Sage Northcutt takes aim at ONE Championship over fight withdrawal: “That is completely inaccurate”
Sage Northcutt has fired back at ONE Championship over his fight cancellation.
Northcutt was supposed to fight Shinya Aoki at ONE 165 at the end of January. However, on the day of the fight, it was revealed ‘Super’ pulled out of the fight due to his cornermen not getting visas in time. Since then, Chatri Sityodtong said other people would corner Northcutt but the American didn’t want to fight.
Now, taking to his Instagram, Sage Northcutt fired back at those reports and claimed it was all ONE Championship’s fault.
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“One Championship is implying that I pulled out of the Shinya fight for unforeseen circumstances. That is completely inaccurate.. I sent One Championship the necessary paperwork they required to get my coaches visas 48 days ahead of the event. I was told by them over the phone and by text my main jujitsu coach Fabio Prado did not need a visa since I paid for his airfare flights and trip so he was not classified as a working employee that needed a visa and that my other coach could get in as a tourist so he didn’t need one either,” Sage Northcutt wrote.
“My coaches were there for almost a week, and I was not informed that two of them could not coach until hours before my match. I received a text from an unknown number that texted me for the first time that day that was a ticket salesman asking me about getting my two coaches complimentary tickets to watch my fight in the audience. I personally believe that One Championship was not going to inform me that my coaches were not allowed to corner me until I arrived at the arena to fight if I did not hear from a ticket salesman hours earlier. We were also told hours before my match that if my coaches violated the visa requirements and were caught on camera, they could be arrested and there was a 99.8% conviction rate on all arrests,” Sage Northcutt continued.
“I made it clear to One Championship that I was not flying from America to Japan if I didn’t have my three coaches. I was told before I left to Japan by an executive that I would not have to fight without my coaches. They knew before I left that I would not be able to have two of my coaches. They never told me my coaches could be thrown in prison for any visa violation. There has been a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes with One Championship with what caused me to withdraw from my last fight as well as other things that I will talk about at a later time on Facebook, Instagram, and with media outlets.
• drug testing
• weight cutting/ policies
• active athletes/ roster
• One’s stability… etc,” Northcutt added.
It is interesting to hear Sage Northcutt’s complaints as the American doesn’t seem happy with ONE Championship. With his frustration, it’s uncertain when the American will fight again after withdrawing from his last bout against Shinya Aoki.
