Sage Northcutt is recovering after an ‘intense’ operation on nine facial fractures. Photo: Instagram
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https://scmp.com/sport/mixed-martial-arts/article/3012459/one-championship-demetrious-johnson-says-sage-northcutts Mixed Martial Arts
One Championship: Demetrious Johnson says Sage Northcutt’s KO by Cosmo Alexandre was ‘tough’ to watch
- ‘Casual fans think just because you fight in North America you’re the best athlete in the world’
- Mighty Mouse says any fighter can lose on any day – ‘that’s just reality’
Sage Northcutt is floored by Cosmo Alexandre. Photo: One Championship
Demetrious Johnson has admitted it was “tough” to watch fellow former UFC star Sage Northcutt get knocked out cold in 29 seconds on his One Championship debut.
The 23-year-old American was caught cold by a booming overhand right from veteran Brazilian kick-boxer Alexandre in Singapore this month. He had to undergo an “intense” nine-hour operation on eight facial fractures, with his cheek “splintered into 30 pieces”.
“I did [watch it] … It’s tough,” Johnson told Tom Taylor of BJPenn.com. “It’s mixed martial arts. Anything can happen.”
“Cosmo Alexandre, he’s a tough dude, great kick-boxer, obviously has a lot of power in his hands,” former UFC flyweight champion Johnson added.
“Any fighter on any day can lose. You can ask any fighter, that’s just the reality of fighting.”
JUST. LIKE. THAT! Cosmo Alexandre knocks out Sage Northcutt 29 seconds into the first round @CosmoAlexandre #WeAreONE #EnterTheDragon #Singapore #MartialArts pic.twitter.com/Nh32Z1LNjU
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) May 17, 2019
Northcutt was one of three big-name captures from the UFC for the Asian MMA organisation late last year, along with Johnson and former lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez.
He was being billed as a future “global phenomenon” by One chief executive Chatri Sityodtong going into the bout with Alexandre – but now faces a long road to recovery.
“I’ve always thought any promotion in the world is legit,” Johnson said. “It’s just casual fans who think just because you fight in North America you’re the best athlete in the world, and that’s not the case whatsoever.
Cosmo Alexandre winds up an overhand against Sage Northcutt. Photo: One Championship
“I mean you’ve got guys like Kyoji Horiguchi, who’s cleaning house [in Japanese MMA promotion Rizin]. He’s about to fight for a world title in Bellator.”
“Mighty Mouse” was backstage at Ryogoku Sumo Hall in March preparing for his first One fight when Alvarez was getting knocked out in the first round of his own debut by Timofey Nastyukhin – a result that sent shock waves through the MMA world.
Most fans thought Johnson would also have a cakewalk against Yuya Wakamatsu in Tokyo. But he was made to work for his second-round submission win, which put “Mighty Mouse” through to the semi-finals of the flyweight grand prix.
Demetrious Johnson gets tagged by Yuya Wakamatsu. Photo: One Championship
“If One Championship athletes were to go to North America [promotions] to compete, I’m sure they’d do well,” said Johnson, who holds the record for most consecutive title defences in UFC with 11.
“Look at guys like [Bellator middleweight champion and former UFC star] Gegard Mousasi. The majority of his career was in Japan.
“I think it doesn’t matter what organisation you fight under. Any athlete can lose on any given day.”