Sage Northcutt Trains With AEW’s Malakai Black Ahead of ONE on Prime 10
It’s been a while since Sage Northcutt competed in MMA in front of a crowd, so to help him reacclimate to crowds and in-ring competition, Northcutt got some help from an unorthodox source. Pro wrestler and AEW World Trios Champion Malakai Black.
Professional Wrestling and MMA are closer than you think. They share several similarities in terms of their history and cultural impact. Both sports have roots in early forms of combat, with professional wrestling originating from traditional Greco-Roman wrestling and catch wrestling in the late 19th century. Similarly, MMA traces its origins to various forms of martial arts, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, boxing, and kickboxing. In addition, both sports rely heavily on storytelling and character development to create compelling narratives and generate fan interest.
Despite their differences in terms of athletic performance and legitimacy, both professional wrestling and MMA have become popular forms of entertainment and have had a significant impact on popular culture.
Northcutt will be returning to mixed martial arts competition when ONE Championship brings its product to the United States for the first time on May 5. Northcutt returns after a significant layoff when he lost to Cosmo Alexander in 2019. The knock-out blow dealt enough damage to Northcutt to require surgical repair that put the 27-year-old martial artist on the shelf for a while. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t make it easy for anyone to get fights so this return to action is a big deal for Northcutt.
Black, who also has a martial arts background in kickboxing, seemed to learn some new moves from Northcutt while giving him a few we might see at ONE on Prime 10. The event will air live on Prime Video when ONE Championship holds its first event at 1st Bank Center in Broomfield, Colorado. Check out the footage of them training together above.
