Even when he was working his way up the 135-pound ranks, Dillashaw was never positioned as more than a solid addition to whatever fight card he was on and quality up-and-comer.Īt the very least, it’s a pay-per-view main card fight against someone already recognized as a contender in the 135-pound ranks and yet heading into next week, a casual fan would be convinced that Northcutt, not Sterling, is a couple fights away from challenging for UFC gold given their respective positioning on the card their share, White’s previously mentioned comments on First Take and the different amount of energy that has thus far gone into marketing and promoting the two competitors. We discuss the value of young talent, the current viewing patterns of the UFC audience, and the potential for prospects like Sage Northcutt, Sean OMalley. He entered the UFC as part of one of the best gyms in the sport – Team Alpha Male – and was tabbed by everyone in the MMA community as a can’t-miss prospect, someone that would one day challenge for and potentially wear UFC gold. Dillashaw is the current bantamweight champion and a former finalist on The Ultimate Fighter.

Article contentīut that doesn’t mean the UFC can’t use the backlash directed towards its current wunderkind from fighters and fans alike as a chance to reflect upon how they go about identifying which fighters to put its promotional weight behind and why a handful of legitimate contenders – and one reigning champion – never received a modicum of the marketing push it has afforded Northcutt right out of the gate and are still trailing “Super Sage” in that department now. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Manage Print Subscription / Tax Receipt.

Sage northcutt