Sage Northcutt Scores Lightning Quick Heel Hook in ONE Championship Return

Timothy James

May 5, 2023

It only took 39 seconds for Sage Northcutt to get back in the win column after a 4-year layoff.

4 years later, after many surgeries and setbacks, Sage Northcutt made his return to MMA at One Fight Night 10 – triumphantly. He made quick work of Ahmed Mujtaba, finishing the Pakistani with a heel hook in less than a minute.

It was Northcutt’s first fight since losing by KO against Cosmo Alexandre back in May 2019. He suffered multiple face fractures in that fight and it was unclear if he’d ever be able to fight again – until his performance at ONE Fight Night 10.

The home-field advantage may have given “Super” Sage a boost – it was ONE Championship’s USA debut at the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colorado. The crowd was amped up for Northcutt’s big win – chanting “USA!!! USA!!!” as Sage walked out of the arena.

Equally amped up was ONE Championship president Chatri Sityodtong – who knew when he signed Northcutt in 2019 that the young fighter has star power. This win is a step in the right direction after a questionable decision for Northcutt to move up to middleweight for his ONE debut 4 years ago. As a welterweight with a win under his belt, Northcutt takes a step in the right direction towards becoming one of ONE’s bigger names.