• UFC Nottingham

Terry Etim hails 'freak' talent Paul Sass

ESPN staff
June 21, 2012
Paul Sass chats to the ESPN UFC Podcast team

Terry Etim has summed up the quality of fellow Brit and Team Kaobon team-mate Paul Sass, labelling the youngster a "freak".

Sass was officially named on the UFC Nottingham card earlier this week, with matchmaker Joe Silva handing him a tough test in Matt Wiman. Sass is currently undefeated in his MMA career.

Etim, also a lightweight, knows better than most the potential of team-mate Sass, who has carved out a reputation as a lethal submissions artist. Etim says there is more to his compatriot though, revealing Sass also boasts heavy hands.

"He's a freak, he's an absolute freak," Etim told ESPN in a recent interview before Sass' cancelled bout with Evan Dunham. "People keep thinking 'he won't do it this time' but he keeps proving them wrong. He gets triangle after triangle and people think he can't do it again.

"Nobody realises that Paul sets up his triangles like nobody else. You can go up against black belts in jiu-jitsu, but nobody sets up the triangle like Paul.

"The thing is, he's pretty much only won with triangles and leg locks so far, but he has got so much more to show.

"I remember his first day of training, when he was 15 or 16, in his first session he triangled three people! What a freak!

"He's also working day in day out with his striking, I spar with him every day. I'll tell you something about Sass, he's very heavy-handed. He's going to shock somebody soon."

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