Ahead of UFC-Austin, peak Sage Northcutt's training – and glee-spreading – at Team Alpha Male

Remember when Urijah Faber said recent Team Alpha Male arrival Sage Northcutt was like “Santa with abs“?

Well, we get it now.

(Warning: the footage below, via YouTube, may prompt uncontrollable urges to smile, spread glee and, in extreme cases, high-five strangers on the street.)

In this video produced by Northcutt’s sponsor Labrada, we catch a glimpse of “Super” during practice at Sacrament-based Team Alpha Male, where he’s been spending time since late last year. It seems Faber is not the only one impressed by Northcutt’s infectious cheer.

“Sage is always happy, even when it’s sparring day,” former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt says. “Usually everyone is in here, like mean-mugging, ready to fight. And Sage is like, ‘What’s up? Let’s get in there.”

To which Northcutt, apparently smiling through his head gear and mouth piece, amicably touches gloves with Garbrandt and replies: “Cody always pumps me up.”

Of course cheer is not all we get to see. We also get to watch some of the work Northcutt (9-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) has been putting in ahead of his scheduled UFC Fight Night 126 meeting with lightweight Thibault Gouti (12-3 MMA, 1-3 UFC.) The main-card bout takes place at Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas, on Feb. 18 and airs live on FS1.

Northcutt, who started his path in combat sports through karate and kickboxing, praised the knowledge he’s been getting from UFC Hall of Famer “Mr. Faber” and said that his transitions are probably the part of his game that he’s seen evolve the most since joining the team.

We even get to see Northcutt landing a nasty slam – and, perhaps more impressively, he manages to keep both his hair intact afterward.

Northcutt is now looking to get another UFC streak going, after a recent 2-2 patch. In his latest octagon appearance, at UFC Fight Night 120 in November, he scored unanimous-decision win over Michel Quinones – thus recovering from a submission loss to Mickey Gall.

Northcutt’s next opponent is in a more delicate position than “Super:” Before a recovery knockout win over Andrew Holbrook in September, Gouti was on a three-fight skid.

“My prediction, I guess, is to go out there, put on a great show, be victorious,” Northcutt said. “And I’m always going to go for the finish, so – an interesting finish.”

To watch some “Super” Northcutt’s preparation, and possibly get oddly pumped in the process, check out the video above.