Twitter reacts scathingly to Northcutt quick tap

Sage Northcutt’s looks (model with a six pack), personality (humble, Texas-bred, lifelong martial artist), and skillset (flashy) were such that he was getting opportunities not available to fighters just a few fights into the UFC. But the thing about mixed martial arts is, you have to back up the hype every single time you fight.

Notcutt started out vs. the unheralded Bryan Barberena as if he expected it to end early in the first. But it didn’t. Barbarena stood up to the initial attack, and then turned things around, getting a tapout in the second via a choke that did not appear to be fully applied. Speaking factually, the beginner division of a grappling tournament shows more effective and determined sub defense than Northcutt exhibited on FOX.

Notcutt’s fellow fighters were scathing.

Nina Ansaroff ‏@NinaAnsaroff 

#supertap

Ben Askren @Benaskren

Can I say it was a weak tap??? Just freaking embarrassing, I’d retire my gloves effective immediately

Mike Brown @mikebrownmma

Wow, we got a new president of the quick tap club.

Tony Ferguson @TonyFergusonXT

•Woo!!! Tapped like a little Bitch & Tried to tel the Ref Different!! @sagenorthcutt VonFlu/Got You

Justin Gaethje @Justin_Gaethje

@joerogan says “wow he tapped in half guard” that’s @UFCONFOX lingo for wow he is definitely a pussy. He’s young but I agree with you Joe.

Manny Gamburyan @MannyGamburyan

This kid has a lot to learn he’s too green for the @ufc level

Roan Jucao @jucao

Omg he tap ??? And it was not tight enough. It wasn’t the right side

Tim Kennedy ‏@TimKennedyMMA

UFC promoted superstars are losing at an alarming rate (Northcutt, Paige, and Rhonda). The only one left is Conner.

Lorenz Larkin @da_MONSOON

Lol……………in half guard

Kevin Lee ‏@MoTownPhenom

It’s not that @sagenorthcutt lost,its that he quit.Its exactly what I been saying:the first time he faces some real s— in his life he quit

Angela Magana @AngelaMagana1

I want 40k for a scaredy tap #northcut

Yancy Medeiros @ymedeiros

I NEVER gave up… #underpaid

Ramsey Nijem @RamseyNijem

Lol what a joke @sagenorthcutt tapped out to a choke set up #whitebelt

Jens Pulver @jens_pulver

Showed a ton of heart fighting out of that sub…..worth every penny.

Brendan Schaub @BrendanSchaub

I love Sage and he has a huge future but that wasn’t a choke. I call that giving up sorry kids

Brian Stann @BrianStann

Wow. That hype train got hit w/ a nuke

Din Thomas @DinThomas

Sage got exposed. He never faced a guy from a top gym. Elite coaches ALWAYS find the hole. @TheMMALAB @Firas_Zahabi @JacksonWinkMMA

Josh Thomson @THEREALPUNK

Not everyone has what it takes to be a fighter. That’s not a dig on anyone, that’s a fact!?

James Vick @JamesVickMMA

Omg what a pussy!!! Dude gave up. No heart. Ufc give me his 40/40 next time cause no f—ing way I would get finished with that s—! Lol

The good news is, Sage Northcutt is still a teenager, with many years to develop, if he wants to. And wanting to develop in mixed martial arts means that you will take beatings. If he isn’t willing to take beatings, if he simply taps his way out of difficulty, then, emphatically, this is not the sport for him.

Also importantly, Northcutt did not slip on a banana peel Bryan Barberena beat him badly, and deserves respect and notice for that.