ONE Fight Night 10: Three Reasons Why Event Will Be Biggest Opportunity Of Sage Northcutt’s Career

Add as a preferred source on Google

Singapore, March 31: When Sage Northcutt signed with ONE Championship in 2019, the MMA world was filled with intrigue, wondering how he would fare inside the Circle.

But since his debut defeat to Cosmo Alexandre, "Super" has been missing from action. The hiatus will end soon, though, when he returns to the lightweight division on Saturday, 6 May, at ONE Fight Night 10 in Denver, Colorado.

The California kid will meet lightweight rising star Ahmed Mujtaba on that night at 1stBank Center, but there are many variables at play that solidify his upcoming return as the biggest night of his career. Here are three of them.

1. Biggest Event In ONE History: Whenever Northcutt happened to return to the Circle, there would be plenty of interest surrounding him.

But to pick the biggest night in the promotion's history, on home soil, is a testament to the fortitude withheld by the beach-blonde brawler. And by taking his spot on a stacked main card, all eyes will be on him. After a hiatus stemming nearly four years to the day he returns, the pressure looming will be large.

2. Facing A Soaring Star In MMA: Northcutt's opponent this May is a surging star in the lightweight division. Mujtaba carries a four-fight winning streak into the dance in Denver, with three of his victories coming within the distance.

The Pakistani punisher was last seen this past November at ONE 162, where he submitted decorated grappler Abraao Amorim in the first round.

Anybody that's expecting Northcutt to steamroll through the soaring star will be badly mistaken, as this contest offers one of the tightest matchups to call on the card. Should Northcutt manage to dispatch "Wolverine," he will certainly find himself held in high regard at lightweight.

3. The Role Of Ring Rust: Part of the magic of combat sports is how dreams can be realized in an instant. However, mixed martial arts isn't a Hollywood script.

When a fighter returns to action, especially against an opponent who has been ever-present in the division, the parallels can often unfold in the Circle. Many argue that ring rust will always play a part in the return of a fighter coming off a hiatus.

Mixed martial arts is a constantly evolving sport, and if you're on the sidelines long enough, you'll be left in the dust of those fighters on a journey to get what they desire.

Northcutt's last outing couldn't have been more shattering. Luckily, at only 26-years-old, the American is one of the fortunate who still have an insurmountable amount of time. Whether his tools will prevail is another question altogether, and the fallout of that will only be seen in Denver next month.

Source: Media Release