3 Wins That Show Why Ahmed Mujtaba Is Such A Dangerous Opponent For Sage Northcutt
Ahmed Mujtaba will have the eyes of the world on him when he faces “Super” Sage Northcutt on Friday, May 5.
The Pakistani MMA standout is set to welcome “Super Sage” back to the Circle for his first bout in four years at ONE Fight Night 10: Johnson vs. Moraes III – ONE Championship’s historic first live event in the United States.
While there are legions of American fans excited for Northcutt’s return at the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colorado, “Wolverine” could spoil the party with his dangerous and well-rounded skill set.
That said, here are three victories that show the potent threats Mujtaba brings to the lightweight clash.
#1 He Has Concussive Power
Mujtaba’s long-awaited battle with Singapore-based Indian Rahul “The Kerala Krusher” Raju finally came to fruition at ONE: UNBREAKABLE III in February 2021, and he wasted no time stamping his authority on the matchup.
“Wolverine” probed with some jabs and low kicks, but when Raju tried to turn up the heat, his aggression backfired.
The Indian stepped in with a looping overhand right, but Mujtaba was ready to counter. He tucked tight inside his rival’s punch and let rip with a heavy shot of his own.
That rocket of a right hand instantly separated Raju from his senses and left him starched on the canvas after just 56 seconds – a stark warning to Northcutt that he cannot afford to be complacent on May 5.
#2 He Can Submit High-Level Grapplers
After his emphatic KO victory over Raju, many expected Mujtaba’s stand-up repertoire to be his biggest advantage against BJJ black belt Abraao Amorim at ONE 163 in November 2022.
Both men scored with strikes and landed takedowns throughout the frenetic first round, but when Amorim postured out of a potential kimura, the Pakistani used the space to set up an inventive submission.
“Wolverine” kicked his right leg under his opponent’s left leg and then set about securing a triangle choke. With his head, arm, and leg all locked inside his foe’s submission hold, Amorim had nowhere to go.
Mujtaba put on a tight squeeze that forced the Brazilian to tap out, proving that his ground skills are a match for world-class competitors.
#3 He Has The Cardio To Last
Mujtaba’s first ONE Championship win happened in his promotional debut at ONE: DEFENDING HONOR in November 2016. The Pakistani athlete faced Benedict Ang, and at the time, both men were unbeaten.
In a battle that was largely waged on the feet, each man threw big shots and looked for an advantage. They gave and received heavy leather, but Mujtaba’s jab, dirty boxing, and aggression paid dividends.
When the final stanza came to a close, “Wolverine” was still loading everything into his punches despite the fast pace the bout had been fought at.
The Pakistani took a well-earned unanimous decision victory while offering up plenty of positives, including his striking, his chin, and his conditioning.
