Sage Northcutt has a new opponent for UFC 214.
Injured Claudio Puelles, Northcutt’s original opponent for July 29, has been replaced by veteran John Makdessi. The pair will meet over three rounds at lightweight.
Northcutt, 8-2, is eager to get back to winning ways following his second-round submission loss to Mickey Gall at UFC on FOX 22. Now 3-2 in the Octagon, Northcutt has long carried the style, but now needs to show some of the substance that many believe he possesses. He is still, lest we forget, just 21 years of age.
Makdessi, 14-6, meanwhile, is undoubtedly the most experienced opponent Northcutt will have faced to date. The 32-year-old from Canada has 13 UFC bouts to his name and, despite having lost three of his last four fights, has defeated the likes of Sam Stout and Daron Cruickshank and competed with some of the best. This will be Makdessi’s first fight of 2017.
UFC 214 takes place on July 29 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California and is headlined by the UFC light-heavyweight title fight between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones.
