Gall: Sage would be stuffed in a locker in my hometown

Mickey Gall was asked how long the endlessly sunny Sage Northcutt would have lasted in his hometown of New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Not very long, said Gall toDave Doyle for MMA Fighting. He’d find himself in a locker. He’d probably kick his way out of a locker, I’ll give him that. … He seems very ingenuine. I say corny like a dork, but it’s an ingenuinty, he’s putting on.

Northcutt doesn’t trash talk but did gently point to the lack of experience on the part of Gall’s two UFC opponents. CM Punk looked like a white belt underwater, and Mike Jackson turned pro after going 1-6 his last seven as an amateur. Jackson did win his pro debut, but it was against a fighter who lost all three amateur fights and has gone 1-6 his last seven as a pro.

I think sometimes you should be careful what you wish for, sort of warned Northcutt. I’m not going to cut anybody down, but he fought two guys who never had an MMA fight before, so me, myself, I’m going to go up a weight class and fight 170, I’m prepared and I’m ready.

Gall is not impressed.

I’m better on the feet, better on the ground, tougher than him, endurance, everything, said the New Jersey native. When we jump in the fire, he’s hopping out of the fire way before I am. … It could go quick. I’m ready for three hard ones. I’m going to get the finish. I’d like to get a knockout in the first, but smart money is I’ll choke him out in the second.