In the midst of Sage Northcutt’s free agency, UFC President Dana White has said that the promotion has opted to let him go.
Well, it looks as if Sage Northcutt is done with the UFC for now. On Tuesday on the UFC Unfiltered podcast, UFC President Dana White confirmed that Northcutt is no longer with the promotion. While it was well known that Northcutt had fought out his contract and was exploring his options, what’s more surprising is that the promotion suddenly seems to be giving the young star the cold shoulder.
“We let Sage go,” said White in regards to ‘Super’ Sage. Northcutt (11–2) has won three straight in the UFC, so what White said next was surprising. “Sage is young and Sage needs some work. So let him get some work in one of these other organizations and we’ll see where this kid ends up in a couple of years and maybe we’ll pick him back up again.”
“His contract was up, so we let him go,” White finished.
That’s a bizarre stance considering Northcutt’s current win streak. Not to mention the fact that the UFC has yet to release the 0-2 CM Punk. However, Northcutt was spotted at a ONE Championship event recently. ONE recently signed former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, and traded to acquire all-time great Demetrious Johnson. There’s a chance, with Northcutt already on his way out the door, that the promotion is simply trying to save face.
ONE, meanwhile, would be a good fit for Northcutt, with his perfect manners and soft-spoken ways. The promotion prides itself on being a bastion of true martial arts virtues, and is the antithesis of the modern UFC, brimming with trash talking.
Of course, White’s comments could be a bargaining tactic as well. Who knows. But for now, it seems as if Sage Northcutt’s tenure with the UFC is over.
