UFC welterweight Sage Nortcutt’s looks (model with a six pack), personality (humble, Texas-bred, lifelong martial artist), and skillset (flashy) were such that he was getting opportunities not available to fighters at his level. That did not sit well with a lot of fighters who were slowly grinding their way to Nortcutt’s opportunities, but lacked the mediagenic abs.
The thing though about mixed martial arts is that no matter what opportunities you receive, you have to back up the hype, every single time you fight.
The expectations were high.
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/692867588976541701https://twitter.com/SandhuMMA/status/693600466136141824
Notcutt started out vs. the unheralded Bryan Barberena Saturday night as if he expected it to end early in the first. But it didn’t. Barbarena stood up to the initial attack, and then turned things around, getting a tapout in the second via a choke that did not appear to be fully applied. Speaking factually, the beginner division of a grappling tournament shows more effective and determined sub defense than Northcutt exhibited on big FOX.
Notcutt’s fellow fighters were scathing.
Mike Brown @mikebrownmma
Wow, we got a new president of the quick tap club.
Justin Gaethje @Justin_Gaethje
@joerogan says “wow he tapped in half guard” that’s @UFCONFOX lingo for wow he is definitely a pussy. He’s young but I agree with you Joe.
James Vick @JamesVickMMA
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
Tony Ferguson @TonyFergusonXT
Woo!!! Tapped like a little Bitch & Tried to tel the Ref Different!!
Roan Jucao @jucao
Omg he tap ??? And it was not tight enough. It wasn’t the right side
Ramsey Nijem @RamseyNijem
Lol what a joke @sagenorthcutt tapped out to a choke set up #whitebelt
Kevin Lee @MoTownPhenom
It’s not that @sagenorthcutt lost, its that he quit. It’s exactly what I been saying: the first time he faces some real s— in his life he quit
Angela Magana @AngelaMagana1
I want 40k for a scaredy tap #northcut
Brendan Schaub @BrendanSchaub
I love Sage and he has a huge future but that wasn’t a choke. I call that giving up sorry kids
Manny Gamburyan @MannyGamburyan
This kid has a lot to learn he’s too green for the @ufc level
Ben Askren @Benaskren
Can I say it was a weak tap??? Just freaking embarrassing, I’d retire my gloves effective immediately
Brian Stann @BrianStann
Wow. That hype train got hit w/ a nuke
Din Thomas @DinThomas
Sage got exposed. He never faced a guy from a top gym. Elite coaches ALWAYS find the hole. @TheMMALAB @Firas_Zahabi @JacksonWinkMMA
Josh Thomson @THEREALPUNK
Not everyone has what it takes to be a fighter. That’s not a dig on anyone, that’s a fact!?
https://twitter.com/UFCONFOX/status/693606134649917441
The good news is, Sage Northcutt is still a teenager, with many years to develop, if he wants to. But wanting to develop in mixed martial arts means that you will take beatings, that you will face deep waters. If Sage Northcutt isn’t willing to take beatings, if he simply taps his way out of difficulty, then this is not the sport for him.
Also importantly, Northcutt did not slip on a banana peel – Bryan Barberena beat him badly, and deserves respect and notice for that, as does his awesome coach, MMA Lab founder John Crouch.
In the end, Barberena showed he can even do Xtreme karate with the best of them!
