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Palaszewski to WEC, Curran Drops to 135
link to Sherdog article
Bart Palaszewski will be the latest talent to join the WEC’s ranks on the heels of the demise of the rival International Fight League promotion. Palaszewski (29-11) has been offered a six-fight deal with the Zuffa-owned organization and said he will be ready to compete as early as its Sept. 10 event in Hollywood, Fla.
Jeff Curran, Palaszewski’s longtime friend and coach, made the announcement Sunday at the opening of his new training facility in Crystal Lake, Ill., unbeknownst to the Polish-born lightweight.
Curran, who unsuccessfully challenged champion Urijah Faber for the WEC featherweight crown last December, also announced his own intentions to move down to the promotion’s bantamweight division.
“I guess he wanted to make it a big deal, which it is,” said Palaszewski upon learning of his new contract. “He made the announcement in front of our whole gym, family and friends. That’s phenomenal, very cool. It’s definitely the way I would like to find out.”
Palaszewski, 25, gained notoriety in the now defunct IFL, where the red-haired striker competed for Pat Miletich's Silverbacks team and racked up eight victories (four by KO or TKO) in his tenure, including his toppling of eventual IFL lightweight champion Ryan Schultz.
Palaszewski and 20-year-old phenomenon Chris Horodecki (Pictures) rose to notoriety with a pair of barnburner clashes under the IFL banner. Palaszewski lost both affairs by split decision.
The Wonder Lake, Ill. resident snapped a three-fight losing streak in June with a second-round TKO stoppage over Jeff Cox at Adrenaline 1 in Chicago.
“I think I match up very well with a lot of guys in the WEC; they’ve got a lot of strikers and I think I’m going to put on some phenomenal wars,” he said. “If I get two really good shows, really good fights against ranked opponents, I think I’ll be able to get a title shot.”
Curran’s move down to the WEC’s 135-pound division will help to “reinvent” the 30-year-old veteran, he said.
“I think that the fast pace and the real high technical level is a great fit for me,” said Curran (30-10-1). “The talent pool in that division is sick.”
In order to sit atop the mountain, Curran will have to go through fighters like champion Miguel Torres (34-1) and Yoshiro Maeda (Pictures) (23-5-2), who battled one another in June in what has been heralded as a “fight of the year” candidate.
Curran will look to rally from back-to-back losses to champion Faber (22-1)and Mike Brown (17-4), who Curran dropped a decision loss to in June. Faber and Brown will square off for the WEC featherweight title on Sept. 10.
Team Curran was lucky enough to get an interview with Jeff Curran about all the goings on in his increasingly busy work life,
TC.com: Why The cut to 135 pounds?
Jeff Curran: I am really cutting down in the weight class to chase my dream. I want to fight the best fighters in the world and for some reason, be it fate or whatever, I keep falling short at 145. I think the talent pool is just as thick, if not thicker, in the 135 division but the overall size won't be a factor. For example, I fight a guy like Mike Brown and when he wants to lock down on me, its basically impossible for me to move. I don't like that. I am a busy fighter and want to keep mixing it up. That's the main reason.
TC.com: Do you envision the cut to 135 pounds being a normal cut or will it be a very hard cut for you?
JC: The first cut to 135 will probably be a little rough. I have made 137.9 before but that was 5 years ago. It's going to come down to discipline and diet for sure.
TC.com: What has the journey been like as a fighter, going from when you were forced to fight at 155 due to a lack of a real 145 division, to the fight game as it stands today where 135 is a perfectly viable division?
JC: I have fought as high as 185. Those guys are huge compared to me. I have tried in so many ways (becoming a pig when I eat basically) to stay bigger than normal. I am a small guy, I wear a size 9 shoe at best. When 145 came onto the scene I was stoked, but, now, I just decided that I have to make this career choice and go for it. I can only do my best.
TC.com: What is it that you get out of training fighters?
JC: I get training partners for one. I get to feel the victory when they win, and I get to feel defeat when they lose. So, it keeps me always on my toes.
TC.com: What do you get out of training regular students?
JC: I get the satisfaction of possibly changing someones life for the better. Get them in shape, maybe save a life someday if it comes down to that. I get to provide them with a daily challenge and focus they can't get anywhere else. It's really the best part of my life in the work aspect!
TC.com: What are the major differences in how you have to handle training regular students as opposed to fighters?
JC: Regular students I don't push into the ground. I don't expect them to train injured or go the extra distance if they aren't comfortable. I want them to enjoy the experience and what they are paying for. They need to walk the next day so they can work etc.. I am understanding of that.
TC.com: How does it feel to have finally secured a permanent home for the gym?
JC: The new gym has staked a claim to our own land. It's truly a blessing to have these type of capabilities in this sport. I have worked and pushed for it alongside of my staff and it finally happened. We are pumped.
TC.com: What was the process like in trying to secure the new gym and also dealing with a high profile fight in the WEC at the same time?
JC: Honestly, it was the most insane, intense 6 months of my life. No words can describe it, for example, when it was all done I had over 1900 emails specifically in regards to the project. From architects to lenders, from banks to builders... it never ended. Training hasn't been a priority of mine unfortunately for the past year, as much as I like to think it was. Looking back, the only thing I would do different is to have not taken my last 2 fights during this time period.
TC.com: With the move to 135 and the brand new facilities for Team Curran what does the future hold for you individually and for the gym as a whole?
JC: The biggest thing about this gym is that the North wing of it is primarily office space. So when you enter the gym you are in the gym. I don't hear phones, I don't have my cell attached to my side so I don't miss a call from the SBA or somthing like that. The training has no limits for anyone, but more importantly along with the new gym is a newly motivated and fully capable staff that will handle work while I train. That is the biggest and best improvement. On that note, I didn't hire outside our walls. Everyone is a student of mine and has been with me for years so they understand and respect all aspects of our business.
