Ronda Rousey, check. Paige VanZant, check. Sage Northcutt, check.
Conor McGregor, watch out. The UFC’s cash-cows are tumbling like you wouldn’t believe.
Northcutt, the 19-year-old prospect who many were hailing as a future UFC champion, suffered his first professional loss on Saturday night.
The karate specialist was a 2/5 favourite according to most bookmakers for his first promotional bout at welterweight.
‘Super’ Sage was forced to accept a fight at 170 lbs for the UFC on Fox 18 main card opener after original lightweight opponent Andrew Holbrook withdrew from the bout.
Bryan Barberena welcomed Northcutt to welterweight in some style with a rather bizarre finish at UFC New Jersey.
The previously undefeated Northcutt had claimed the first round but came unstuck in the second after Barberena ended up on top in a scramble.
Wow! “@sagenorthcutt taps!” @bryan_barberena goes for an arm triangle – and he has it! ? #UFCNewJersey https://t.co/BzcZuQsgQ8
— #UFCNewJersey (@btsportufc) January 31, 2016
Limiting Barberena from half guard, Northcutt appeared to be relatively safe when the MMA Lab fighter looked for an arm triangle.
Just when everyone expected Barberena to press down on Northcutt’s left leg and move to mount or side mount, Northcutt unexpectedly tapped under what appeared to be very little pressure.
Typically, arm triangles are finished when the attacking fighter’s hips are pressed tight to the mat on the same side of his opponent’s body as the submission is locked in as that’s when the choke can be tightest.
While it will come as a learning curve for Northcutt in terms of his grappling prowess, some fighters weren’t so kind to Northcutt.
Tapping in half guard?
— ike vallie-flagg (@IKEVF) January 31, 2016
https://twitter.com/BrianStann/status/693606208394149889
Ha!
— Zachary Makovsky (@ZachFunSize) January 31, 2016
Omg he tap ??? And it was not tight enough. It wasn't the right side
— Roan Jucao (@jucao) January 31, 2016
I love Sage and he has a huge future but that wasn't a choke. I call that giving up sorry kids #UFConFOX18
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) January 31, 2016
YESSSS!!!!!! TAPPED WITH AN ARM TRIANGLE OUT OF HALF? I THINK SUB IF THE NIGHT! @UFC #UFConFOX18
— David Michaud (@bulldawg_170) January 31, 2016
Damn that choke was barely in! Hmmm
— Michael Johnson (@Menace155) January 31, 2016
Sage Northcutt showed a tremendous amount of heart in his fight!!
That choke was so tight ! Lol— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) January 31, 2016
Lol……………in half guard
— Lorenz Larkin (@da_MONSOON) January 31, 2016
How do you tap from a arm triangle from half- guard 😳😂#hypetrain
— Brad Pickett (@One_Punch) January 31, 2016
