bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Nicolas Atkin

UFC president Dana White has made a surprise plea to Sage Northcutt to hang up his gloves and do something else in life.
Northcutt was knocked out cold in 29 seconds by Cosmo Alexandre on his One Championship debut last month in Singapore.
The former UFC star needed a nine-hour surgery on eight facial fractures following a brutal overhand right from Brazilian veteran kick-boxer Alexandre, who said he was “sad” to inflict such damage.
“I would really like to see Sage Northcutt retire,” White told TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter. “I hope he does. He’s a good looking, charismatic kid, smart, he was in college to be an engineer. He’s got a lot going on in his life – this isn’t the sport for him.”

Dana White would like to see BJ Penn retire and would also like to see Sage Northcutt retire, says "this sport isn't for him" pic.twitter.com/k1vEjV1IMY
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) June 7, 2019

Northcutt was touted as a potential future “global phenomenon” by One CEO Chatri Sityodtong before the fight but he now faces a long lay-off.
Many have criticised One for putting Northcutt up against such a world-class striker – Alexandre is a seven-time kick-boxing world champion. UFC commentator Joe Rogan called it a “terrible match-up”.

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

The 23-year-old has vowed to come back stronger, but White thinks he has no future in MMA.
“I don’t wanna sound like I’m s****** all over the guy because I really like the kid a lot, but this isn’t the sport for him,” White said. “I would love to see him retire before he seriously gets hurt.”
“It’s not that the kid doesn’t have some talent, he does,” White added. “This isn’t the sport for him. He needs to retire.




“Hopefully the people that are surrounding him listen to what I’m saying and set this kid on another path in life.
“He can literally do whatever he wants to do. He’s young, smart. Some people have to fight. Sage Northcutt doesn’t have to fight.”
Northcutt was 3-1 in the UFC but he opted to sign with Asian MMA organisation One last November when his contract was up.

White said at the time “we let Sage go” because “he needs some work” and might be able to better develop in other organisations.
Northcutt said, however, that the UFC couldn’t match the incentive on offer from One.
Asked now if he thought Northcutt simply wasn’t good enough to compete in MMA, White told TSN “yeah”.


ONE Championship: Yod-IQ Pimolsri secures contract, eyes rematch with Abdulla Dayakaev

ONE Championship: Superbon insists his longevity, success are rooted in discipline over sacrifice

ONE Championship: Mohammad Siasarani finally gets coveted contract – now he wants the belt

ONE Championship: Liu Mengyang believes win over Tawanchai is ‘turning point of my career’

ONE Championship

One Championship: Dana White says Sage Northcutt should retire – ‘this isn’t the sport for him’

Sage Northcutt is recovering from a nine-hour operation on eight facial fractures after his One Championship debut ended in a 29-second KO loss. Photo: Instagram

One Championship: Angela Lee returns to fight Michelle Nicolini in Kuala Lumpur

Xiong Jingnan kicks Angela Lee before the referee steps in to end their strawweight title fight in the fifth round. Photos: One Championship

Angela Lee hugs her brother Christian Lee. Photo: One Championship

Petchmorakot Petchyindee celebrates his win over Giorgio Petrosyan

One Championship: Joe Rogan says Sage Northcutt and Cosmo Alexandre a ‘terrible match-up’

Cosmo Alexandre knocks Sage Northcutt out in 29 seconds in Singapore. Photo: One Championship

Cosmo Alexandre celebrates his shock win. Photo: One Championship

One Championship: Demetrious Johnson says Sage Northcutt’s KO by Cosmo Alexandre was ‘tough’ to watch

Sage Northcutt is floored by Cosmo Alexandre. Photo: One Championship

Demetrious Johnson gets clocked

Cosmo Alexandre winds up an overhand against Sage Northcutt.

One Championship: Cosmo Alexandre ‘sad’ he splintered Sage Northcutt’s cheek into 30 pieces

Sage Northcutt is facing a long lay-off from MMA after a nine-hour operation to repair eight facial fractures. Photo: Instagram

Cosmo Alexandre's arm is raised. Photo: One Championship

Sage Northcutt is 'getting better' in hospital in Singapore. Photo: Instagram

Cosmo Alexandre drops Sage Northcutt with an overhand right. Photo: One Championship

One Championship: Sage Northcutt knocked out cold in 29 seconds by Cosmo Alexandre on debut in Singapore

Sport

Mixed Martial Arts

‘Hopefully the people surrounding him listen to me,’ UFC president says, ‘before he gets seriously hurt’
Northcutt was knocked out cold in 29 seconds by Cosmo Alexandre on One Championship debut


‘Hopefully the people surrounding him listen to me,’ UFC president says, ‘before he gets seriously hurt’.


Martial arts

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)