Northcutt (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

After suffering his first defeat this past weekend versus Bryan Barberena, Sage Northcutt is reporting that he was battling strep throat, prior to UFC on FOX 18.

Northcutt was submitted in the second round on Saturday, as the lightweight prospect tapped out to an arm-triangle-choke Barbenera had applied from half guard. The 19 year-old appeared on “The MMA Hour” on Monday, and Northcutt reported that “two days” prior to the card, he went to the emergency clinic to get treated for the infection.

The fighter also said that he was having difficulties breathing due to the illness, and that this played a factor in tapping out to the choke.

Northcutt had won his first two UFC bouts prior to facing Barberena.