Video: Nick Newell makes successful Bellator debut with first-round submission victory

It looks like Nick Newell will be sticking around Bellator.

Newell has become well known for the fact that he is a congenital amputee missing an arm, who nonetheless has had a highly successful MMA career, amassing a 16-2 professional record. Newell has been trying for years to be accepted into a major promotion and treated like any other fighter. He was given a shot on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series but lost the bout and his chance to sign with the UFC. After a bounce back fight earlier this year, Bellator MMA signed him to a one-fight deal and made him the feature prelim bout for Bellator 225 in his hometown of Bridgeport, Conn. He didn’t disappoint.

Newell dominated in his Bellator debut, out-striking Corey Browning briefly before taking Browning down and submitting him with an arm-triangle choke, to raucous applause from the crowd. You can watch Newell’s outstanding performance below.