Well, that's that.
"Super" Sage Northcutt's improbable UFC run came to an end tonight (Sat., Jan. 30, 2016) inside Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., in the first fight on the main card of UFC on FOX 18.
Northcutt was originally scheduled to face fellow undefeated fighter Andrew Holbrook but was replaced late notice by scrappy MMA Lab-trained fighter Bryan Barberena.
As expected, Northcutt came out flashy and landed several nice kicks and punches on Barberena, who spent most of the first round defending himself and weathering the proverbial storm.
But, in the second round Northcutt made a terrible miscalculation on a spinning back kick and landed on his back. Barberena pounced on top and worked some ground and pound, opening up the submission opportunity (see video above). To everybody's great surprise, Northcutt tapped almost immediately.
Reaction on Twitter ranged from surprise to confirmation that the 19-year-old was overhyped.
And that's why I've EARNED a bigger payday IMO. Sage will back tho. Super young and super talented! #UFCNewJersey
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) January 31, 2016
The kid is just 19, still has a lot to learn but he got talent. People hate him because people hate everything and everyone. #UFCNewJersey
— Igor Araujo (@igoraraujojj) January 31, 2016
Barberena is a bum. That was pathetic.
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) January 31, 2016
Wow hype train derailed smh atleast he made 40k/40k last fight prob 50k @sagenorthcutt is a good kid not his fault #UFCNewJersey #mma
— Truck Gordon (@TruckMMA_UFC) January 31, 2016
It was good while it lasted #SageAndPaige. Both still have massive potential but difficult to develop in UFC considering the standards there
— Coach Kavanagh (@John_Kavanagh) January 31, 2016
Dude chill the fuck out you just beat like a 14 year kid up or something like that! #UFCNewJersey #UFConFOX18
— John Maguire (@MaguireTheOne) January 31, 2016
Northcutt was nowhere near trapped, almost any vet would've escaped that. Tapped because he was panicked and exhausted. That's being 19.
— Jordan Breen (@jordanbreen) January 31, 2016
He wanted out the fight.
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) January 31, 2016
With the loss, Northcutt falls to 7-1 (2-1 UFC), while Barberena improves to 11-3 (2-1 UFC).
For complete results from UFC on FOX 18: "Johnson vs. Bader," including play-by-play updates, click here and here.
Get the latest gear