TC.com: What advantages does the new gym for Team Curran and the experience of training at Team Curran offer people that other gyms can't?
JC: Everything. No gym offers everything! Not just in martial arts, but accomodations for parents and kids etc...The way it is designed, everyone can enjoy the experience, but as far as training goes, we have teamed up with one of the best training facilities in the world (Overtime Wrestling) for wrestling which fills a gap that we have struggled to fill for years. We have all top of the line equipment and the list goes on and on.
TC.com: Bart Palaszewski was just signed to the WEC, how does it feel to see a long time friend and gym member succeed in the sport?
JC: I raised Bart on the mat since he was 15 years old. He could have gone and chosen other lifestyles but he chose this. To put him on the big show in the big time means a great deal to me and Coach (Doug) Mango. We finally get to show him off to the world. The IFL did an okay job, but the WEC is a whole new animal in the marketing sense and the exposure to the masses.
TC.com: How has it been being involved in the young career of your cousin, Pat?
JC: My cousin Pat is one of the bigger parts of our future. He has to continue to build his skills and get up to high levels overall before I put him on the big show. If I put him out too soon, the money won't be good enough to live on and he would have to work to make up for it. Right now he can work and fight at this level. Once you make that change to the next level you should be ready to focus on the training only. Not bartending and bouncing etc... It's awesome because he is a Curran and he has a similar drive and motivation as I do when it comes to training and fighting so I hope for big things.
ATTENTION ALL CMA MEMBERS: ALL NEW SCHEDULE BEGINS MONDAY, AUG 18th!
I would personally like to thank each and every student for all your ongoing support during the re-location of our brand new training facility. It is very important for you all to understand that our overall goal is to help develop everyones skills and with the constant growth of our student base we as a staff must always try to accomodate and make much needed changes to allow for every student to maximize their experience and growth potential within our facility. Please notice the new schedule that is in effect immediatly and we hope that everyone will find it in their schedules to make the proper classes for their skill levels and interests. Here are a few of the major changes that you should be looking for:
- Please note that all advanced classes are for those students who maintain a 2 class per week schedule for a minimum of 1 year unless otherwise specified by a staff member (preferably Myself, aka. Jeff Curran)
- MMA classes are added to help further our fighters knowledge and those who wish to link together the different areas of martial arts that we teach here at CMA. With that being said, it is important that only PRO members (those taking both Thaiboxing and Jiu-Jitsu) attend this class after they are considered an advanced student. (all fighters and those wishing to become fighters must be sure to make this schedule)
- All new Womens Boxing classes have been added. Thaiboxing members are allowed to attend as well. This class is held upstairs in the Multi-purpose training room.
- Please note the new wrestling schedule and the new sparring schedule. (fighters must attend adv. wrestling and advanced sparring)
- Kids/Junior level classes have moderate changes based on levels. Parents please see an instructor for a handout that explains this update.
- Monday class at noon is now a Gi class for mix levels of Jiu-Jitsu.
- All NOGI classes are for advanced students only. (Not sure, please as myself or staff member)
- A kids Jiu-Jitsu class added to saturday and a womens class for jiu-jitsu added to wednesday.
As you can see, there is many small updates and additions to the schedule. Please read through carefully and set your new training schedule. Thanks again and we hope you all continue to enjoy your experience at CMA.
With Respect,
Jeff Curran
HICCUPS AT XFO, CURRAN MOVING DOWN TO 135
Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - by Al Yu - MMAWeekly.com
Xtreme Fighting Organization held its 25th show this past weekend and was scheduled to be headlined by a match between Bart Palaszewski and Eric Wisely. Unfortunately, the Jeff Curran promoted event was left without a main event when Palaszewski’s opponent failed to report at the weigh-ins.
“Supposedly his opponent’s blood work came back and didn’t meet requirements so he had to reschedule a new test. We never heard back from him two days before the show. Our contact through him was Mark Long, who is usually reliable, but they definitely screwed us out of a great main event,” stated a disappointed Curran.
“We didn't even get a phone call. The athletic commission doesn't allow last minute replacements either, so we were kind of in a situation where we just had to cancel the deal.”
Despite the main event setback, the XFO moved forward with the show. The following day marked the grand opening of the new Curran Martial Arts Academy in Crystal Lake, Ill. The 24,000-square-foot training center houses a brand new ring, cage, state of the art equipment, and two mega-sized training floors.
“It was awesome; had about 1,000 people show up throughout the day,” said Curran. “We had some good demonstrations; Nate Mohr and I grappled for the audience for about 30 minutes. Then (recent Ultimate Fighter winner) Amir Sadollah and I went at it. It was great.”
In addition to the grand opening, Curran announced the same day that he was moving down in weight class from 145 pounds to 135. He will now join the ranks of many bantamweight stand-outs including WEC champion Miguel Torres, Manny Tapia, Brian Bowles, and Will Ribeiro.
“That division is stacked. I love the level of competition and quite honestly, although I competed most of my career at lightweight and featherweight, I feel it’s a better fit for my style,” said Curran. “I am a very technical paced fighter; I am a different style fighter than Urijah (Faber), whose style I feel is a great match for even bigger guys. I just feel since I am 145 pounds before I weigh-in, naturally, I can be a good, strong 135 guy. The talent pool at that weight is flat out awesome too.
“I won't have any problem with the weight cut at all. My diet and nutrition line will help me stay on track. That’s what I designed it for,” added Curran.
