrate your 30th birthday (born 17 Aug. '76)?
"I was training with the guys – nobody was able to give me any birthday beatings."
What is Dragonball?
"It's something that I use to describe my fighting style, and something a lot of the kids up there in Canada identify with and what it represents. They have a real understanding of the values, the concepts involved, and the type of person I am."
Is there any striking in Dragonball, or is it more grappling?
"Dragonball is primarily MMA. There's only one rule: Win."
Some of your victories in MMA have included defeating Renzo Gracie, and submitting Pat Miletich. Why did your bout with Renzo only go two rounds? Were they five-minute rounds?
"They were two 10-minute rounds."
Will you be fighting the winner of the Pat Miletich vs. Renzo Gracie bout?
"It's something we're considering right now, and we have to wait till after their fight to see what the circumstances are. But it's something everyone is interested in, and there's a possibility it could happen."
Read the full article on Knucklepit.com.
