Sage Northcutt Blames Strep Throat For Loss: I Couldn’t Breathe

Heavily promoted 19 year old UFC hype train “Super” Sage Northcutt ran into the first speed bump in his young UFC career at this past weekend’s (January 30, 2016) UFC on FOX 18 from Newark, New Jersey. Usually competing at lightweight, Northcutt jumped up to 170 pounds to take on late replacement opponent Bryan Barberena,

The post Sage Northcutt Blames Strep Throat For Loss: I Couldn’t Breathe appeared first on LowKick MMA.

Heavily promoted 19 year old UFC hype train “Super” Sage Northcutt ran into the first speed bump in his young UFC career at this past weekend’s (January 30, 2016) UFC on FOX 18 from Newark, New Jersey.

Usually competing at lightweight, Northcutt jumped up to 170 pounds to take on late replacement opponent Bryan Barberena, a move that would prove to backfire, as “Super” Sage would end up suffering a second round submission loss.

Appearing on today’s (February 1, 2016) edition of the MMA Hour, Northcutt admitted that he had been struck with a bad case of strep throat just days before the fight, even saying that the UFC doctor had prescribed him with antibiotics:

“Well, first off, sorry if my voice sounds a little bit funny. I don’t want to make excuses for my poor performance out there, but I actually had strep throat three times in the last four months. And then when I actually got down to New Jersey, I had been on multiple antibiotics. Then in New Jersey, two days before my fight, I had a real bad relapse of the strep throat and I had to go to the emergency clinic, or UFC had to take me. And then, Dr. D with the UFC had to write a prescription for me for more antibiotics and stuff like that.”

It was the sickness, according to Northcutt, that hindered his breathing and ultimately his performance overall:

“So really, I really couldn’t explain how I felt out there. I felt really horrible. I obviously don’t want to pull out of a fight, that’s not good. I just had a hard time breathing out there. I really wasn’t myself, so that wasn’t the Sage you would normally see out there in the Octagon. Even after the first 30 seconds, a minute out there, I couldn’t breath. I felt like my legs were cement. It just wasn’t me out there. So, I know I’ll be coming back better than ever and I’m still healing up from feeling sick. In a few days I’m going back to the doctor again to try and heal up from all of this.”

While many have criticized the submission defense and training strategies of Northcutt in the wake of the loss, it seems as if the lack of air and trouble breathing is what led to the early tap:

“I was so congested that I couldn’t even breathe standing up. That’s why I wasn’t able to move the same, kick the same. What I wanted to do, I wasn’t able to actually act it out and do it because my body wasn’t able to keep up. And it was like my heart was racing. It felt like breathing through a straw. So, even if it wasn’t the best lock, I was having such a hard time breathing that it was just as tight as it might have been if I was in that position if I wasn’t sick. If that makes sense.”

Do you feel as if this is a reasonable excuse from the young star, or does he need to make some major improvements regardless of whether or not he was sick on fight night?

The post Sage Northcutt Blames Strep Throat For Loss: I Couldn’t Breathe appeared first on LowKick MMA.

“Sage Northcutt is a P*ssy” (and Other UFC on FOX 18 Highlights/Results)

(via UFC on FOX)

You might not know this, Potato Nation, but there’s a 19-year old kid who’s been making quite a splash in the UFC over the past few months. He goes by the name of Sage Northcutt, and while we may not have been paying him quite as much lip service around these parts as everywhere else, it’s safe to say that he has all the star-making potential that the UFC could use more of in these post-Rousey times.

Of course, with Northcutt’s incredible rise to popularity has come the inevitable, almost inexplicably-cruel backlash, and boy did Northcutt ever receive that following his hype train-derailing loss to short-notice opponent Bryan Barberena at UFC on FOX 18 last weekend.

The post “Sage Northcutt is a P*ssy” (and Other UFC on FOX 18 Highlights/Results) appeared first on Cagepotato.


(via UFC on FOX)

You might not know this, Potato Nation, but there’s a 19-year old kid who’s been making quite a splash in the UFC over the past few months. He goes by the name of Sage Northcutt, and while we may not have been paying him quite as much lip service around these parts as everywhere else, it’s safe to say that he has all the star-making potential that the UFC could use more of in these post-Rousey times.

Of course, with Northcutt’s incredible rise to popularity has come the inevitable, almost inexplicably-cruel backlash, and boy did Northcutt ever receive that following his hype train-derailing loss to short-notice opponent Bryan Barberena at UFC on FOX 18 last weekend.

From what we’ve been able to glean, Northcutt’s crimes seem to be that he is 1) Impossibly wholesome/athletic/good-looking and 2) Gets paid “too much.” Now to us, those issues (especially the second) seem to reflect more on both the lack of charisma that most fighters possess and the pathetic state of fighter pay more than anything else, but every cause needs a scapegoat, and Northcutt — being the Ken Doll-looking, hand-picked prodigy that he is — was quickly assigned that status after being plucked from obscurity on Dana White’s Youtube series, Looking for a Fight.