The 135-pound fighters have garnered more attention in the last few years and the WEC is leading the way as the premiere organization for lighter weight athletes to fight for in the U.S. Will moving down to bantamweight present a bigger challenge for Curran?
“I see it being more technical if anything because I feel guys that small, we have always had to deal with size issues; always have to deal with being the smaller guy on the mat. It teaches you to be more technical and learn to survive, not to mention the speed factor as well,” commented the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt.
Jeff Curran has one fight remaining with the WEC and is currently in negotiations to extend his contract. The “Big Frog” is expected to fight on the Dec. 3 card, but no opponent has been officially announced.
“I am ready to make a huge impact. I am feeling really game and ready to go out and beat some serious ass. It’s been a rough 7-8 months. Time to pick up the pace.”
Team Curran Finds Its Footing At XFO 25
Team Curran went into XFO 25: Outdoor War 4 with eight fighters scheduled to compete. Unfortunately due to circumstances out of the teams control Bart Palaszewksi was left without an opponent and had to sit out the night. While a definite downer for the team and the fans, there were still seven other Team Curran fighters competing and they were ready and willing to do the team proud.
First up was Blaine Podkawa taking on Steve Jorgensen in a welterweight amateur contest. For Blaine this fight was all about being patient. Jorgensen came out throwing leg kicks like no tomorrow, backing Blaine around the cage in the process. But, Blaine remained patient and didn't try to go crazy to stop the leg kicks from coming. That patience paid off when Blaine caught Jorgensen with a big right hand and followed up by locking on a standing guillotine for the tap out victory very early in the first round. There wasn't much time for Blaine to strut his stuff, but for the short time he was in the cage he was in complete control of the fight. With this victory Blaine improves his perfect amateur record to two wins and no losses.
Next in the cage for Team Curran was Ryan Corcoran as he squared off against Tyler Stark in lightweight action. Ryan looked to throw early on, but Stark wanted the fight on the mat and he took it there right away. Once on the ground both men scrambled through position after position as neither man was able to hold the other man down or lock on a submission of any sort. The second round was more of the same, as both men once again showed off their quickness on the mat. Stark ended up just a little bit quicker as he caught Ryan in a deep armbar and was able to get the tap out fifty seconds into the second round. While it was a loss, Ryan was game and fought threw whatever bad positions he was in, never allowing Stark to settle in and control the fight. It is certainly a fight and an experience that will allow Ryan to grow as a fighter as his career progresses. With the loss Ryan's amateur record drops to two wins to only one loss.
Rounding out the amateur fights for Team Curran was Brett Brendel against Kris Nash in a featherweight bout. The first round was close, with neither man gaining any edge on the feet. But, what separated the two was the submission game of Brett. He easily escaped an early Nash guillotine attempt and then managed to snag a deep armbar on Nash as the round came to a close. The second round began with and was ultimately punctuated by a right hand from Brett that dropped Nash to the mat. From there Brett maintained back control for most of the rest of the round and was able to control Nash in his guard when he did reverse near the end of the round. The third round was a bit rougher for Brett as Nash found a home for his left hook and Brett couldn't find an answer for it. Brett didn't back down and continued to trudge forward and land strikes of his own as both men stood and exchanged heavy shots to end the fight. The judges awarded a split decision to Brett in a well earned and hard fought victory. For the first time Brett was tested and he passed the test. He showed the ability to win a fight where he didn't completely dominate his opponent and showed both his toughness and how varied his game has become. With the victory Brett improves his amateur record to a perfect four victories and no defeats.
Starting off the pro portion of the card for Team Curran was Joe Schlotterer in featherweight action against Joe Blake. August 9th was not the night for Schlotterer as he was taken down and then caught while trying a sweep and armbarred only a minute and fifty three seconds into the first round. A tough loss for sure and not a fight where Schlotterer was able to show the fans all that he can bring to the table. But, it is a loss that Schlotterer will have to put behind him and hope to improve on as he continues with his career. With the loss Schlotterer's pro record drops to no wins and two losses while his overall record now sits at two wins and two losses.
Next up for Team Curran was Tom Belt in welterweight action against Craig Kaufman. In a tremendous fight Tom gave just as good as he received. Tom landed the only significant strike of the fight very early in the first round. Outside of that neither man did much on their feet for any of the three rounds as the fight was mostly contested on the ground. Once there all three rounds took on the same flavor, Tom would unload with vicious ground and pound while Kaufman would throw up submissions and Tom would either escape them or tough them out till the round ended. In the first round alone Tom easily escaped from an arm triangle, fought off a tight triangle choke and survived a late guillotine. In the second Tom controlled the pace and tone of the contest, hitting Kaufman with hard shot after hard shot on the ground. He also survived a very late armbar scare. The third was mush the same as the second, Tom pounded away on Kaufman only to be caught in a tight triangle. Tom tried to fight it off and escape yet again, but this time the hold was too tight and Tom was forced to tap out at two minutes and thirty one seconds of the third round. Tom fought hard, implementing a steady flow of furious and vicious ground and pound. He also showed an uncanny knack for getting out of tight submission attempts, but in the end was caught in one too many. This is a loss that Tom should not feel bad about at all, he gave it his all, looked good in doing so, and will undoubtedly rebound from this loss better than ever. With the loss Tom's professional record drops to five wins and two losses.
Team Curran's middleweight Ryan Sturdy was next in the cage against Jake Ambrose. Sturdy in a word, dominated. He dropped Ambrose with a straight right and then unloaded a barrage of punches from inside of Ambrose's guard to get the ref stoppage at just two minutes and two seconds of round number two. Sturdy didn't have to do much work or show off much of his skill because he controlled the fight from start to finish and ended it quickly. A great showing from Sturdy as he improves his professional record to eight wins, two losses, and one draw.
