Long lauded as one of Europe’s prized prospects, Olympian MMA Championships lightweight titleholder
Paul Sass will make his promotional debut against
Mark Holst in a preliminary matchup at
UFC 120 “Bisping vs. Akiyama” on Oct. 16 at the O2 Arena in London. Eleven bouts have been booked for the event, which Spike TV will air on same-day tape delay.
Unbeaten as a professional, Sass last appeared in March, when he submitted
Jason Young with a first-round heel hook under the OMMAC banner. The 22-year-old has submitted nine of his first 10 foes, seven of them by triangle choke. Spawned by the Next Generation gym in Liverpool, England, Sass has also spent time training under the Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts umbrella in Albuquerque, N.M. Wins against “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 9 quarter-finalist
Martin Stapleton and current British Association of Mixed Martial Arts lightweight champion
Rob Sinclair anchor his resume.
Holst lost a unanimous decision to
John Gunderson in his Octagon debut at “The Ultimate Fighter 11” Finale in June; the defeat snapped a three-fight winning streak for the Shotokan karate black belt. Based at the Ottawa Academy of Martial Arts in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, the 25-year-old has held titles inside the Freedom Fight and Xtreme Kombat League promotions. Holst has secured each of his eight career victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission.
A middleweight matchup pairing “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 3 winner
Michael Bisping with
Yoshihiro Akiyama will headline UFC 120, along with a key welterweight battle between
Dan Hardy and former World Extreme Cagefighting champion
Carlos Condit. In addition, undefeated British export
John Hathaway will take on Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts veteran
Mike Pyle at 170 pounds and French kickboxer
Cheick Kongo will collide with the unbeaten heavyweight
Travis Browne.
Michael Bisping vs.
Yoshihiro Akiyama
Dan Hardy vs.
Carlos Condit
John Hathaway vs.
Mike Pyle
Cheick Kongo vs.
Travis Browne
James Wilks vs.
Claude Patrick
Cyrille Diabate vs.
Alexander Gustafsson
Rob Broughton vs.
Vinicius Kappke de Quieroz
Steve Cantwell vs.
Stanislav Nedkov
Paul Sass vs.
Mark Holst
Spencer Fisher vs.
Curt Warburton
James McSweeney vs.
Tom Blackledge
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