Two quick victories and a couple massive paydays later (relatively speaking), the MMA community had already begun to vocalize its discontention for Northcutt, what with his penchant for awesome flips and “respect” for “people.” Like Tim Tebow before him, it seemed that many of our gripes with “Super” reflected more upon us than the man (kid) being put on trial, which rather than forcing us to look inward and examine ourselves, only fueled our need to see him fail all the more.

So from the moment Northcutt’s tap to Bryan Barberena’s arm-triangle was labeled “quick” by color commentator Joe Rogan — a declaration that seemed accurate, we might add — you just knew that the response from his doubters would be especially vicious. As it just so happens, many of Northcutt’s doubters were not online trolls as you might expect, but actual UFC-employed fighters.

“Woo!!! Tapped like a little Bitch & Tried to tel the Ref Different!! @sagenorthcutt VonFlu/Got You,” wrote top lightweight contender Tony Ferguson, a class act if there ever was one.

“I want 40k for a scaredy tap #northcut,” noted Angela Magana, proud owner of zero UFC wins and an Instagram account.

“Omg what a pussy!!! Dude gave up. No heart. Ufc give me his 40/40 next time cause no f—ing way I would get finished with that s—! Lol,” wrote James Vick, who I would make a joke about if he was a memorable enough personality to warrant one.

Again, you’ll notice that many of the fighters main complaints seem to be leveled at Northcutt, when it’s the UFC management that should be their intended target. It’s the kind of short-sightedness that perhaps helps one understand why no fighter union has been formed despite ever-restrictive UFC policies, but I’m getting away from the topic at hand here. Sage Northcutt lost, and because he dared to participate in the UFC’s hype machine, we took great pleasure in seeing him cut down to size. This year’s harvest will be plentiful and great, ye.

Elsewhere on UFC on FOX 18, Ryan Bader suffered a lightning fast KO loss to Anthony Johnson after attempting quite possibly the least set-up takedown attempt in the history of the sport. As was the case in his losses to Tito Ortiz and Lyoto Machida before — the former of which his career may never recover from — Bader proved that despite his many improvements, he is simply one mental mistake away from being completely outclassed by the division’s elite. And Tito Ortiz.

Also, “Rumble” Johnson hits hard — like really, really hard — and you probably wouldn’t want to get punched by him.

In other surprising developments from the card, Ben Rothwell continued his improbable career comeback by becoming the first man to submit Josh Barnett (with an actual submission). The incredible finish came via midway through the second round of their co-main event scrap, via the same Gogo choke that he used to submit Matt Mitrione in his last contest. Given just how proficient and skilled a grappler we know Barnett to be, the win should arguably place Rothwell on the short list of title contenders. The power of shelf expression, ladies and gentlemen.

The full results from UFC on FOX 18 are below.

Main card
Anthony Johnson def. Ryan Bader via TKO (R1, 1:26)
Ben Rothwell def. Josh Barnett via submission (guillotine) (R2, 3:48)
Jimmie Rivera def. Iuri Alcantara via unanimous decision
Bryan Barberena def. Sage Northcutt via submission

Undercard
Tarec Saffiedine def. Jake Ellenberger via unanimous decision
Diego Ferreira def. Olivier Aubin-Mercier via UD
Rafael Natal def. Kevin Casey via third-round TKO (3:37)
Wilson Reis def. Dustin Ortiz via unanimous decision
Alexander Yakovlev def. George Sullivan via KO (R1, 3:59)
Alex Caceres def. Masio Fullen via unanimous decision
Randy Brown def. Matt Dwyer via unanimous decision
Levan Makashvili vs. Damon Jackson ends in majority draw (29-27 Jackson, 28-28 x2)
Tony Martin def. Felipe Olvieri via submission (rear-naked choke) (R3, 3:02)

The post “Sage Northcutt is a P*ssy” (and Other UFC on FOX 18 Highlights/Results) appeared first on Cagepotato.

Khabib Defends Sage Northcutt, Fires Back At ‘Bum’ Tony Ferguson

19-year-old phenom “Super” Sage Northcutt has received a huge backing from the UFC since his debut just a few months back at UFC 192 in October, with the promotion obviously sensing a massive amount of potential in him. After running through Francisco Trevino in just 57 seconds, Northcutt scored a second round submission over Cody

The post Khabib Defends Sage Northcutt, Fires Back At ‘Bum’ Tony Ferguson appeared first on LowKick MMA.

19-year-old phenom “Super” Sage Northcutt has received a huge backing from the UFC since his debut just a few months back at UFC 192 in October, with the promotion obviously sensing a massive amount of potential in him.