Last on the docket for Team Curran was lightweight prospect Pat Curran taking a step up in competition against Amir Khillah. The first round was all Pat, he took Khillah down, mounted him, landed some rigid elbows, and secured a tight armbar to end a dominant round. The second round was a bit different, Pat connected with a nice right hand and followed that up with an immediate takedown. However after Khillah managed to get back to his feet another takedown attempt blew up in Pat's face as he ended up on his back and mounted. Pat showed good defense as he survived over a minute in that position, holding Khillah tight and avoiding any actual damage. Pat then was able to shrimp back to guard and avoid any further offense from Khillah as the round ended. The third round was back to being more like the first, Pat took Khillah down and swiftly moved to the mount. He was in the middle of unloading punches from that position when he was the victim of a terrible ref stand-up. After that Pat ended up back in Khillah's guard and continued to pepper him with punches to end the round and take a split decision victory. In a fight where Pat faced adversity in his MMA life for the first time he still came out on top. This was an important fight for Pat because it was a step up in competition where he had to battle to win and battle he did. As he continues to rack up wins in his stellar young career this is the type of hard fought victory that will help propel him to that next level. With the victory Pat's professional record improves to three wins and no losses while his overall record now stands at a perfect four wins and no losses.
Team Curran Is Ready For War
The annual Outdoor War show is quite the mixed martial arts spectacle, and it is always a chance for Team Curran to shine on the biggest XFO card of the year. This year is no different and seven fighters from Team Curran will be enduring the sun, the heat, and their opponents in an effort to bring home victories for the gym. Four fighters will be competing professionally while three will be continuing their forays into the amateur ranks. Fighters on both sides of that divide will once again put their best efforts forth for personal pride, money earned, and pride in the gym and the team.
Headlining the night will be long time Team Curran standout Bart Palaszewski in what will most likely be his last contest ever in the promotion where he made a name for himself. A win by any means is what most headliners would want, but not Bartimus, who wants to send the crowd home happy with one of his patented highlight reel knockouts. Eric Wisely is a young fighter with hopes of spoiling Bartimus' going away party. While skilled Wisely may have bitten off more then he can chew with a highly motivated, talented as ever, focused Bart in front of his home town fans.
Pat Curran will continue his rise up the MMA ranks against Amir Khillah. Having been very impressive in all of his MMA bouts to date it's best to expect more of the same from Pat. Khillah will be coming to fight and he will be another step up in competition for Pat, but Pat knows this and is more than ready to bring the fight to Khillah wherever it may go. Pat understands that a victory would be key for his career and he will bring all his considerable talent to bear in what will surely be another exciting fight for Team Curran.
Ryan Sturdy wants to show Jake Ambrose that he is the dragon that can't be slain in their bout. Having been victorious in his last bout Sturdy will try an impose the same physical style that is his trademark. Ambrose is experienced, but all that experience may not have prepared him for the vicious ground and pound game of Sturdy. At the end of the night another impressive stoppage win is what Sturdy is looking for to continue his winning ways.
Tom Belt showed that not even highly touted grapplers were his kryptonite with his tremendous victory at Adrenaline MMA. He hopes to continue the trend against XFO veteran Craig Kaufman. The fighting Marine is all about a physical and tough style and looks to overwhelm Kaufman before he has a chance to settle in. Belt has had a taste of victory on the bigger stage and Outdoor War 4 gives him another opportunity for that special kind of victory.
Brett Brendel remains undefeated in his amateur career and removing that goose egg from his loss column will be the daunting task for Kris Nash. Brendel has been very impressive in all of his victories, winning in fast and efficient fashion. The red headed Team Curran fighter knows all about winning and doesn't want to learn anything about losing this Saturday night.
Also undefeated and representing Team Curran is Ryan Corcoran. Ryan has been equally impressive in all of his victories as he gains more experience and gets a better handle on the sport of mixed martial arts. With raw talent to the gills Ryan will continue the refinement of said skills against Tyler Stark in a fight that he is confident will end fast and quick with his hand raised in victory to remain among the ranks of the undefeated.
Last but not least for Team Curran will be Blaine Podkawa. A stellar boxer with a formidable ground game Blaine has put in lots of time and hard work for this fight and there is no way that Steve Jorgensen is going to stand in his way. If Jorgensen wants to box then Blaine plans to outbox him, if he wants to take it to the mat then Blaine intends to end it with a submission. Wherever the fight goes Blaine is ready and much like he has become used to he aspires to leave the cage as the winner.
Seven outstanding Team Curran fighters in action on one action packed card in what will be a great day and night for any MMA or fight fan. All seven Team Curran fighters aim to have the referee raise their hands in victory and send the Team Curran fans into a frenzy. Saturday, August 9th is shaping up to be quite the blockbuster of a day for Team Curran.
Trials And Tribulations
Injuries can happen to anyone at any time, but when they happen on the biggest stage of the sport in the biggest fight of your career they are particularly troubling. Nate Mohr wishes he never had to deal with such a scenario, but unfortunately he has spent the last seven months of his life dealing with the repercussions of that exact situation. But Nate didn't earn his spot in the UFC only to have an injury take it away from him. That is why he has put in the hard work in rehab and dealt with all the problems that have come his way and is ready and waiting to once again hear Bruce Buffer announce his name in the Octagon.
