Sage Northcutt to Pay Critics: 'The UFC Sees That I Bring Something of Value'

Find your own gimmick.

That, in a nutshell, is the message from Sage Northcutt, UFC's 19-year-old promotional darling of the moment, to those who believe he is paid or marketed disproportionately to what his track record as a MMA fighter justifies.

Speaking to Mike Bohn of MMA Junkie in an interview published Tuesday, Northcutt (7-0) addressed fellow fighters and others who believe he hasn't earned his way to his current financial level—a reported $80,000 for his last fight, highest among all those who competed at UFC Fight Night 80 in December:

"

I think and I believe that I bring something different to the table – something that makes people want to tune in and watch. (Fighters need to bring) something that's of value to the UFC. I think that's really important with the UFC, and people can see that with me. ... I believe the UFC sees that I bring something of value to the (promotion).

"

Northcutt is undefeated, with all seven of his wins coming by stoppage, but arguably has yet to face elite competition. His two UFC wins to date came over Francisco Trevino and Cody Pfister.

The Texas native and current petroleum engineering major at Texas A&M is still green in fighting and in life, but that hasn't staunched criticism from a variety of corners.

Before their fight, Pfister referred to Northcutt as UFC President Dana White's "lap dog."

Lightweight Al Iaquinta has mercilessly roasted Northcutt on Twitter (language NSFW).

Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

In December, heavyweight Matt Mitrione offered a rare piece of athlete candor in addressing the UFC's pay scale and noted that Northcutt and women's strawweight fighter Paige VanZant both earned more than he did.

"Paige and Sage, they get paid more than I do," Mitrione said in an interview on the Three Amigos podcast (h/t Brad Popkin of MMA Mania). "I've had 13 fights in the UFC...and Paige and Sage both get paid more than I do. That's ridiculous."

Northcutt and VanZant (6-2) have turned all sorts of heads recently. Both have drawn attention for being young, athletic, telegenic and microphone-friendly but otherwise undeserving for the levels of notoriety (and money) they receive. 

"

Signing posters for the UFC Fight Night card this Saturday pic.twitter.com/G8XxJtUabp

— Sage Northcutt (@sagenorthcutt) January 26, 2016"

White is among those who might disagree with those assessments. He has said Northcutt is "an incredible talent" and that VanZant has "that 'it factor' that you can't teach people."

Northcutt, for his part, also seems plenty confident in his own abilities. He'll have a chance to take another step forward Saturday when he faces Bryan Barberena at UFC on Fox 18.