Linton Vassell HOUSTON – Linton Vassell had to wait more than a year to score a rematch with Emmanuel Newton but he made it count at Bellator 149, surviving three low blows to take a unanimous decision victory. The light heavyweight bout took place on the Spike-broadcast main card from Toyota Center in Houston following preliminary bouts on MMAjunkie. Vassell (16-5 MMA, 5-3 BMMA), who lost by submission to the then champion at Bellator 130 in October 2014, powered through a takedown early in Round 1, putting Newton (25-10-1 MMA, 8-4 BMMA) on his back against the cage before quickly advancing to full mount. In Newton’s attempt to work back to his feet, he gave up his back and ate a hard right hand to the side of his head.