What he is most tired of hearing about is the injury itself. Nate wants to put it behind him most of all but he knows what he will have to deal with for the time being, "I have to keep hearing about it over and over again." The only thing that will cause people to put the injury out of their minds is if he is able to get into the cage again. To that end he has been tireless in his rehab. Striving to do as much as his body would allow to get ready to return to action as soon as he could. Avoiding another injury was something Nate knew was of the utmost importance and that is why he didn't push himself too hard. He stayed within the limits that his body placed on him and that is why he believe that for the first time in a long while he will be 100% healthy when he does fight again. That would be a far stretch from the man that fought Luke Caudillo with a broken hand, and he knows what that could mean for his career. "I've always fought with some sort of injury, but now that I'm healthy not even I know how good I can be."
Perhaps the most difficult aspect of his injury has been the fact that Nate has stayed close to the sport. He has been at the XFO's, he has been there for his fellow teammates and he has gone to the WEC to corner Jeff Curran in his big league exploits. While the experience of cornering Jeff has been a great one for Nate and has really helped him to see how a professional prepares for a big fight it has also been excruciating for him. He is a fighter, and that is what he wants to do most of all. Because of his injury his desire to fight has gone unrequited and being around Jeff and others while they are able to fight and he can't has been hard for him to go through. But, for as hard as it has been Nate knows that he is gaining valuable insight into the fight game by being there for Jeff and others and that this will help him to be an even better fighter when he is able to compete yet again.
What drives Nate the most isn't getting back into the cage. "Getting back isn't a goal, that's going to happen. It's about proving to myself where I am going to go in the sport." That is what makes Nate such a driven fighter and someone that is able to accomplish whatever task he puts in front of himself. It's not about the short term with Nate, but rather it is about the next step and then the step after that. That is why he was able to handle his rehab so well and that is why there was never a doubt in his mind that he would return to action and be better than ever. For Nate that next step isn't getting back into the cage. That next step for Nate is going out and showing the entire world what he is capable of and why a fluke injury can't keep him down.
The road to the UFC was a tough one for Nate, filled with all kinds of trials and tribulations. But Nate made it to the UFC because he is the type of man that doesn't start something unless he intends to finish it. A freak injury tried to take away all that he had accomplished. Nate has made sure that something that he worked so hard for won't be taken away. He spent the countless hours toiling in rehab, rehabbing his leg and strengthening his spirit at the same time. He has come out of that process a better fighter than he was beforehand. Now all that is left is for the rest of the world to see the fighter that Nate has become and to see that no single injury can keep him down. Nate is close to once again hearing the words "Your winner, Nate Mohr" raining down from the loudspeakers and it's a sound he hopes to hear in the very near future.
Returning To The Fold And Looking Ahead
Curran Martial Arts is on the verge of very big things. A new state of the art facility is opening up, more and more people are flocking to Curran's to learn. It is most beneficial that at this time of great growth and expanding frontiers one of the original Curran students has returned to the fold, but now as a teacher and instructor. Matt Strack has returned to the fold of Curran Martial Arts and he has come back to be the head jiu-jitsu coach and instructor. As the gym grows, the sport of jiu-jitsu grows, and the practical implementation of jiu-jitsu grows it is very vital that a coach of Matt's caliber is now present at Curran's to help the other coaches and instructors that already strive to make Curran's the best gym it can be.
Matt was first introduced to the world of jiu-jitsu by Jeff Curran himself back in 1997. Matt was amazed that someone smaller than he was could drag him around the mat like he was nothing and from that initial dragging a lifelong devotion to jiu-jitsu was born. Further adding to his fascination with jiu-jitsu was his first encounter with famed Gracie jiu-jitsu instructor Pedro Sauer. Jeff had had his way with Matt no questions asked, and now Pedro was able to do the same in return to Jeff. This new found tier of proficiency interested Matt and Pedro in particular wowed him. It was because of this that Matt left Curran's in 2001 to travel to Salt Lake City, Utah to train at Pedro's school.
The shift to Pedro's school was an interesting one for Matt. He had progressed very far in his jiu-jitsu abilities in his five years at Curran's, but Pedro's school represented another and bigger challenge. Matt realized that while he may be a four stripe blue belt he needed to grow and refine his skills in order to achieve his purple belt under Pedro. That idea of needing to grow and refine his skills combined with the amazing technical atmosphere has propelled Matt on his path in life. Simply practicing jiu-jitsu wasn't enough, but rather he needed to be good enough and proficient enough to be able to teach others. He went to Pedro's to make sure that when he did start to teach he would be good enough to do it. The technical atmosphere at Pedro's along with his own need for technical refinement ensured that Matt was indeed ready to return to Curran's in a teaching capacity when the time came.
While he loved his time in Utah Matt wanted to be closer to his family and friends and the chance to run the jiu-jitsu program at Curran's gave him that chance. He is honored by his new role and by the opportunity to help so many kids and adults progress along their own path in jiu-jitsu much like he did. One of the first things that caught Matt's attention upon his return was the difference in the level of training at Curran's from when he left. There were more students, more high level students, and the instruction had continued to escalate to match the new influx of students. The facilities at the Plaza were top notch and offered students young and old the best opportunity to improve their skills, whether that be in jiu-jitsu, boxing, Thai boxing, or mixed martial arts.
However, as the number of students increases and the level of training increases there are certain facets of jiu-jitsu that Matt wants to make sure the students take away from the Gracie way. Gracie jiu-jitsu doesn't focus on mixed martial arts, it still focuses on everything. The main tenet of Gracie jiu-jitsu has always been that the little man can beat the big man. The ability of the smaller man to protect himself should always be the goal of Gracie jiu-jitsu and that is the jiu-jitsu that Matt wants his students to learn. Jiu-jitsu isn't just for sport, competition, or a career in mixed martial arts. Jiu-jitsu is for the person that wants to feel better about him/herself. Jiu-jitsu is for the police officers that want to better defend themselves on the job. Jiu-jitsu can be applied to almost every situation in life and Gracie jiu-jitsu is for everyone, that is a message that Matt wants to make sure gets across in his teaching and in the jiu-jitsu program at Curran's. Matt says it best, "It's (jiu-jitsu) your journey, your path, whatever you want to get out of it."
