“Notorious Nick,” a film based on Nick Newell’s improbable descent up the mixed martial arts ranks despite being born with a partial left arm, is now available for streaming (and in limited theaters). For Newell, who is played by Cody Christian, the movie is the culmination of a project seven years in the making.
“I was approached shortly after the Justin Gaethje fight,” Newell told Pete Hoffman on the latest episode of The Fight Fan. “They wanted to do a story on my life…so I sent it over to my tem to see if it was legit, and it turned out to be two legit producers who have done good work in the past.”
It was after that fight with Gaethje, a bout in which Newell entered as an undefeated lightweight, that the wheels began to turn on what would become “Notorious Nick,” and would be helped along by producers like Mark DiSalle, who also helped produce 1988’s “Bloodsport,” an all-time favorite for Newell.
“I’m like ‘Really? This guy that made pretty much one of my favorite movies ever wants to do a movie on me?’” Newell said.
The creation of the finished product was a surreal experience for Newell, who watched the major events of his life unfold on the big screen.
“I just enjoyed the movie as it is,” Newell said. “A few of the situations were like ‘Wow, man I can’t believe this is in a movie.’ It’s cool. It’s definitely unique. It’s nothing you expected growing up…I never thought of myself as anything that interesting.
It’s just my life, and I’m just doing my thing, following my dreams and working hard…I ended up doing something interesting enough to make a movie.”
The plot was certainly interesting enough given the obstacles Newell faced in his rise to combat fighting, and while he never thought his life would be worthy of a movie, he believes this film based on his own life is one worth seeing.
“The finished product is amazing,” Newell said. “It came out great. I think it’s going to be an all-time classic martial arts movie.”
Listen to Newell’s full interview with Hoffman and the full episode of The Fight Fan below, and tune in to WFAN at 9 p.m. Saturday night to hear Hoffman break down UFC 265!
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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