FIGHTSHOP.COM sponsored fighter Paul Sass (4-0-0) is a product of the Next Generation gym in Liverpool, headed by Paul Rimmer and UFC veteran Jason Tan.

Somewhat shy but with a quiet confidence, Sass turned 20 just last week, yet is already attracting the attention of seasoned UK MMA observers who consider him a top prospect for the future.

He has been with Next Generation since he started training a few years ago. He holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Chris Brennan, which he earned in just two and a half years.

He only started studying Muay Thai seriously in the last eighteen months and had his first amateur MMA match in 2006 “without really training any stand up”.

But it isn’t his stand up that critics are talking about – it’s his proficiency with the triangle.

All four of Sass’ professional fights have been won with a triangle inside the three minute mark, as were several of his semi-pro and amateur bouts.

In April this year he fought Will Burke , a seasoned competitor on the UK circuit whose 3-4-0 record belies his experience.

With all Burke’s wins being by way of submission, some were predicting a technical ground battle.

“I wanted to stand up but he took me down off a kick,” Sass recalls. “I thought he would have stood, but maybe he wanted to show his submissions against me.”

As it turned out, it was Sass who showed off his submissions, choking Burke completely unconscious with a no-arm triangle in just over a minute (see pictures below).

Next on the agenda was Martin Stapleton, who at the time of their July fight held a 4-0 record and a reputation for nasty ground and pound.

The match prompted a lot of discussion on UK MMA message boards and the general consensus was that Stapleton’s aggression and striking would be too much for Sass.

Sass isn’t a huge believer in gameplans (“no matter what you plan the fight always ends up different”), but he did have one neat trick in mind – and it’s a trick that shows just how confident this young fighter is.

“I wanted to clinch and set up a flying triangle,” he laughs. “I knew he was going to come out and try and push me up against the cage.

As it turned out, “I ended up on my back so I had to work from there. When I am on my back I know I am alright, I am safe there.”

Stapleton just managed to get some ground and pound going when Sass saw his opportunity and locked in another fight-finishing triangle.

The way he is racking up wins means that some aficionados are calling for him to be thrown in against much higher profile opponents.

But his career is in the hands of his trainers; Tan and Rimmer are handling his development carefully and they are not going to hurry the process.

Sass’ next opponent, Daniel ‘Denzil’ Thomas (10-5-0), is his most experienced to date and the fight will be another interesting test for him.

Thomas has competed internationally and most of his wins have come by submission, although Sass is not unduly worried.

“I’m pretty confident,” is all he says, before getting back on the mat with the rest of the Next Generation team.

Sass’ fight with Thomas takes place at Cage Gladiators 9 on October 4th and will be broadcast on UK digital station ITV 4 shortly afterwards, see http://www.nextgenmma.co.uk and www.cagegladiators.tv for details

Paul Sass: No-Arm Triangle

Paul Sass and Jason Tan demonstrate the no-arm triangle, which is a regular triangle choke except that you do not have one of your opponents arms inside the triangle as you would with the basic version. It is especially useful when your opponent goes for the double-underhooks guard pass.

1.  Jason goes for the double-unders, while Paul prepares to spoil his day.

 3. As the strangling leg goes up and over the back of Jason's neck, Paul places his forearm on the opposite side, with the fist under Jason's ear.

Article courtesy of Fighters Only Magazine