What separates Curran Martial Arts from other gyms is the experts that teach in all areas. You can go to any gym and find someone willing to instruct you in the ways of jiu-jitsu or boxing, but what matters is if those people are actually qualified to teach you. The McDojo craze that the popularity of MMA has spurred on is a problem for many wishing to take any martial arts classes. As Matt says, "Those places are going to come and go." While they are coming and going Curran's will be here to stay and that is because of Matt Strack, John Janca, Don Stumpf, Jeff Curran, Bart Palaszwewski, Doug Mango and others. All are experts in their given field and all make sure that every student at Curran's receives the best instruction and experience possible.
For Matt personally the draw of Curran Martial Arts is the family atmosphere that it brings to the table. Curran's is a place where someone wishing to compete in mixed martial arts can train full time. At the same time it is a place where the entire family can come and train and not have to worry about the bullying or tough man vibe that is found at so many other gyms. Curran Martial Arts isn't about who is the toughest, it is a place to learn and grow in your chosen art. It is a place to become not only a good martial artist, but a good human being. Matt understands this most of all, "We want to offer a family martial arts academy, not a tough guy factory." At the same time Matt wants the school to be more than just a gym. He wants Curran's to be a life experience for everyone that enters, "We're here for growth potential, not just a place to work out."
With the new facilities opening up Matt's dreams, and those of everyone ever involved with Curran Martial Arts, are coming true. The new state of the art facility will offer people the best and greatest place to train in the greater McHenry County area, if not all of Illinois. Going from the original gym in 1997 to the new facilities is a bit of an overwhelming experience for Matt. But it is another experience that he is glad to partake in on his journey through life. A journey that has all been made possible by what jiu-jitsu has brought to his life. Matt sincerely hopes that more people will come out to Curran Martial Arts with the new gym being completed and join in the experience. It's an experience that changed his life and it is an experience that he knows can change the lives of everyone that it touches. All you need to is come and join in on the journey.
Team Curran Gives Out A Healthy Dose Of Adrenaline
Adrenaline MMA came to the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates on Saturday Night, and three Team Curran fighters were there to bask in the spotlight of a bigger stage.
Tom Belt started off the night in a bout that was a last minute addition to the card. Neither Belt nor his opponent, Marcus Levesseur, were scheduled to be on the card as late as 48 hours before the opening bell was set to go off. Both men were game for the fight however and had no problem agreeing to face each other on such short notice. The welterweight contest started with Levesseur pressing Belt back with fast hands and good movement. Levesseur looked to show off his impressive grappling credentials with a big takedown attempt early in the bout but Belt stuffed Levesseur with a nice sprawl. Belt finally took the initiative and charged across the cage with strikes that didn't connect but allowed him to clinch up with Levesseur and snag a takedown. From there it was all elemnetary for Belt, he passed the guard and unloaded a barrage of unanswered punches that caused the referee to step in and save the turtling Levesseur at the 4:10 mark of round one. A dominant performance from Belt made all the more impressive by the short notice of the fight and the fact that he just fought a week earlier. With this win Belt improves his record to five wins and only one loss.
Mike Stumpf was next in the cage for a welterweight bout with Michigan native Dom O' Grady. While smart money said that Stumpf would look to get in close and score a takedown against the impressive striker, Stumpf had other ideas. Electing to stand and trade with O' Grady, Stumpf had trouble dealing with the jab of his longer opponent in the opening minutes. After a while Stumpf's choice to stand and trade appeared to be paying off with counter left hooks and rear leg kicks that O' Grady had no answer for. The bell sounded to end an even first round from both men. The second round proved to be far more eventful. Stumpf stunned O' Grady with a big right hand and worked his way to back control. An attempted choke backfired on the Crystal Lake resident and O' Grady was able to reverse to inside of Stumpf's guard and back to his feet. It wasn't long after that Stumpf unloaded with a right hand that dropped O' Grady to the mat. Hammer fists and punches rained down from the fists of Stumpf and the only answer from O' Grady was to shell up and be saved by the ref at 3:53 of the second round. An imposing performance by Stumpf that sent a message to the rest of the MMA community. He's not just a wrestler and he is ready for the big time. With the win Stumpf improves his record to an impressive ten wins and only one loss.
The final member of Team Curran to take the cage was Bart Palaszewski in his lightweight battle with UFC alum Jeff Cox. Bart looked to control the pace with his striking early on and all it took was one right hand that connected for Cox to ditch the standing game and take the fight to the ground. After some good top control and decent ground 'n' pound from Cox the fight was stood up due to inactivity. That was when Cox stunned Bartimus and everyone in attendance with a thundering right hand that dropped Bart to the mat. Bart was able to pull guard and hold off any more offense from Cox as the bell sounded to signal the end of round one, a round won by Cox. Round two saw Bart settle down and get his timing and distance down. He sprawled out of numerous Cox takedown attempts and began to tag Cox with counter hooks and kicks to the body and legs. Frustration was setting in for Cox and his hesitance to commit to any offense allowed Bart to rush him back into the cage and land a right high kick on the money for the knockout at 3:07 of round two. A sound showing by Bart that enabled him to get back into the groove of fighting and serve notice that he is back to form and ready for whatever his next big challenge may be. Bartimus can now claim a professional record of twenty nine wins and eleven losses.
Congratulations to our new Blue Belts at CMA!
