In a gripping interview with ONE Championship, the formidable MMA athlete, Sage Northcutt, shared a heart-pounding encounter with California’s wildlife during one of his off-road escapades near Lake Tahoe.
The Bear Stalk: A Terrifying Tale
Northcutt recounted the chilling story of a bear allegedly trailing him as he explored the rugged terrains. The lightweight MMA star employed every trick in the book to outsmart the wild animal, eventually resorting to a daring sprint for his life to create a safe distance.
Sage Northcutt vividly described the incident:
“There have been some crazy moments. Like, I went up to this spot on the way to Tahoe. It was years back actually. It’s a 100-foot waterfall. And I off-roaded out there. I kind of climbed up the rocks to get around it. I was by myself, for the first time exploring it. I probably should have brought some friends, or at least brought a knife or something [laughs]. The sun was setting, I was walking back, and I had several miles to walk back. Everything got really quiet and then I heard this noise. This was years back when I first got to California.”
A Strategic Hideout Behind the Waterfall
Fearing the presence of the bear, Northcutt ingeniously sought refuge behind the freezing waterfall, drawing parallels to an adventurous scene straight out of a movie. He recollected:
“I didn’t know too much about bears. I didn’t see anything, but I heard something pretty serious. I thought it was a bear. I’m not 100% sure, but I’m pretty certain. So I hid behind the waterfall. It was freezing water. Super cold. I hid behind the waterfall like Rambo, and I was behind the waterfall for maybe 15 minutes straight. The sun was going down, it was getting dark, and I had no cell service. I waited and then all of a sudden, I, like, looked out. I was looking around, like, I think I’m good. I just sprinted.”
Escaping the Wilderness
Northcutt sprinted tirelessly for miles, experiencing an adrenaline-pumping cardio workout, until he reached his truck and safety. Reflecting on this memorable incident, he concluded:
“But that was pretty memorable, I don’t think I’m going to forget that.”
Fortunately, Northcutt mastered coexisting with California’s wildlife over time, steering clear of any subsequent encounters with bears or other large creatures in the region.
Northcutt’s Next Challenge: Facing Shinya Aoki at ONE 165
As Northcutt gears up for a showdown against Japanese legend Shinya Aoki at ONE 165 in Tokyo’s Ariake Arena, he anticipates a formidable match.
Pursuing Championship Dreams
Sage Northcutt, a promising contender for a future world championship, sees his upcoming clash with Aoki as a pivotal step towards greatness. Aoki, a revered Asian fighter and former ONE lightweight MMA world champion, poses the ideal challenge for Northcutt’s quest for immortality.
In an interview with the MMA Superfan, Northcutt expressed his expectations:
“Shinya has never been submitted in mixed martial arts, and it would definitely be something if I could get a submission on. That’d be something pretty crazy. But we’ll see, we’ll see where the fight goes.”
With the upcoming bout, Sage Northcutt aims to leverage his strengths against the submission master, Shinya Aoki. As the anticipation builds, the MMA community eagerly awaits the outcome of this high-stakes encounter.
You can also check out Izzy’s Return Dricus du Plessis Eyes Israel Adesanya Showdown at UFC 300.
Sports Beats India is a website that covers all the latest sports news from India. We provide comprehensive coverage of all the major sports including cricket, football, hockey, tennis and more. We also have a dedicated team of writers who provide expert analysis and opinion on all the major sporting events taking place in India.
