:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47344280/008_Sage_Northcutt.0.0.jpg)
Sage Northcutt has spent less than a minute inside the Octagon, but the 19-year-old''s already garnering some high praise.
The UFC lightweight blitzed through Francisco Trevino Oct. 3 at UFC 192 in Houston, Texas, stealing the show with a first-round TKO.
Count UFC vet and commentator Kenny Florian among those buying the hype in the undefeated teenager.
"Talk about potential," Florian said Monday on his podcast. "Talk about dollar signs. This kid could be [former UFC welterweight champion] Georges St-Pierre times 10. When you look at his look and the way that he fights. The explosiveness. This kid, I think he got to the state championships after only a year of wrestling in high school. He was wrestling at Texas A&M after only a couple years of wrestling. He started wrestling very late. This kid is an athlete through and through. Just look at that flip."
Northcutt hit a backflip in the Octagon to celebrate the quick finish, but saved the good stuff for UFC commentator Joe Rogan.
19-year-old @sagenorthcutt won his debut at #UFC192 in 57 secs. ... And celebrated with a CRAZY flip: http://t.co/ZLUYSWGjmF (U.S. only)
— ESPN (@espn) October 4, 2015
"Let's say fighting doesn't work out, he could be a movie star," said Florian. "He could be a Jean-Claude Van Damme. Maybe do it at the same time. I creeped on his Instagram after seeing that flip, just kind of going back in his history and he's like 17 years old running up a grass hill with three tires tied to him."
"It's unbelievable what kind of maturity and approach that he has to this game," said Florian. "His father must have been a disciplinarian. Everything this guy does he does it 100 percent. Whether it's wrestling or being a karate world champion. His sister is a karate champion. It's in their blood. This is what they do, and now we're getting these truly elite, world-class athletes in the sport. It really is exciting."
5 MUST-READ STORIES
'Two gates to get to my house.' Conor McGregor calls himself "The ruler of the numbers," calls Luke Rockhold "a bum" and Ronda Rousey "the queen" to his king.
Trilogy. UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier says he won't retire until he fights Jon Jones two more times.
Big. UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey will be the first female athlete to guest host ESPN's SportsCenter.
'I really do think that I fought my last fight.' Quinton Jackson says he "might as well retire" if he can't fight for the UFC due to his legal battle with Bellator.
'Right now he's taking a little time off.' CM Punk's UFC debut reportedly delayed due to shoulder injury.
Watch The MMA Hour with Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Rampage Jackson, Chael Sonnen, Matt Serra, Kimbo Slice, Steven Seagal and Mike Dolce.
MEDIA STEW
Jose Aldo training with Dan Hardy.
Highlights from Legacy 46.
This ref either loved or hated Rameau Sokoudjou.
Yair Rodriguez training with Jon Jones and others.
TTTHS.
All the flips you can handle.
Long watches.
UFC 192: Fight Club Q&A with Cain Velasquez and Anthony Pettis
...
KNUCKLE UP #346: UFC 192, The Unbearable Rightness of Robinson + How It Feels to Watch a Dead Man...
TWEETS
#freenickdiaz
thank you @Cher http://t.co/hV5CEcSKGP https://t.co/ieJeyHCINt pic.twitter.com/MlgKvMHPnT
— nick diaz (@nickdiaz209) October 5, 2015
I had to repost this.. A guy from twitch recorded me playing GTA saying free Nick Diaz ... https://t.co/pwEFjWn4lW
— Quinton Jackson (@Rampage4real) October 6, 2015
Buds.
@dc_mma thank u for a great fight champ! #ufc192 #war #respect
— Alexander Gustafsson (@AlexTheMauler) October 6, 2015
Monday Mayhem with Mr. Miller pic.twitter.com/CuGQPTsb8K
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) October 5, 2015
Beef.
I'll either beat him or I'll be in the ER. @JoshLBarnett doesn't play around, but neither do GANGSTERS.
— Chael Sonnen (@sonnench) October 6, 2015
Green.
The McGregor Bus driving through Times Square. Destination - The Bank. https://t.co/7S0Sh4xdLE pic.twitter.com/9aGIPToWbT
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 6, 2015
Looks good.
Literally thinking "This damn cut better look good by my wedding Friday" ❤️ Thank you... https://t.co/qzkMocoL2o
— Joseph Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) October 5, 2015
In the movies ... or TV.
@Jayhieron working on Blacklist... Always great to see our friends on the screen ;-) pic.twitter.com/eUFPSDQmcr
— Renzo_Gracie_BJJ (@RenzoGracieBJJ) October 5, 2015
At the crew screening and premiere of my latest film #riotmovie @matthewreese31 @johnlyde pic.twitter.com/exbAp23JKF
— Chuck Liddell (@ChuckLiddell) October 6, 2015
Get well soon.
Surgery was a success! Want to thank my mom @Deborah47847089 for taking care of me. pic.twitter.com/SHkVKE3tUj
— Cody Gibson (@TheRenegade559) October 6, 2015
All in the mat.
Hey @sagenorthcutt show this @ClemsonFB fan how it's done!!! @ufc #ufc #fail #flip pic.twitter.com/rliR38feIV
— Dana White (@danawhite) October 6, 2015
@danawhite Ouch! It all has to do with the Octagon @UFC @UFCFightPass
— Sage Northcutt (@sagenorthcutt) October 6, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Oct. 5 2015)
Michael Page vs. Charlie Ontiveros at Bellator 144: Galvão vs. Dantas 2
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day comes via Reese L.
Alexander Gustafsson: The Man Without a Country
When it's all said and done, the Alexander Gustafsson may be known as the best to ever don the gloves, and never hold the title. This isn't a tragic tale, but one merely of circumstance and timing. In any other time he, almost certainly, would have been king. This isn't a man who had the God given ability and no work ethic, or the worker who if he just had a smidgen of talent could have been special. Instead, he's an athletic workhorse whose God given abilities are maximized by his high fight acumen and awareness. His movement is truly impressive, especially for a man of his size. His reach highlighted by his lightening jab. Yet to this point, he's been just a modicum off from the title-One round by one judge to be exact.
...
Check out the rest of the post here.
Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.
Get the latest gear