Here are the lucky 13 guys who tested for their blue belts on Friday 1-25-08
in no specific order:
Rob Kluzek
Ron Dupree
Eddie Rovner
Jake Betterton
Cesar Briones
Patrick Curran
Ryan Corcoran
Brett Brendel
Adam Dones
Keith Houston
Josh Hein
Chris Lewis
Mike Horn
PunchDrunkGamer’s Justin Bolduc caught up with featherweight contender Jeff Curran to discuss his upcoming bout with Urijah Faber, as well as the rise of the featherweight division, and more. article coutesy of punchdrunkgamer
PDG: In December you have a big fight lined up against Urijah Faber for the WEC’s featherweight title. What do you think about your opponent and what are you doing to prepare for him?
Jeff: Well my thoughts on him are pretty high, I respect him. I don’t put him down. I don’t think he has many weaknesses as a fighter, that’s why he holds the position that he does. I haven’t seen him take a whole lot of punches, so that is one avenue that isn’t too touched on, but I’m hoping he doesn’t take punches too well.
As far as preparation, I’m just doing my normal thing. I’m not going to try to become a better wrestler than him overnight. I’m just going to keep focus on my strengths, get my ground game tight and my stand-up sharp – and of course work a little on the wrestling side, but nothing too drastic.
PDG: You have obviously faced a higher level of competition than he has; do you think that this is going to play a role in this fight?
Jeff: On paper it should, but he’s been competing at the top level his whole life, whether it’s MMA or wrestling. He knows what it’s like to rise up. I’d like to think that it plays a little bit of a role with me being out there for a lot of three-round wars, and just going out there and doing some long fights against some tough guys - it tests a lot of your heart. I don’t know how many wars he has been in that weren’t so one-sided on his end, so I’m hoping it plays a little bit of a factor.
PDG: If he takes you down, how comfortable do you feel matching your jiu-jitsu with his wrestling?
Jeff: My jiu-jitsu is its best against wrestlers. My biggest thing is fighting myself, I get comfortable and I take my time. I just need to go to town. I need to get out there and start picking him apart and seeing what he does. I need to get after it a little more than normal, but at the same time I have a whole fight. He’s going to have to ground-and-pound me for five rounds, and it doesn’t matter who it is, I have a pretty good defense – I tie people up pretty well and I can take a punch pretty good. I’m never counted out. It’s kind of coming down to that. I’m pretty comfortable being on my back so I don’t really care if he takes me down. The weight is on his shoulders because he’s going to think he can stand and bang with me, which is good for him. My boxing has been tested more in boxing gyms, Thai boxing gyms, and boxing fights more than it has in MMA, so I am comfortable with my hands and my ability to hurt people with my hands. You haven’t seen a lot of it in MMA, but if I can just pull that trigger and let it rip then I should be on to something.
PDG: You’ve been in there with some of the more notable fighters in your division like Hatsu Hioki, Antonio Carvalho, and “Kid” Yamamoto, but you’ve also faced newer fighters, and some that aren’t very well known. At your level how do you feel about the broad range of opposition that you face?
Jeff: I wish that lighter weights were being compensated enough to take those high level fights all the time. The WEC deal, I like it because I don’t have to fight seven times a year. Even though I like to stay busy, I don’t want to fight mid-level guys – I don’t want to fight low-level guys. I don’t mind fighting unknown guys, like Stephen Ledbetter who is 5-0 and brings it. I don’t have any problem with that, everyone has to get a chance. But I don’t feel like I’m at a point in my career where I have to fight to stay busy against a guy that is 3-10 just to stay busy and get a win. I don’t want that, and never really did. I’ve wanted a few warm-up fights when I’ve come off injuries, like an arm surgery from a break that I had, and a knee surgery. I had to test myself to see if I could withstand the fight before I got in there with top level guys. But the Hioki’s, the Carvalho’s, the Yamamoto’s, the Faber’s, and the [Ivan] Menjivar’s – those are the guys that I want to fight. There are a couple guys in Shooto that we can hopefully start mixing with again, and hopefully they will want to come over and compete on the stage on this side, rather than us have to travel to Asia to do it. So the top level of 145 is a pretty tight-knot of people. If you go through the top of the division and look at who beat who at what point in their career it is almost as if everyone has beat everyone. I beat Carvalho who beat “Lion” Takeshi Inoue, and Inoue beat him, Hioki beat me, [Akitoshi] Tamura beat Hioki and Inoue… the list goes on. Match-ups make fights, and timing in peoples’ lives make fights. It would be really nice to keep that high level of 145-pound fighters fighting each other to decide who is number one, and I think Faber and me is a really good start.
PDG: A lot of fans criticize the featherweight division in America and claim that Shooto is at the top with their 143-pound class. How do you think the featherweights here in America stack up with the fighters in Shooto?
Jeff: I don’t buy it. I’d honestly call it 50/50. I don’t say that America has the best 145-pounders in the world compared to Japan. Japan has a good chunk of them and we have a good chunk of them. Carvalho has been living in Japan from what I hear, and he’s a Shooto grown fighter regardless, so you kind of put him in the mix with them. And if you do the math like I said everyone has beat everyone on paper if you start to cross-reference everyone’s opponents. I look at it like you have Wagnney Fabiano, he’s a lightweight in the IFL right now, he’s out here on our side, and Rafael Assuncao – and all these guys at 145, and they are all top, top level guys. They are going to do numbers on a lot of these guys in Japan, and I just know that from experience. Guys like Tamura and the top three that are over there, they deserve their positions, but until we fight each other it’s going to be really hard to decide.
PDG: How would you break down the top five in your division?
