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31st January 2016
09:58am GMT
The karate specialist was a 2/5 favourite according to most bookmakers for his first promotional bout at welterweight.
'Super' Sage was forced to accept a fight at 170 lbs for the main card opener after original lightweight opponent Andrew Holbrook withdrew from the bout.
And Bryan Barberena welcomed Northcutt to welterweight in some style with a rather bizarre finish at UFC New Jersey.
The previously undefeated Northcutt had claimed the first round but came unstuck in the second after Barberena ended up on top in a scramble.
Wow! "@sagenorthcutt taps!" @bryan_barberena goes for an arm triangle – and he has it! ? #UFCNewJersey https://t.co/BzcZuQsgQ8
— #UFCNewJersey (@btsportufc) January 31, 2016
Limiting Barberena from half guard, Northcutt appeared to be relatively safe when the MMA Lab fighter looked for an arm triangle.
Just when everyone expected Barberena to press down on Northcutt's left leg and move to mount or side mount, Northcutt unexpectedly tapped under what appeared to be very little pressure.
Typically, arm triangles are finished when the attacking fighter's hips are pressed tight to the mat on the same side of his opponent's body as the submission is locked in - as that's when the choke can be tightest.
While it will come as a learning curve for Northcutt in terms of his grappling prowess, some fighters weren't so kind to Northcutt.
https://twitter.com/BrianStann/status/693606208394149889
https://twitter.com/jucao/status/693606384437436416
https://twitter.com/BrendanSchaub/status/693606479786446848
https://twitter.com/FollowTheMenace/status/693606523025649664
https://twitter.com/da_MONSOON/status/693606643922120706
https://twitter.com/One_Punch/status/693606702764138497
