Jeff Curran Signs with the UFC
by Scott Haber on Jul 26, 2011 1:56 PM EDT
in UFC News
Email
Print
Over seven years after he made his UFC debut, veteran MMA fighter and trainer, Jeff Curran is returning to the Octagon, as MMA Junkie reports that the "Big Frog" has signed a new contract to fight at bantamweight:
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today learned of the signing from sources close to the fighter.
He's expected to fight at a fall UFC event.
Curran, with a record of 33-13-1, is a true pioneer of the lighter weight classes, having fought professionally since 1998, and with fights on his resume against the cream of the crop at featherweight and bantamweight: Urijah Faber, Mike Brown, Joseph Benavidez, Hatsu Hioki, Antonio Carvalho, Rafael Assuncao, Matt Serra, Norifumi Yamamoto, and Ivan Menjivar.
The BJJ black belt's lone UFC fight took place at UFC 46 in January of 2004, where he dropped a decision to Matt Serra. More recently, Curran has competed in his hometown XFO promotion in Chicago, as well as in Bellator, where he has coached his younger cousin Pat to great success both at lightweight and now at featherweight.
There's no word yet on an opponent or date for Curran's sophomore UFC fight, but we'll keep you updated when that news breaks.
40 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Call me a cynic
This really has the looks of bringing in a veteran name to get some of the 135 prospects over.
Jeff should go ahead and adopt the Shonie Carter “Mr. International” moniker now.
" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "
yeah, the guy has obviously paid his dues in the sport
not sure how well i see him doing against the current crop of younger guys though.
YUS!!!
BIG Curran fan. He always brings a great fight, had some tough fights against the best in the world in those lighter weight classes. Kind of like a 150 pound Randy Couture.
Best of luck to him, hopefully they give him some good competition – Mizugaki comes to mind, I’d love to see that rematch :)))
THREE MUSKATEERS BAR P4P BEST HALLOWEEN CANDY
by BloodbathAndBeyond on Jul 26, 2011 2:07 PM EDT reply actions
Saw that already.
He got absolutely robbed by the judges in one of the best fights I’ve ever seen.
When you take a fairly even round, and then lock in a mounted triangle and spent the last minute of the fight simultaneously choking and pummeling the fuck out of a guy, and he hangs on through sheer subbornness…
Yeah. Tell me how Mizu won that round. He did fuckall from top.
by Paulo Filho's Psychiatrist on Jul 26, 2011 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Why?
I understand he’s a veteran of the sport, but his record isn’t that good. Why would the UFC sign him?
....Those Facebook cards don't fill themselves!
I went whale watching the other day. I think. There were a lot of people in that lake.
by SSreporters on Jul 26, 2011 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
I understand he’s a veteran of the sport, but his record isn’t that good. Why would the UFC sign him?
So that Bellator doesn’t sign him i’m guessing.
Similar to why the UFC resigned guys like Mark Hunt, and phil baroni?
My favorite K1 fighter:
Yuta Kubo the best 63-70kg striker in the world.
by Untitled_Artistry on Jul 26, 2011 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh yeah i forgot, they have his old Pride contract.
Thanks for reminding me.
My favorite K1 fighter:
Yuta Kubo the best 63-70kg striker in the world.
by Untitled_Artistry on Jul 26, 2011 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions
MMA LEGEND JEFF CURRAN!!!!!
I went whale watching the other day. I think. There were a lot of people in that lake.
33-13 isn’t that good ? Considering a lot of those losses were outside his natural weight class, I consider that a great record. I mean BJ is only 16-7, but look at who his losses were to and at what weight classes. Glad to see Curran getting a shot in the ufc. Hopefully he makes some noise.
by BrockLesnar Budlight on Jul 26, 2011 2:12 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
He's had his shot before
He’s 0-1 in the UFC, 2-4 in the WEC, 0-1 in Pride and 0-1 in Bellator. I’ve always liked Curran and think he’s a pioneer for the lighter guys, so this is probably a thank you for that. But I don’t think he’ll be all that competitive, personally.
"You are a miserable human being." - Mike Fagan
My twitter: @TB_Money
by Tim Burke on Jul 26, 2011 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
He could be competitive…
remember damn never everyone on here wrote of Brain Ebersole, but he put on one hell of a fight, and won.
My favorite K1 fighter:
Yuta Kubo the best 63-70kg striker in the world.
by Untitled_Artistry on Jul 26, 2011 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions
The majority of his losses in those promotions
Serra
Faber
Brown
Benavidez
Mizugaki
Hioki
http://unintelligentdefense.blogspot.com
by MattParker117 on Jul 26, 2011 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Don’t get me wrong, Curran’s tough as hell and nearly impossible to finish. But this is in the same vein as the Buentello/Trigg/Baroni signings.
"You are a miserable human being." - Mike Fagan
My twitter: @TB_Money
by Tim Burke on Jul 26, 2011 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
THREE MUSKATEERS BAR P4P BEST HALLOWEEN CANDY
by BloodbathAndBeyond on Jul 26, 2011 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions
in the same vein as the Buentello/Trigg/Baroni signings.
which isn’t bad a bad thing…giving a vet a chance at redemption against all the young bucks (he’s a credible opponent for BWs). he’s built the resume & if you have to take losses, why not do it in the UFC instead of some regional. good signing IMO
Who's the only one here who knows illegal ninja moves from the government?
