Recent losses have motivated Jeff Curran like never before. (photo courtesy of suckerpunchent.com)
In the world of MMA racking up three consecutive losses might have some fighters considering retirement, perhaps even more so if that fighter had been in the game since 1997 and experienced over 40 fights.
There are some that quit, and others are like veteran MMA fighter Jeff “Big Frog” Curran (31-11-1).
Fighters that don’t question why they lost, and stick to analyzing their performance and scrutinizing it to the point where they find what they need to improve and grow constantly. Such self-assessment takes a humble honesty that truly separates the top from the rest in the sport.
“Losses motivate me to train help me step outside myself and be my own coach,” Curran said. “After being in this sport for a while you have to have a strong mind to keep moving forward and learn from every experience. I’ve never thought of quitting, in some ways for me this is just the beginning.”
It’s not like he was losing to some newcomers into the sport with no MMA background. All three of the fights have been against top-level competition — former featherweight champion, Urijah Faber, featherweight champion Mike Brown and bantamweight contender Joseph Benavidez.
Curran was submitted via guillotine in the second round for the featherweight title against Faber. He went the distance but lost by unanimous decision to Brown and Benavidez.
Feeling 31-years-young, the veteran MMA warrior insists he’s just getting started. That is quite a statement for a guy that fought in King of the Cage, PRIDE: Bushido, UFC and the WEC. His fights have ranged four weight classes throughout his career, spanning from 135 to 160 pounds.
He will face Takeya Mizugaki (11-3-2) at WEC 42 on Aug. 9 in a bantamweight bout. Mizugaki made his WEC debut against bantamweight Champion Miguel Torres and took the champion five rounds in an epic bout, that some considered to be candidate for Fight of the Year.
Curran knows his opponent will be no easy task, but he isn’t bothered in the least.
“I know where I want to be and will do whatever it takes to accomplish my goals,” Curran said. “I feel like I’m in my prime. Even though I am experienced, I feel good and still hungry for the next challenge. Putting the past 12 years of my training and experience together, I am confident going into this fight. I am going to step in and fight to the best of my ability and make it my fight.
“I plan to fight smart and I’m not dead set on finishing or going the distance, but either way I plan to win.”
Curran has good reason to be confident in his abilities.
In addition to having been involved in MMA since 1997, he has been doing Brazilian jiu jitsu since 1993. He competed in BJJ tournaments as often as he could just for the challenge and experience, and at 16, he entered an open tournament as a white belt and won the gold.
Curran trains at his gym Curran MMA in Crystal Lake, Ill., perpetually honing his skills. He has his ideas on what would be a good fight for him to take, if he is to get past Mizugaki.
“Challenge and style wise I’d say a rematch with Urijah Faber just to fight him without the pressure of a title involved,” Curran said. “It’s nothing personal I consider him a friend, but that would be exciting to fight him again.”
Tim Vreeland is a contributor to MMA Madness. E-mail him at tim@mmamadness.com
