After a few weeks of mere talks, former UFC top prospect Sage Northcutt makes his move to ONE Championship official.
In early November, Sage Northcutt first bared his plans to sign with Singapore-based promotion company ONE Championship. The former UFC top prospect was actually in Singapore at the time, hoping to have a dialogue with founder and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
This week, UFC president Dana White confirmed that “Super Sage” was “let go.” According to him, they’ve simply decided to not renew Northcutt’s contract, which recently expired.
“Sage is young and Sage needs some work,” White said in a recent guesting on UFC Unfiltered. “Let him get some work in some other organizations and we will see where this kid ends up in a couple of years. Maybe we will pick him back up again.”
On Friday, Northcutt’s move to Southeast Asia was made official by Sityodtong himself.
Please join me in giving a big welcome to multiple-time karate world champion, Black Belt Hall of Famer, and rising global mixed martial arts superstar Sage Northcutt to ONE Championship! @sagenorthcutt
— Chatri Sityodtong (@YODCHATRI) November 30, 2018
It’s an honor to be a part of the One Championship family! I’m looking forward to being a part of something great
— Sage Northcutt (@sagenorthcutt) November 30, 2018
Northcutt (11-2, with 8 wins by stoppage) was signed into the UFC after being discovered during the debut episode of Dana White’s Lookin’ For a Fight YouTube series in 2015. He had gone 6-2 in the UFC, and was on a three-fight win streak prior to his release.
The 22-year-old last saw action in July in Boise, Idaho, where he defeated Zak Ottow via second-round knockout.