By Daniel Vreeland

Sage Northcutt tends to be a fairly polarizing figure, especially for someone who doesn’t appear to ever swear or talk trash.

Some people seem to love his good-guy image, whereas it’s just a little too much for others. A third group out there does exist, however: those who don’t buy it at all.

Count Northcutt's upcoming UFC Fight Night 133: Boise opponent Zak Ottow as a member of that final group. The five-fight UFC veteran spoke with The Top Turtle MMA Podcast about what he thinks of Northcutt and his public image, mincing zero words along the way.

“I think he’s a nice kid—a little weird to me sometimes," Ottow said. “I don’t think it’s genuine. I think [in] some of his interviews he comes across as a little fake to me.”

On top of being put off by some of Northcutt's interviews, Ottow doesn’t really get the hype around him in general. From both a personality and a fighting perspective, he doesn’t see what keeps drawing in the fans.

“I don’t know why so many people are so interested to watch this kid fight,” Ottow said. “I don’t think his skills are up to par with the elite in the UFC, and I’m definitely going to expose him.”

The avenues by which to expose the 22-year-old hyped prospect, according to Ottow, are many. While some people see Northcutt as an impressive technical striker, Ottow doesn’t feel like there will be any problems on the feet.

“I think he’s got a couple doors to open, and each one of them is bad for him on the other side,” Ottow said.





The most commonly exposed door, Ottow says, is the one where Northcutt takes a solid shot.

“He doesn’t seem like he likes to get hit all too much,” Ottow said. “As soon as he takes any power shots, he starts diving in for takedowns, and if he wants to go that route and start grappling with me, then that’s going to be I think even worse off for him.”

And if he winds up with his hands on Northcutt in a clinch or takedown, he feels that Northcutt will feel the difference in his size versus other past opponents.

“I don’t see his strength as something being on his side in this fight,” Ottow said. “I’m a true 170'er—the first one he’s ever fought inside the UFC.”