Jeff: It would probably change if you asked me tomorrow. I have to look at it in a sense where if you look at Faber, someone with his record of 19-1… it’s really unmatched if you compare it to those guys that are 11-2, 9-1, or 8-0 over in Japan – I don’t know their records specifically, but Faber’s the WEC champ. Then if you take the Shooto champ, Tamura, and those guys can flip-flop for one and two if you like. Three and up can be anything really, it can be Inoue, Carvalho, myself, Yamamoto – I don’t think Yamamoto deserves to be in the top two for sure because he hasn’t been active. You can’t disappear for a year and just come back and hold your seat. He has to win now that he’s back and we’ll see where he sits in the mix of things. I think the top five is pretty accurate if you look at it on most websites and may be off a seed or two.
PDG: Faber currently has a lot of hype behind him – he’s actually one of the most hyped fighters at this point; do you think the hype behind him coming into this fight is going to be a problem for him considering your experience?
Jeff: I don’t think so. I think it’s a fuel for him; he’s wired from that kind of stuff. I think he’s the kind of guy that is driven by the attention. The more he pushes himself and people push him to be the better guy, he’s going to be the better guy. It’s good for him. I could care less, I mean it feels good to have the support, but it also feels good to be the underdog. People think Curran can’t handle Faber, I mean where did they get that? And what makes people think that I’m going to destroy Faber? It is such a good fight and it just comes down to opinions very and it is what it is.
PDG: On the flipside, how does all the hype affect you?
Jeff: Oh it affects me. I’d be lying if I said I don’t want that. I feel like, not just for myself, but my family and friends that have supported me, my teammates and my coaches that have been behind me for years and years while nothing was happening; I think it’s time that we surround ourselves with a little bit of help and surround ourselves with what goes on behind my gym door and start getting recognized as a team over all, and not just Jeff Curran. I want that, I want the power that comes with it being in the driver seat to give some opportunities to some of my guys that are coming up the ladder.
PDG: With the 145-pound division a lot of casual fans aren’t very familiar with you and count you out. A lot of them see Faber as the be-all-end-all of the division. Does that get to you at all, or at this point in your career with all of your experience is that not really even a factor?
Jeff: Well all the experience I have is just that, experience. If I read a story or see a commercial where he’s all hyped up, or if I browsed the Internet and read what people write… who knows? But the bottom line is if I let that get to me I haven’t learned anything over the years. It is a fight and it comes down to who is more prepared and who shows up to win. I don’t use it at all against me; it’s more motivating then anything. Seeing Faber on Warrior Nation is when I first said “you know what, I’m really sick of seeing him.” I’m sick of seeing him and hearing about him without a chance to fight him, and that’s nothing personal against him. He could be the nicest guy in the world, the saint of all saints, but while he’s getting all the exposure and I’m sitting here in the Midwest I think why can’t I get a shot against someone like him instead of fight a 50-50 guy on a local show for a few thousand dollars. So it gets me fired up in a since where I need to get out there and get a shot at this guy, whether he’s the best in the world or not, he’s the guy that people think is the best. In my opinion I think he’s one of the top few in the heap, he needs to be respected and he’s dangerous – I just can’t wait to get out there and get it on to be honest with you.
PDG: Someone you mentioned earlier was “Kid” Yamamoto. He’s now back and HERO’S now has a featherweight division. How would you like to rematch him – I mean along with Faber he’s pretty much right there as the next guy people are talking about?
Jeff: You know, my third round with “Kid” was my best round, I was tired and I was beat up. Granted he’s gotten better since that fight as well, but I feel like I’ve tripled in my abilities since that fight. And at the same time when I fought him he hadn’t been against anyone that really tested him. If you look at it on paper he had one loss to Stephan Palling that was pretty much a fluke – a ten second fluke. Nobody knew what this guy would do against real top level guys. I was like yeah, this guy has been built – I kind of went at the fight like this guy is too small for me, but I got out there and it was a wake up call for two rounds. Come third round I’m still hanging in there and thinking next time this is going to be different; it’s going to be a very different fight. I cannot wait for that fight, I would rather fight that fight than any other in the world because he’s such a fireball and a freak – I can’t wait! I hope someday before I’m too old [laughs].
PDG: Now people are taking notice of the WEC and more people are becoming excited for the smaller weight classes. Now you’re jumping into the spotlight. How does it feel as someone working at their division for a while finally see it become noticed?
Jeff: It is a dream come true. You watch boxing and everybody is doing there thing in every division and being successful – having opportunities. Then you feel like yours went by and it’s not going to happen in your generation, but now it’s happening. Whether the money is what it will be in ten years, it doesn’t matter. We’re finally recognized and we get a chance to show our stuff. Faber has done a lot with the 145-pound division, representing and showing what kind of athletes we have at this class. I think putting Faber and myself against each other is going to kick it all off – it’s going to kick the division into high gear. Especially a loss to me, if he comes out and loses to me then there is a whole new hype. I think it opens up so much interest; we’re two entirely different people and we come from different walks of life. I think Faber enjoyed his ride and story along the way, but I think it’s time to change chapters.
PDG: To wrap things up, is there anything else you’d like to say?
Jeff: I’d like to say a special thanks to Tapout; these guys have really jumped in – not just for me, but for lots of fighters, and have done a nice, new approach to promoting the sport and fighters in their up-and-coming stages of their career. I think it is interesting and admirable, and these guys are taking care of people across the board including myself and my team, so a special thanks to them. Obviously I have to give special thanks out to Fairtex too. Those guys are always right by my side. As far as sponsors go I want to thank those two guys for sure. I want to thank my team here at Team Curran, Pedro Sauer, my jiu-jitsu professor for everything he has done, my boxing coach Doug Mango. I thank everybody.
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