The UFC’s resident lottery winner, Mickey Gall, has played his cards right as an MMA neophyte.
He parlayed time training under the Miller brothers in New Jersey into an undefeated amateur career, then just so happened to jump to the pro ranks as Dana White brought his reality television (reality internet?) show to town.
Upon winning that debut, Gall got on the mic and pleaded with the UFC boss to feed him pro wrestler-turned-professional MMA hobbyist CM Punk. White liked his moxie and offered him a UFC bout; win it, and he’d get his wish.
At UFC Fight Night 82 Gall fought Mike Jackson, an 0-0 photojournalist who is easily more renowned for his capacity to offer a witty tweet than he is for his fistic prowess. Gall reminded the world of that fact in short order, blasting Jackson to the mat before bull-rushing him and choking him out in under a minute.
When Punk entered the cage to talk about what he’d just seen from his future opponent, it was the culmination of what Gall had worked for. Oh, and along the way he also happened to look like a guy who might be pretty good at this MMA thing, too.
Most would probably suggest Gall is a favorite going into his long-awaited scrap with Punk. Most would probably suggest he’s a heavy favorite, in fact. And if he lives up to that role on his way to beating Punk, he should be quick to call out one name in particular: Sage Northcutt.
Gall has already said that he’s planning to call out his next opponent with a win in Cleveland. Northcutt is, in many ways, the anti-Gall; a woefully unprepared UFC golden child who was pushed too far too fast after appearing on an earlier episode of the same show that unearthed Jersey’s newest fighting hope. He’s fought in front of his hometown, fought on network television, fought at UFC 200. He’s been gifted things that Gall got with guile.
It wouldn’t take much to draw some attention to that fact, and it wouldn’t take much for people to become invested in two interesting prospects who are likely a little too green for the UFC but have both gotten there under unique circumstances.
In this era of MMA, where name recognition and star power are easily as relevant as holding a title or being properly great, it’s the type of fight that certainly wouldn’t look out of place as a co-headliner on free television or opening up a pay-per-view.
There are also stylistic considerations that make the bought compelling.
Gall is adequate as a striker of his experience, but on the ground he’s truly savage. He lunges on submissions the way his mentors do and finishes them when he has a chance. Northcutt is wild and showy on the feet, a blistering mix of high-octane athleticism and surprisingly high percentage flash.
If Gall can’t get him to the ground, he’ll be set ablaze. However, Northcutt is abhorrent in his grappling technique, a man of such glaring inexperience that he was functionally smothered into submission by Bryan Barberena in his only career loss.
Frankly, the UFC has offered worse bouts. Actually, it probably is this weekend.
Gall’s handled his career with remarkable poise to this point, so much so that his 1-0 record in the UFC and already has him feeling like he’ll be around for a long, long time beyond this CM Punk drama. But if he wants to get rich fast? Get on that Northcutt fight.
Say that guy’s name on Saturday night and the whole sport will take notice.
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