Teenage star Sage Northcutt will have to deal with a last minute switch to his opponent for next weekend’s UFC On FOX 18 event in New Jersey.
Northcutt was originally supposed to fight another undefeated prospect Andrew Holbrook, but he’s been forced out due to injury and Bryan Barberena has now been drafted in on short notice instead.
Not only that, but due to the lack of time until fight night Barberena won’t be able to make the lightweight limit and so the bout will take place at welterweight instead.
The 26 year-old ‘Bam Bam’ Barberena hold a 10-3 career record, including a 1-1 run in the UFC so far, defeating Joe Ellenberger by third round TKO in his debut in late 2014, then suffering a decision loss to Chad Laprise in April of last year.
As for Northcutt, he’s a perfect 7-0 so far and has claimed stoppage wins over Francisco Trevino and Cody Pfister so far in his brief UFC campaign.
Northcutt Vs Barberena is expected to remain on the UFC On FOX 18 main card which will be headlined by a light-heavyweight encounter between Ryan Bader and Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson, with a heavyweight battle between Ben Rothwell and Josh Barnett serving as the co-main event.