No holds barred, no time for move fakin,
Gots to get the loot so I can bring home the bacon - Charlie Brown
Great success
It’s clear all he wanted was to be back with Zuffa, so I’m happy for him. He’ll be a tough test for anyone at 135, despite what some people will have you believe.
"I can be friends with anybody. Man. Woman. Cat. Dog. Fish..... Alien." -Rampage
I don’t he’ll be all that tough now that he’s getting old. Best of luck to Curran, but he’s probably prospect fodder now
Age may have an effect
But I’ll take a wait-and-see approach as far as that is concerned.
"I can be friends with anybody. Man. Woman. Cat. Dog. Fish..... Alien." -Rampage
by Charles Awad on Jul 26, 2011 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Why do I have a sinking feeling
that they’re going to give him to Michael McDonald?
It could turn out to be a Pyle-Hathaway situation if they do, but I think McDonald’s a lot more talented than Hathaway and that could be a signature win for him.
As I said in the Fan Shot...
Granted, he lost to a murder’s row in the WEC (Faber, Brown, Benavidez, Mizugaki). But he hasn’t impressed me since his time there. And it’s not like he is finishing guys in the minor leagues.
Maybe they are just trying to get on the good side of the Curran family for when Pat’s contract with Bellator is up. ;-) Pat has gotten a couple of gift decisions but I love to watch him fight. Glad he is at 145 now. Hope he continues to get better and makes his way to the big leagues.
Very happy for Curran
Been a fan of his from the WEC days. He had some REALLY questionable losses on his record, too. If the judges aren’t morons, he should be competitive.
certified warlord
Cool...
just please don’t bring Pat over. That is all.
"This is blood for blood and by the gallon. These are the old days, the bad days, the all-or-nothing days. They’re back! There’s no choice left. And I’m ready for war."
"Do you lie awake alone at night, admiring my gash?"
-Lord Varys
by John Danaher's Hair on Jul 26, 2011 2:51 PM EDT reply actions
Why on earth would you say that?
Pat has gotten a couple of gift decisions in Bellator but the kid is tough as nails and brings the fight. He’s definitely the Curran to watch in the future.
Because...
I hate his style. He’s got great fundamental defense, which is impregnable and gives just enough offense to win a decision. I’m not invalidating it- it’s like the standup version of Fitch’s style, but I’m not a fan. His fights are terribly boring to me….
"This is blood for blood and by the gallon. These are the old days, the bad days, the all-or-nothing days. They’re back! There’s no choice left. And I’m ready for war."
"Do you lie awake alone at night, admiring my gash?"
-Lord Varys
by John Danaher's Hair on Jul 26, 2011 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Love it
While I do share the same trepidation regarding his signing as many others have indicated above, I’ve been a fan of Big Frog and his cousin for quite a while now and I’m hoping he can keep his win streak alive.
Did you hit him in the bean bag? There’s no shame in attacking a criminal’s bean bag.
I like the guy, but this doesn't look good
The WEC’s bantamweight division and the UFC’s bantamweight division are functionally the same thing, so he’s returning to a division that he’s 1-4 in.
Well, good luck man.
As much of a fan as I am of MTB look at his record as of late ? It’s shit and he hasn’t won anything meaningful in how long ? Give Curran a chance before you shit on him. I think he will upset quite a few guys. Do I think he will ever hold the title ? Hell no lol. But he will put on a lot of interesting fights.
by BrockLesnar Budlight on Jul 26, 2011 3:15 PM EDT reply actions
He could have been signed to give a fighter a "name win"
That’s sometimes how these things work guys.
If you want to know what I think go to HeadKickLegend.com
Managing Editor of HeadKickLegend.com
Follow me on twitter @HeadKickLegend
I read an article sometime recently about Jeff Curran feeling old and weathered
I think it might have been on cage potato. He talked about how he permanently has no feeling on the left side of his face, he’s had 7 broken ribs (4 of which were re-broken,) he’s had torn rotator cuffs in both shoulders and now he’s developing cysts in them, and a whole bunch of other fight-related injuries from his entire career. I’m happy for him and slightly worried at the same time.
"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye
by mburtoni on Jul 26, 2011 3:53 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Definitely a swan song for him.
I hope he finds continued success outside the cage.
Curran vs. Jorgensen at 137 according to the UFC website
I went whale watching the other day. I think. There were a lot of people in that lake.
oh dear god no
looks like hes being signed to give scotty a win
"I have smoked weed with alot of UFC champions" - Joe Rogan
"Você ta fudido. Se vai levar muita porrada, ta ligado?" - Anderson Silva
An old UFC thank you from 2004
Curran took that fight against Serra on like a 1 or 2 week notice if I’m not mistaken. Say what you want about the UFC, they’ll remember you if you help them out, even a little. Curran has this last 3 fight contract, if it goes good he will keep fighting, if not, I see him calling it quits. I see no problem with it, Curran’s fights are usually exciting. As for Pat Curran, he has only gotten 1 questionable decision, and that was the Imada fight. Who cares, nobody wanted to see Imada fight Alvarez again anyway, it wasn’t even a competitive fight the first time.
by Notice of Deficiency on Jul 26, 2011 5:49 PM EDT reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bloody Elbow
Related FanShots on Bloody Elbow
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
MMA Rankings
