You miss one hundred percent of the shots you don’t take.
That’s why Urijah Faber wants the newest member of his Team Alpha Male (TAM) squad, Sage Northcutt, to be a bit more vocal. While “The California Kid” — who often serves as a mentor for the younger fighters in his camp — doesn’t want Sage to go full Conor McGregor, he wants him to speak up a bit more when it comes to his title aspirations.
To hear Faber tell it, Northcutt is simply too nice to try to step on anyone’s toes, but says “Super” has the skill and potential to win the title when his time comes.
“I’m encouraging him; he’s too nice to say he wants to go get the strap,” Faber said in an interview with MMA Junkie. “But that’s in his mind. At what point does someone just decide they want to be a champion?”
“I think he’s probably had that for a long time, but I’m encouraging him to voice that because I think he can be a world champion, and I think we’re on a path to do that. It’s awesome to see him progress, and I think he’s going to be a world champ.”
Of course, the lightweight picture is a complete mess at the moment, as division kingpin Conor McGregor isn’t planning on returning to the Octagon until this summer, assuming the promotion ponies up the cash to bring him back.
Interim titleholder Tony Ferguson seems to be on a collision course with Khabib Nurmagomedov, so that will clear up the 155-pound division a bit more. After that, there are plenty of contenders champing at the bit to get their own crack at the crown.
As for Sage, he has a long way to go before he gets into the title picture, as the 21 year old still isn’t ranked in the top 15, and only recently got back on the winning track by defeating Michel Quinones last month.
Northcutt will look to build on his momentum and go for two straight when he takes on Thibault Gout at UFC Fight Night 126 on February 18, 2018 in Austin, Texas.