Sage Northcutt is a new breed of star for the UFC. Not the first fighter they've hyped from the start, perhaps. Brock Lesnar certainly got his full share of spectacle treatment, but the first fighter they've hyped from day 1 that really didn't have anything to extra to recommend him beyond "it," whatever it is. There was no massive Sage Northcutt fanbase, no long history of excellent performances. Heck, he hasn't even cut a really good promo yet or called anyone out. But it seems like he has the qualities to be a future star, so the UFC is handling him like one, from day one.
And maybe one or two other fighters are taking notice. Most particularly, fellow lightweight Kevin Lee is taking notice of the UFC's new golden boy and he wants to put a stop to the hype as quickly as he can. Speaking to MMAJunkie Radio, Lee was unabashed in his dislike of Northcutt's seemingly overtly favorable treatment by the UFC:
"I think a lot of other fighters feel that," Lee said, speaking about Northcutt getting undeserved attention. "They won't say sh-t, but I will. We can settle it right now. I hope he's listening in so he can hear me - he can hear what I'm saying about him. I'm going to call (UFC matchmaker) Joe (Silva) as soon as I get off the phone with you guys. We can do it at 194.
"(UFC) 194, here in Vegas, biggest fight card of the year. He'll live the shortest career that the UFC has known."
...
"I just know he's a rich, privileged white boy, and as soon as he gets in there and gets hit and sees some adversity thrown into his face, I think he's going to crumble. I think I'm a better striker than him. I damn sure know I'm a better wrestler than him, so I think I can beat him everywhere."
It remains to be seen just how the UFC handles Northcutt, across the board, the promotion doesn't have a great history when it comes to bringing favorable prospects up slowly. Northcutt is very green in his pro-fighting career to date. Even Lee, who only started his career back in 2012, has been fighting for two and a half years longer than Northcutt, who is just finishing his first year as a pro-fighter.
If Northcutt is on the prodigy track, like Jon Jones or Chris Weidman, then almost nothing the UFC throws his way could be considered too much too soon, outside of a title shot. If he's not on that path, however, there are plenty of very good fighters in the UFC, like Kevin Lee, who could hand him a setback loss in a hurry.