Gone in 29 seconds! Ex-UFC Sage Northcutt KOd with first punch in ONE Championship debut (VIDEO)
Former UFC prospect 'Super' Sage Northcutt made his long-awaited MMA debut for Asian promotion ONE Championship at 'Enter The Dragon', and was stunningly knocked out with the first punch of the fight by Brazil's Cosmo Alexandre.
Northcutt signed with ONE last November as part of a high-profile succession of signings from the UFC, with the 23-year-old joining fellow former UFC stars Eddie Alvarez, Demetrious Johnson and later Vitor Belfort at ONE Championship.
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But 'Super Sage's ONE Championship debut proved to be anything but super for the American, as he was starched in just 29 seconds by former Muay Thai and kickboxing world champion Cosmo 'Good Boy' Alexandre.
JUST. LIKE. THAT! Cosmo Alexandre knocks out Sage Northcutt 29 seconds into the first round 👊 @CosmoAlexandre#WeAreONE#EnterTheDragon#Singapore#MartialArtspic.twitter.com/Nh32Z1LNjU
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) May 17, 2019
Alexandre may not have been as well-known in MMA circles as Northcutt, but the Brazilian was riding a seven-fight win streak under MMA rules, including five consecutive wins during his time with Bellator MMA.
The 37-year-old has had his biggest successes in the striking arts, capturing four Muay Thai world titles and three kickboxing world titles during his 89-fight career under striking rules.
And that striking pedigree shone through as he finished Northcutt with a perfectly-placed right hand that brought him the biggest win of his mixed martial arts career.
It brought a huge gasp from the crowd at the Singapore Indoor Stadium and prompted commentator Michael Schiavello to exclaim his trademark phrase: "GOOD NIGHT FREAKING IRENE!"
There were shock results elsewhere on the card, with the two pre-tournament favorites to reach the final of the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix tournament both eliminated at the quarter-final stage.
👊 BACK AND FORTH THEY GO 👊 #WeAreONE#EnterTheDragon#Singapore#MartialArtspic.twitter.com/WGBHGiRiOC
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) May 17, 2019
Thai legend Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex was dropped in the first round en route to a unanimous decision defeat by Frenchman Samy Sana, while Italian kickboxing ace Giorgio Petrosyan was handed only the third defeat of his decorated kickboxing career by Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai world champion Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy.
Both Petchmorakot and Sana progress to the semi-finals of the tournament, which offers a prize of $1 million for the overall winner.
