One Championship: fuss over Sage Northcutt’s savage KO is all ‘hoopla’ says CEO Chatri

Chatri Sityodtong says ‘negative fan talk in the US’ about Cosmo Alexandre match-up is ‘far from the truth’

Northtcutt can still be an MMA, Muay Thai and kick-boxing world champion in One, according to CEO

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Sage Northcutt takes a punch from Cosmo Alexandre (left). He needed a nine-hour operation afterwards. Photos: One Championship/Sage Northcutt

Published: 1:28pm, 21 Jun 2019Updated: 1:28pm, 21 Jun 2019

One Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong has said he doesn’t understand “all the hoopla” surrounding the savage knockout suffered by Sage Northcutt on his debut.

Former UFC star Northcutt was knocked out cold in 29 seconds by a vicious overhand right from Cosmo “Good Boy” Alexandre in Singapore last month. He needed an nine-hour operation on eight facial fractures, with cornerman Urijah Faber saying the 23-year-old had 30 bone fragments removed.

The decision to put the young American in with a seasoned Brazilian striker – a seven-time kick-boxing world champion none the less – drew condemnation from MMA observers, including UFC commentator Joe Rogan who called it a “terrible match-up”, while UFC president Dana White suggested Northcutt should retire because “this sport isn’t for him”.

“All the negative fan talk in the States about Sage being sent the toughest monster in One is far from the truth,” Chatri told MMA Junkie. “Cosmo is a very tough, tough, elite fighter, but again, he’s only 7-1 in MMA.

“I don’t know what all the hoopla was about, but yes, Cosmo is a world-class striker. And again, it’s because we have 140 world champions in One Championship.