Sage Northcutt

Mixed martial arts career

Early career In 2013, Northcutt began competing on the Legacy Fighting Championship amateur mixed martial arts (MMA) series, amassing an amateur record of 5-1 with his only loss coming on his first bout against Charles Sheppard by technical-knockout (TKO) in the first round. At the age of 18, he turned pro and racked up a 5–0 record in 16 months.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Northcutt was featured in the debut episode of Dana White's Looking For A Fight. After a victory at Legacy Fighting Championship 44, he was signed to the UFC.

In his UFC debut, Northcutt also made his lightweight debut when he faced Francisco Treviño on October 3, 2015, at UFC 192. He won via technical-knockout (TKO) in 57 seconds.

Northcutt's second UFC fight was against Cody Pfister on December 10, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 80. Northcutt won the fight via guillotine choke in the second round.

Northcutt was expected to face Andrew Holbrook on January 30, 2016, at UFC on Fox 18. However, after Holbrook withdrew from the bout citing an injury eight days prior to the event, Northcutt would instead make his welterweight debut against Bryan Barberena. Northcutt lost the bout via submission (arm-triangle choke) in the second round.

Northcutt made a return to lightweight and faced Enrique Marín on July 9, 2016, at UFC 200, where he won via unanimous decision.

Northcutt had his second welterweight bout when he faced Mickey Gall on December 17, 2016, at UFC on Fox 22. He lost the contest via submission in the second round.

Northcutt was expected to face Claudio Puelles in a lightweight bout on July 29, 2017, at UFC 214. However, Puelles pulled out of the fight in mid-June citing injury and was replaced by John Makdessi. In turn, the fight was canceled on July 14 due to injuries to both fighters.

Northcutt faced Michel Quiñones on November 11, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 120. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Northcutt faced Thibault Gouti on February 18, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 126. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Northcutt faced Zak Ottow on July 14, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 133. He won the fight via knockout in the second round. Appearing on The Ariel Helwani Show early September 2018, Northcutt confirmed his contract expired following the fight with Ottow, making him a free agent. In the same appearance, Northcutt said he planned to listen for offers from various promotions.

On November 26, 2018, Dana White confirmed on UFC Unfiltered that the UFC did not opt to renew Sage Northcutt's contract. White cited reasons, claiming, "Sage is young, and Sage needs some work. Let him get some work in some other organizations, and we will see where this kid ends up in a couple of years. Maybe we will pick him back up again."

ONE Championship On November 30, 2018, it was announced that Northcutt had signed with ONE Championship. On February 26, 2019, it was announced that Northcutt was scheduled to make his promotional debut against Cosmo Alexandre on May 17, 2019, in ONE: Enter the Dragon. Northcutt lost the fight by knockout 29 seconds into the first round, marking his first professional loss by knockout. The blow resulted in eight facial fractures which required prompt surgical repair.

On November 22, 2019, Northcutt announced that he would be moving down two weight classes to compete at lightweight (155 lbs) in ONE Championship. “I learned my lesson about fighting a weight class too big, going back down to 155, and it’ll be better for me,” Northcutt said in an interview with MMA News.

Northcutt was scheduled to fight Shinya Aoki in a Lightweight bout, after a near two-year layoff, at ONE on TNT 4, on April 28, 2021. However, Northcutt withdrew from the bout due to lingering COVID-19 effects and was replaced by Eduard Folayang.

Almost four years after his loss to Alexandre, Northcutt faced Ahmed Mujtaba on May 5, 2023, at ONE Fight Night 10. Northcutt was dropped by a strike from Mutjaba early in the fight, but managed to win the fight with a heel hook submission 39 seconds into the first round. The submission finish was awarded 'Performance of the Night.

Northcutt was scheduled to face Shinya Aoki on January 28, 2024, at ONE 165. However, Northcutt withdrew during the event because his cornermen were reportedly denied visas, and was replaced by John Lineker in a openweight bout.

On October 18, 2024, it was announced that Northcutt had left ONE Championship.

Professional Fighters League On December 12, 2024, it was reported that Northcutt had signed with the Professional Fighters League after not competing in 2024.

Global Fight League Northcutt was scheduled to face Lucas Martins in the inaugural Global Fight League event on May 24, 2025 at GFL 1. However, all GFL events were cancelled indefinitely.

Personal life Northcutt was majoring in petroleum engineering at Texas A&M University. Northcutt is a Christian. Northcutt married actress Amanda Leighton on December 5, 2020.

Championships and accomplishments Ultimate Fighting Championship UFC.com Awards 2015: Ranked #3 Newcomer of the Year

ONE Championship Performance of the Night (One time)

Mixed martial arts record Win

Ahmed Mujtaba Submission (heel hook) ONE Fight Night 10

Broomfield, Colorado, United States Loss

Cosmo Alexandre KO (punch) ONE: Enter the Dragon

Kallang, Singapore Win

Zak Ottow KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Ivanov

Boise, Idaho, United States Win

Thibault Gouti Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Medeiros

Austin, Texas, United States Win

Michel Quiñones Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Pettis

Norfolk, Virginia, United States Loss

Mickey Gall Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on Fox: VanZant vs. Waterson

Sacramento, California, United States Win

Enrique Marín Decision (unanimous) UFC 200

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Bryan Barberena Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Bader

Newark, New Jersey, United States Win

Cody Pfister Submission (guillotine choke) UFC Fight Night: Namajunas vs. VanZant

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Francisco Treviño TKO (elbows and punches) UFC 192

Houston, Texas, United States Win

Rocky Long Submission (neck crank) Legacy FC 44

Houston, Texas, United States Win

Gage Duhon Submission (rear-naked choke) Legacy FC 42

Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States Win

James Christopherson TKO (punches) Fury Fighting 6

Humble, Texas, United States Win

Jacob Capelli TKO (punches) Legacy FC: Challenger Series 1

Houston, Texas, United States Win

Tim Lashley TKO (wheel kick and punches) Legacy FC 37

Houston, Texas, United States