Sage Northcutt Has Found New Focus Since Putting Full-Time Attention on His Career

Sage Northcutt spoke with MMAjunkie ahead of his fight with Thibault Gouti at UFC Fight Night 126. Highlights are below:

On putting the focus full-time on his career: “It’s been way more comfortable since I withdrew from school. Now I’m not studying to be a petroleum engineer. I’m able to focus full-time on the fight. Now the confidence is going up, and I’m feeling way more better because I know I’m improving every single day instead of taking the talent I had from when I was a little kid and going off that. Now I’m able to build that talent and get better.”

On working with Team Alpha Male: “Team Alpha Male’s been amazing. I have my coach, Urijah Faber. He’s watching me do everything pretty much all the time. I’m training or grappling or sparring live. He’s over there making adjustments. He’s really hands on, so that makes a big difference.”

On trying to expand his skills: “I want to be super well-rounded. I want to be eventually be the best wrestler out there, be the best grappler out there, along with being the best striker – be all of them at one time.”

On Gouti: “I know he fought for ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ show and he trains in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He’s from France. I know those things. I’ve been studying his tape and so have my coaches, and I’m looking forward to the fight.”