By TXMMA Staff // Dez Moore // Photos by Diego Reyes
Legacy Amateur 155 lbs. champion goes for a second title belt at Legacy Amateur Series 16
HOUSTON, TX, July 11, 2014 – Legacy Amateur Series 155 lbs. champion Sage Northcutt has been groomed to become the ideal mixed martial artist. Northcutt is no stranger to combat sports, he’s competed in karate since he was five years old, and has already experienced success in mixed martial arts. From winning world titles in karate, competing successfully in the Jiu-Jitsu circuit, and most recently winning his first MMA title at Legacy Amateur Series 15, Northcutt finds himself in position to move up a weight class and win yet another title.
The recent high school graduate has been on a complete tear since dropping his amateur debut, winning his last four fights, three of which ended in the first round. His second victory, a first round armbar over Clarence Brown, earned him the official TXMMA Amateur Submission of the Year.
Now, Northcutt has the unique opportunity to be the first fighter to hold two titles consecutively for Legacy Amateur Series as he takes on Furia Fight Team’s Trent Parker for the welterweight title.
TXMMA recently spoke with Northcutt to discuss his upcoming title fight at Legacy Amateur Series 16, as well as his future plans for life and MMA:
Legacy Amateur Series 16 – Sage Northcutt
Sage Northcutt: I just graduated from Katy High School in June. I started competitive martial arts and sport karate when I was five years old. I came from a traditional martial arts background and have a third degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and a third degree black belt in Kajukenbo. All of my training has been geared around the competitive side of karate. I have traveled all over the world my whole life trying to always compete against not only the best competitors in the U.S., but other countries as well. I have won multiple world titles in all types of fighting as well as many types of traditional forms and weapons divisions. My dad, who is one of my coaches, always encouraged me to wrestle and learn Jiu-Jitsu, which I have competed in on-and-off since I was 11 years old.
I train at several locations. I have trained with Jeff Messina at Revolution Dojo since I was 11 years old, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in Katy, and with Hoger (who used to fight in the UFC). I fought my first four fights for Legacy as a 17 year old, but was not able to train for any of them. Now that I graduated high school in June, I have actually been able to train for the first time.
Making the transition over to MMA from what I have been doing my entire life was easy. I figure I will give myself a year to train and fight and see where I am. After that I will either go to Texas A&M and major in Petroleum Engineering or give it a little longer to see how far I can go.
TXMMA: This is your second title fight? How are you preparing for this fight? Is it any different from previous weight classes?
Sage Northcutt: The only difference in this fight and my previous four fights is that I have had five weeks to train. With the first four fights, I simply had to use my past training.
TXMMA: You are moving up a weight class, how much do you think that will play a factor in this fight?
Sage Northcutt: I do not think it will play any factor in this fight. I have been competing against people out of my weight class in wrestling, Jiu-Jitsu, and sport karate my entire life.
TXMMA: Your opponent is Trent Parker. He’s undefeated at 5-0. What do you know about him and what are you expecting?
Sage Northcutt: I was told my opponent was a wrestler and was really big since he cuts 20+ pounds to make the 170-pound weight class. Big is great. That is why I said I would move up to fight at 170 lbs. Before, I would cut 15 pounds to make 155 lbs. since I only walk around at 170 lbs., so for this fight I wanted a challenge. I do not really expect anything. I am sure he will do his best and try to be aggressive.
TXMMA: What would it mean to be the first fighter to hold two titles consecutively for Legacy Amateur Series?
Sage Northcutt: I think it would be great to win two belts. The belts certainly look cool!
TXMMA: What’s next for you after this fight?
Sage Northcutt: After this fight, I am going to be able to start training for real. Not just for four weeks then fight. I have a lot to learn. I am going up to Colorado to train with my friend Joe Warren (Bellator champion, world wrestling champion, and Olympian), and then I am going to Arizona to train with my friend Lauren Murphy, who is fighting Sara McMann on August 16th at UFC Fight Night in Maine. She trains with Ben Henderson at his place, the Lab.
TXMMA: Lastly, any thanks or shout outs you would like to give?
Sage Northcutt: The list is too long to thank everyone and when you do not mention everyone’s name they get upset. But, I would like to thank my dad who has always been my coach and in charge of my training, my mother who has always supported me and traveled all over the world with me, my coaches – Pat Swan, Vinnie Lowe, Jeff Messina, Alex Cisne, and Sam Hoger, all my training partners, and of course my sister Colbey and brother Shaun who both always train with me and travel to compete everywhere with me. Last, I would like to thank Legacy – Mick and Collin- for always giving me the opportunities to fight on their cards.