After running through Francisco Trevino in just 57 seconds, Northcutt scored a second round submission over Cody Pfister at December 10’s UFC Fight Night 80 from Las Vegas.

After scoring two straight victories, “Super” Sage was ready for his third bout last night (January 30, 2016), as he took on late replacement Bryan Barberena on the main card of UFC on FOX 18.

Northcutt finally hit a road block, however, suffering a second round submission loss. In the aftermath of the setback, the Texas native has received quite a bit of criticism, even from some fellow fighters.

Surging lightweight contender Tony “El Cucuy” Ferguson took to his official twitter account to take a shot at a downed Northcutt:

While some took the chance to pepper “Super” Sage, others were there to defend him, specifically No. 2-ranked 155 pounder Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov, who just so happens to be scheduled to meet Ferguson at April’s UFC on FOX 19.

Nurmagomedov fired back at “El Cucuy”, calling him a “jealous bum”:

In the end, Ferguson would drop one more insult towards “The Eagle” and his notorious injury issues:

While Northcutt obviously has some holes to fill, he still has a long future ahead of him in the sport of mixed martial arts.

Do you see the young star bouncing back from the loss?

The post Khabib Defends Sage Northcutt, Fires Back At ‘Bum’ Tony Ferguson appeared first on LowKick MMA.

UFC Fighters React To Sage Northcutt’s Loss: ‘He Tapped Like A Little B****’

Heavily hyped UFC prospect Sage Northcutt suffered his first loss at last night’s (Saturday, January 30, 2015) UFC on FOX 18 from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, tapping out to a Bryan Barberena arm triangle choke that many felt just wasn’t that tight. And while the flashy, good-looking, and marketable Northcutt’s fans have rushed

The post UFC Fighters React To Sage Northcutt’s Loss: ‘He Tapped Like A Little B****’ appeared first on LowKick MMA.

Heavily hyped UFC prospect Sage Northcutt suffered his first loss at last night’s (Saturday, January 30, 2015) UFC on FOX 18 from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, tapping out to a Bryan Barberena arm triangle choke that many felt just wasn’t that tight.

And while the flashy, good-looking, and marketable Northcutt’s fans have rushed to defend the up-and-coming young fighter, his fellow MMA fighters haven’t been so kind. After receiving a large amount of heat for making way more money than the average UFC competitor, it seems as if fighters rejoiced in ‘Super Sage’s’ first loss.

Hop to the next page to find out their brutal reactions to the odd tapout….

The post UFC Fighters React To Sage Northcutt’s Loss: ‘He Tapped Like A Little B****’ appeared first on LowKick MMA.

Five Biggest Takeaways From UFC on FOX 18

Despite what many pundits considered a lackadaisical fight card, UFC on FOX 18 delivered on more than one occasion this past Saturday. Headlined by yet another brutal first-round knockout by Anthony “Rumble” Johnson, the nationally televised event also shed light on the expanding heavyweight title picture and the inexperience of one of the sports quickest

The post Five Biggest Takeaways From UFC on FOX 18 appeared first on LowKick MMA.

Despite what many pundits considered a lackadaisical fight card, UFC on FOX 18 delivered on more than one occasion this past Saturday.

Headlined by yet another brutal first-round knockout by Anthony “Rumble” Johnson, the nationally televised event also shed light on the expanding heavyweight title picture and the inexperience of one of the sports quickest rising prospects.

The four-fight main card didn’t offer fans too much to talk about compared to other high-profile events, but the action was memorable to say at least. Especially when you consider the divisional implications and glaring answers that each bout possessed.

Here are five key takeaways from UFC on FOX 18 as the winners and losers dig deep into 2016.

The post Five Biggest Takeaways From UFC on FOX 18 appeared first on LowKick MMA.

Conor McGregor: The Last of The UFC Hype Trains

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is just as much based on business, marketing, and promotion, as it is on actual fighting inside of the Octagon. With that being said, we often see certain fighters receive huge promotional pushes from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) simply because they possess the looks, the charisma, or the media power

The post Conor McGregor: The Last of The UFC Hype Trains appeared first on LowKick MMA.

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is just as much based on business, marketing, and promotion, as it is on actual fighting inside of the Octagon.

With that being said, we often see certain fighters receive huge promotional pushes from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) simply because they possess the looks, the charisma, or the media power in order to become a mega star.

However, these fighters don’t always have what it takes to succeed in the cage, or in other words, live up to the massive hype that has been placed on them.

Of course we have seen tremendously promoted combatants rise through the ranks, and demolish competition on their way to the superstardom the UFC had paved for them.

In just the last few years, we have seen many young up and coming fighters pushed by the UFC, noting four in particular.

The interesting part here, however, is that only one remains on top, at least for now.

Let’s take a closer look:

The post Conor McGregor: The Last of The UFC Hype Trains appeared first on LowKick MMA.