After UFC on FOX 22 loss, Sage Northcutt again changing divisions

Sage Northcutt is returning to the division where his UFC career began in such promising fashion.

In Saturday’s UFC on FOX 22 co-headliner, Northcutt (8-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) dropped to 1-2 in his past three fights after Mickey Gall (4-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) submitted him via second-round rear-naked choke. Both of the losses – the other came to Bryan Barberena in January – were at welterweight.

Now, Northcutt is returning to the 155-pound division, where the 20-year-old is 3-0 with the UFC.

He made the announcement the day after his UFC on FOX 22 co-headliner, which aired on FOX from Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif. (via Instagram):

“Sorry everybody I didn’t perform as I would have liked… I’ll be going back down to my real weight class 155lbs! Thanks for all of the support and to all the people that came out to watch”

Northcutt turned pro in 2014 and fought largely for Legacy FC in 165-pound catchweight bouts. He then signed with the UFC in 2015.

Northcutt scored a TKO victory over Francisco Trevino and submitted Cody Pfister in his first two UFC fights. However, he then moved up to welterweight and suffered the loss to Barberena. He rebounded for a decision victory over Enrique Marin at lightweight before moving back to 170 pounds for his fight with Gall, who had called out Northcutt shortly after Gall defeated Phil “CM Punk” Brooks in September.

For more on UFC on FOX 22, check out the UFC Events section of the site.