LINDLAND SUBMITS NEWTON IN HOUSTON

The Tokyo-based Sabres, led by Ken Yasuda and Los Angeles-based Anacondas, coached by Bas Rutten, won their respective season-opening International Fight League matchups today in front of 4,531 at Reliant Arena in Houston. Matt Lindland, coach of the Portland-based Wolfpack submitted Carlos Newton, Toronto-based Dragons’ coach in the “Superfight” which followed the team matchups.



The Sabres won, 3-2, over the Scorpions, coached by Don Frye and based in Tucson, while the Anacondas upended the defending IFL World Team Champion Silverbacks, led by Pat Miletich, by the same 3-2 count.

Lindland earned the victory with a second-round submission, taking out Newton with a series of punches to the face, backing Newton into the corner before dropping to the ground for the guillotine choke to finish the match.

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Matt Lindland Wins Superfight; Horodecki Decisions Palaszewski

HOUSTON, February 2, 2007- The Tokyo-based Sabres, led by Ken Yasuda and Los Angeles-based Anacondas, coached by Bas Rutten, won their respective season-opening International Fight League matchups today in front of 4,531 at Reliant Arena in Houston. Matt Lindland, coach of the Portland-based Wolfpack submitted Carlos Newton, Toronto-based Dragons’ coach in the “Superfight” which followed the team matchups.

The Sabres won, 3-2, over the Scorpions, coached by Don Frye and based in Tucson, while the Anacondas upended the defending IFL World Team Champion Silverbacks, led by Pat Miletich, by the same 3-2 count.

Lindland earned the victory with a second-round submission, taking out Newton with a series of punches to the face, backing Newton into the corner before dropping to the ground for the guillotine choke to finish the match.

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LINDLAND NOT LOOKING PAST NEWTON

As one of the busiest guys in MMA, Matt Lindland is passionate about the growing sport and continues to be one of most competitive and respected fighters today. Last season in the IFL, “The Law” coached his debuting Portland Wolfpack into the team finals. Although the Wolfpack fell short against the Quad City Silverbacks, they proved themselves to be one of the most formidable teams in the league and are considered a favorite to win this year’s championship.

Tonight, Lindland returns to face former UFC Welterweight Champion Carlos Newton in the headlining superfight of the Houston, Texas IFL show. “He’s tough on top, he’s a good ground guy, and he’s explosive. He’s a very strong guy, especially since he’s walking around 215 [pounds]. I like getting in there and knocking peoples’ heads around. He’s as good as anybody…,” commented the Team Quest co-founder about Newton. Currently, Lindland is contracted with the IFL on an individual fight basis. The former UFC title contender has committed to two more fights, including his upcoming match with Carlos Newton.

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Newton Ready for Lindland

Carlos Newton made his return to the world of MMA last September as the coach of the Toronto Dragons in the IFL. After a two-year absence from fighting, Newton stepped back into the ring at the K-1 Hero's event last October, defeating Tokimitsu Ishizawa in just 22 seconds by TKO.

Newton closed out 2006 in a rematch with fellow IFL coach Renzo Gracie, losing a controversial split decision at the IFL's World Team Championship Finals on December 29th. "As soon as they said split decision, I was like, 'Oh boy.'" Newton continues, "We still have a lot of progress to be made in this industry as far as the judging goes."

This was one of a few close decisions in Newton's career that he found himself on the short end of, including split decision losses to Dan Henderson at UFC 17 and Daiju Takase at Pride: Bushido 3. "For me, that type of disappointment is nothing new, you know I have a lot of blemishes on my record, so in time it's something I learned to take in stride and take it as it comes. I continuously fight the best guys in the world and I think everyone respects that," said the 13-12 Newton.

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Newton hopes to rebound versus Lindland

Although the Toronto Dragons aren’t a part of IFL team competition this Friday in Houston, there will still be a strong Canadian contingent.

The main event features Dragons head coach Carlos Newton stepping back into the ring only a month after his split-decision loss to Renzo Gracie. This time he’ll be pitted against arguably the best middleweight in the world, Matt Lindland.

There are many people who have opined that in his last fight it was Newton who deserved the victory, not Gracie. It’s hard to believe considering all that he’s accomplished, but at 30 years old Newton is only now entering his physical prime. He’s recently gotten back into the fight game after a two-year layoff, and I’m excited to see where he’ll go next.

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