Recapping with Jeff Curran – The Pressure Is Really On

Team Curran founder Jeff Curran has been in the sport for a long time. Having first competed professionally in 1998, Curran has been a part of nearly every major organization. In May of 2011, he took on a late replacement Billy Vaughan and used the fight to propel himself to return to the UFC.   His first bout was against a very game Scott Jorgensen at UFC 137 who implemented what most opponents need to do in order to beat Curran.

“It was a typical Jeff Curran fight. If a fighter can get me to the ground and survive my guard they win a decision. It’s not the way I like fights to go. I feel like him taking me down and riding out a decision was the easiest route. We were supposed to stand and trade, but it didn’t go that way.”

And like many fighters who sign with the UFC, even though it is for a multi-fight contract, a single loss could spell disaster.
“It’s always a gray area. If I perform like crap and lose, they can cut me. They were happy with my performance in my last fight.”

Scott Jorgensen trying to survive Jeff Curran's Guard - photo by Iron Forges Iron

But it is the two-fight losing streak that fighters fear, and for good reason.
“It has been made pretty clear to me that if I lose this next fight, they will have to release me. So the pressure is really on. It was such a hard road back, but I was told by my management that I would get two fights. But one more loss and I am sure they will have to release me. I mean you got guys with less than ten fights in this sport killing it. They are out there taking risks, and if I can’t show that I am with that new breed then maybe it’s time for the next wave of guys.”

As for when Curran is looking to return to the UFC, the date is nearly set as is the opponent, yet Curran must remain mum on it.
“April is the decided upon month. Hopefully in the next day or so we will know the decided upon opponent and date. I have a guy but I can’t tell you. I don’t know if he has agreed to it. We were both a little weary on it. We were both a little skeptical on the idea, but neither one of us can be too picky about who we take at this point.”