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Chicago, IL (USA): “WORLDS COLLIDE” was certainly an appropriate title for XFO 34, which took place this past Saturday, December 5th, live in Lakemoor, IL. Returning after a three year absence from his home promotion, “The Big Frog” Jeff Curran clashed with the extremely tough Tomohiko Hori, a Japan native who is a training partner of former Curran opponent and current WEC bantamweight contender Takeya Mizugaki. A UFC/WEC/PRIDE/StrikeForce veteran who also owns and operates the XFO, Curran scrapped with Hori in a back-and-forth battle that saw both men giving and getting punishment. In the end, “The Big Frog” was able to overcome cuts and bleeding sustained in the first round to garner the much-deserved unanimous decision victory over a very game Hori. He was the busier fighter all night long, as he took Hori down several times and landed the more effective leg-kicks and strikes.
Hori (10-8-5) recently won the prestigious DEEP 135 lbs. tournament, and was prepared to go to war with his American counterpart. But the man from “The Land of the Rising Sun” wasn’t able to overcome the well-rounded skills of Curran (31-12-1), and was not able to make good on his pre-fight KO prediction. Instead, it was Curran that went home with the big victory. And with an eye toward his future, Curran is primed for his next run at greatness in the sport, and he hopes it will be back in the WEC. “I am back and ready to tear this division up,” Curran stated. “I have finally arrived.”
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