Liverpool Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts star Paul Sass has vowed to bounce back after suffering his first professional defeat.Sass, from Croxteth was beaten in the lightweight fight at UFC event in Nottingham on Saturday by American veteran Matt Wiman by submission in the first round.
Former British champion Sass, 24, told JMU Journalism: “I’m obviously devastated to have lost but I will come back stronger and after I’ve had a rest I will be ready for my next fight.”His record of 13 wins and one defeat still stands as impressive for someone so young in the sport of MMA, with 12 of his victories coming through submission.
Sass, who has a purple belt in Brazilian ju jistu, is known as a submission specialist, so for him to lose by tapping out will have come as a blow, particularly as it was his first match featured on a main card.
He trains of out of a Liverpool group of fighters called Team Kaboan, who also boasted another fighter at the Nottingham event, Andy Ogle, who also lost but in controversial circumstances as many thought he done enough to win. The decision went to the judges and he lost on a split decision to Akira Corassani.
Juddas Clottey, a coach at Team Kaboan, praised his fighters’ efforts and determination, telling JMU Journalism: “They fought with great courage, determination and they did themselves and ourselves at Team Kaboan proud.”
MMA fighting is still growing in the city, with an event coming up in less than two weeks’ time at Liverpool Olympia.
Clottey added: “We are working hard to continue the growth of MMA in England, and particularly in Liverpool. The fact we had two fighters fighting in the UFC for the first time gives us massive encouragement for the future.”