Sage Northcutt is ready for his return to action. He burst onto the scene in 2015 and posted an 11-2 record before joining ONE Championship. However, he has been away from the Circle since May 2019. That changes at ONE Fight Night 10 on Prime Video on Friday, May 5.
The American star will meet Ahmed Mujtaba in a lightweight scrap on the main card. What will the most optimistic man in martial arts look like upon his return to the global stage? Here are three things all fans should expect to see from “Super” Sage Northcutt at ONE Fight Night 10.
High Energy
On the doorstep of his return, Northcutt is excited about stepping back inside the Circle. He has always had a fast-paced and exciting style, and with the pent-up energy building, fans should expect a quick start to his lightweight scrap. Although he has been out of action for nearly four years, Northcutt is still just 27 years old.
“I just had some time [to] take care of some personal things. It’s going to be exciting getting back in there. I’ll only be 27 years old, having 14 professional MMA fights, so I’m super excited. I feel like I’m just getting started, and I’m still so young that I can have a lot of fights. I’m really excited to be fighting for ONE Championship for the first U.S. card. I think that’s really cool,” said “Super” Sage.
The Team Alpha Male representative also has more to fight for in his return. During his time away, Northcutt found love and got married. He is competing for more than just himself. As many questions swirl around ahead of his first match since 2019, there should be no question if Northcutt will bring the energy to the 1stBank Center.
A More Fit Sage
Northcutt joined ONE in 2019 and moved up in weight to take on Cosmo Alexandre at middleweight. The fight lasted less than 30 seconds, ending with Alexandre breaking bones in Northcutt’s face. However, for anyone who knows Northcutt, he has never let that bring him down, and he is happy to come back down to the lightweight ranks.
“It’s a lot better weight class, you know? Coming into ONE Championship, I was already up a weight class with the UFC, and then I went up another weight class. That was obviously the wrong choice, and my natural weight and weight class would be lightweight. So I think it’s a much better weight class, suits me way better, walking out a little over 170 pounds, that’s perfect,” said Northcutt.
Being at his natural weight will also be beneficial, given the circumstances of competing at altitude. The thin air in Denver could make cardio a major factor in every match at ONE Fight Night 10. Northcutt coming back down in weight and working hard to be in peak condition should make him one of the best-conditioned athletes on the card.
A More Well-Rounded Arsenal
Northcutt did not want to make any predictions on how the match would end, but he is gunning for a finish. The lightweight division is stacked with talent, but Northcutt could instantly become a title threat if he shows himself well in his return. After being away for four years, where he has improved is a big unanswered question hovering over the bout.
The 27-year-old is one of the most athletic people in the sport and has had plenty of time to add tools to his game. Training at Team Alpha Male, Northcutt may be entering his return as the more well-rounded fighter. Depending on what he shows inside the Circle and the outcome, it would not be shocking to see Northcutt emerge as one of the most intriguing lightweights in 2023.
“I’ve been focusing on a lot of different things. I’m with a great team, great coaches; Urijah Faber and all the coaches at Team Alpha Male are awesome, so [I’m] just improving just everything. I feel like I’ve improved in a lot of different areas. I’m looking forward to showing it,” said Northcutt.
ONE Fight Night 10 airs live from the 1stBank Center on Friday, May 5. The action begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Prime Video. The event is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers based in the U.S. and Canada.
