Barberena hands Northcutt his first professional loss
Bryan Barberena eagerly took on the biggest opportunity of his career when offered the chance to replace the injured Andrew Holbrook on short notice against unbeaten phenom Sage Northcutt Saturday at Prudential Center. The result in the FOX-televised opener: Northcutt is unbeaten no more, as Barberena won the welterweight bout via second-round submission.
Northcutt controlled the majority of the opening round behind his fast hands and a slam with three minutes left. But once Barberena rose and saw his own blood flowing from a cut over his left eye, it seemed to kick him into another gear, and in the closing minute he scored a takedown and also appeared to rattle Northcutt with a pair of right hands.
Some flash from “Super” Sage in round two resulted in him ending up on his back, and Barberena took full advantage with some hard ground strikes. Northcutt tried to stay busy from his back, but Barberena wasn’t letting him get free, eventually sinking in an arm triangle choke that forced the Texan to tap out at the 3:06 mark.
“I’m just disappointed," Northcutt said.
With the win, Barberena moves to 11-3; Northcutt falls to 7-1.
