Sage Northcutt continues his quest to become youngest world champion as he meets Mickey Gall at UFC on Fox 22

Sage Northcutt walks out to the Octagon for the fifth time on Saturday bidding to continue his journey to becoming the UFC's youngest world champion.

The Texan prodigy, 20, may only have been around for over a year but he has already attracted attention - both good and bad - the likes of which most fighters can only dream of.

And why is that? Well it's not all because of his mixed martial arts ability. Northcutt, like fellow rising star Paige VanZant, who headlines this Sacramento Fox card, has seen his career accelerated by his 'pretty boy' image and squeaky clean persona.

Sage Northcutt faces Mickey Gall at UFC on Fox 22 in Sacramento on Saturday night

The 20-year-old has come out successful in three of his four bouts in the promotion

There can be no doubt he has been the beneficiary of an almighty 'push' from the promotion, just look at his position in the co-main event of this event, over the swansong of home-town hero and legendary bantamweight Urijah Faber.

So is 'Super' Sage really that or just the product of good marketing?  

Well, let's start at the beginning. Northcutt and sister Colbey, also a student of the fight game, enjoyed an affluent upbringing in an upscale neighborhood in Katy, Texas. The family wealth, however, did nothing to hamper the golden child's now notorious work ethic.

Northcutt, whose dad made him do push-ups and sit-ups every day, began training in martial arts when he was four, winning 77 karate world championships and amassing an unbeaten 15-0 record in kickboxing. 

His mother, Becky, recently said in a UFC promo video that 'Sage had wanted to be in the UFC from the age of seven.' 'I knew he was gonna get there,' she added. 'His discipline doesn't compare to anybody I know.'

And he took his first major step towards getting there when he joined the Legacy Fighting Championship in 2014.

Sage (right, aged 7), and sister Colbey, competed in karate tournaments from a young age

Northcutt (right) talks to UFC president Dana White (centre) after defeating Gage Duhon

Juggling his studies in petroleum engineering, to which he is now a major at Texas A&M University, the exciting youngster won all five of his first professional fights, only once being taken into the second round.

His big break came sooner than he could have possibly dreamed, as UFC president Dana White's talent spotting reality show, 'Lookin for a Fight', would make the Texas promotion its first visit in June, 2015.

Northcutt, due to face Gage Duhon, had no idea that the most influential man in the sport was sitting cageside until he made his entrance but the then 18-year-old was not phased in the slightest.

White, and co-star Matt Serra, were soon on their feet as the goofy teenager demolished Duhon inside the first round.

The teenager quickly garnered attention for his looks and unique approach to the game

Northcutt (right) lands a flurry of punches on his way to finishing Francisco Trevino (left)

The hype surrounding the young Texan was deemed undeserved by some in the MMA world

The pair were so impressed that they headed backstage to meet Northcutt with White admitting: 'I counted you out man... I thought we got the pretty boy who thinks he wants to fight.'

And the karate kid was quickly snapped up by the organisation, bursting onto the scene with a 57-second knockout of Francisco Trevino and and a similarly convincing finish of Cody Pfister.

His teenage innocence, sportsmanship and cute approach to the promo game won the hearts of fans but his fellow fighters were less than impressed, believing the privileged Northcutt hadn't earned his sudden success.

And the resentment became obvious as the Texan's meteoric rise was hit with a big blow, submitting to Bryan Barberena in January. Hoards of pros rushed to social media to celebrate the end of the 'hype train', ridiculing the 'ease' with which he had been tapped out.

Northcutt took it on the chin, however, bouncing back to win at July's showpiece UFC 200 showpiece and line up the most high-profile fight of his career, against an up-and-comer who has walked an uncannily similar path.

Northcutt (bottom) submits to Bryan Barberena in their welterweight bout in January

Fellow UFC fighters were quick to celebrate the end of the 'hype train'

Northcutt (left) has his hand raised after beating Enrique Marin (right) at UFC 200

Mickey Gall, 24, another product of 'Looking for a Fight', has experienced an even more rapid rise than his opponent, catching White's attention by calling out WWE superstar CM Punk after winning his debut pro fight.

He got his wish, finding himself on a UFC pay-per-view poster in only his second bout. And he took the chance with aplomb, slicing through the 'Cult of Personality' in under three minutes before showcasing his promo nous once more by calling out fellow prodigy Northcutt.

With just over five minutes of cage time under his belt, resulting in three slick three submissions, grappling specialist Gall is the company's biggest unknown quantity.

And having teamed up with one of the greatest minds in MMA, the legendary Firas Zahabi, coach to the likes of Georges St-Pierre, Northcutt would be foolish to take the New Jersey native lightly.

Mickey Gall (right) is congratulated by CM Punk (left) after beating him at UFC 203

Striking specialist Northcutt (right) has been working on his grappling for the contest

And you would be foolish to think he is, the American striker having also enlisted new coaches for this camp, most notably grappling expert Allen Mohler.

'We're working on his scrambles, when he gets taken down, how to shut the takedown down and his counters to the submission if he does get taken down,' Mohler explained.

'The new partnership is not just training me for Mickey but for the future, for what's to come,' the ever-evolving Northcutt added. 'I'm learning in two months what I could learn in a year, a year-and-a-half. I have have the better jiu-jitsu, wrestling and stand up (than Gall).

'Heading into this fight I've learnt I belong in the UFC. My goal is to be the youngest world champion'