Feeling 'super human,' UFC on FOX 18's Sage Northcutt open to permanent welterweight move

A last-minute opponent switch at UFC on FOX 18 forced Sage Northcutt to jump to the welterweight division for the first time in his UFC career. If things continue to go smoothly, he said he might stay there.

Northcutt (7-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) originally was scheduled to face Andrew Holbrook (11-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) in lightweight action at Saturday’s event at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Holbrook pulled out of the FOX-televised bout with an injury on less than two weeks’ notice, though, and Bryan Barberena (10-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) now serves as a replacement.

The caveat that came with Barberena’s acceptance of the fight, though, was that it would have to take place at welterweight. Northcutt said he had no problem agreeing to the heavier weight.

With the fight just days away, Northcutt said he’s feeling the positive effects of not cutting weight and instead is able to enjoy his time during fight week.

“I found out that my opponent that I was going to fight broke his foot, and that was at 155,” he told MMAjunkie. “So now the new opponent that got arranged for me is at 170, welterweight. I had actually cut back the amount of food I was eating. I was already getting close to my weight of fighting at 155, and now I feel great. I feel super strong. I feel like a super human getting to eat all this foot and going back to welterweight at the last minute.”

Although Northcutt said he had no issue with the opponent switch, the fact it’s a different weight is somewhat perplexing. With more than 115 active lightweight fighters signed to the UFC roster, Northcutt was surprised a replacement wasn’t found in his own weight class.

“I imagine with only seven or eight days, to be able to find an opponent that can get their medicals done at 155 or any weight class, is very tough,” Northcutt said. “My opponent that I’m fighting currently at welterweight actually had a fight scheduled a few weeks after my fight that I have on Jan. 30. So it works out perfect. He was already going to fight at welterweight, so all I had to do was move up to make 170.”

Northcutt looks to earn his third consecutive UFC victory. He’s picked up two quick wins since his UFC debut in October, and now he has the chance to post his third in less than four months.

Although there’s some risk in Northcutt’s decision to fight up a weight class, he said another way to view the situation is as an experiment. If his welterweight debut turns out to be a success, he said the division could potentially become his permanent home.

“There is a chance that I might fight another fight at 170 or two more fights and go back to 155,” Northcutt said. “I’m not really sure yet exactly what the plan is, but it’s very possible I’ll have more fights and stay here at 170 and very possible I’ll go back to 155 in the future.”

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