White on Nick Newell’s Contender Series shot: I’m doing it for this kid, not for me or the UFC

In 2013, UFC president Dana White shut down the mere idea of Nick Newell fighting inside the Octagon. Five years later in April, the 32-year-old congenital amputee was granted his shot at the UFC via the second season of White’s Contender Series, which begins on Tuesday.

During the UFC 225 post-fight presser, White said that his change of decision was more for Newell than anything else.

“To be honest with you, I’m not doing this for me or for the organization or anything like that. I’m doing it for this kid,” White said (transcript via MMAjunkie). “This kid came in and begged – this is his dream, this is what he lives for, and this is what this guy has worked his whole life to do.”

“He wants it so bad. And I’m sitting there going, ‘This is crazy, man, but I’m going to do it. I’m going to give you your chance.’”

White did admit that he still has his apprehensions with his decision, mainly given Newell’s condition.

“The big thing is, if anything ever happened to Nick Newell, if Nick Newell fights in the UFC, the first thing they’re going to say is, ‘How could you let a guy with one arm fight in the UFC? You’re an idiot,’” White said. “I’m saying, what if something bad happened?”

“‘Aren’t you guys supposed to be the best? All the best fighters in the world are in the UFC. So you’re going to throw a guy with one arm, fighting guys with two arms?’ You know what I’m saying,” he continued. “You guys know how to be negative. You know the negative stuff will happen if something bad happened. Might even be some of you to write it.”

Newell (14-1, with 11 wins by stoppage), last fought in March in Houston, Texas at LFA 35, where he defeated Sonny Luque via first-round submission.