Tokyudo
3rd August 2006, 09:06 PM
Interview with Pride newcomer: Jeff "Big Frog" Curran
MaxFighting: Why is your nickname "Sapćo" (Big Frog)?
Jeff Curran: The nickname Big Frog was given to me after a training session at Professor Pedro Sauer's Academy back in September of 1999. My friend Mica and Rodrigo Sauer (Pedro's nephew) were the 2 that were calling me Big Frog (Sapćo). I was training and warming up with jumps and movements that they thought made me look like a big frog and I have a tattoo of a Tree Frog climbing an Asian Kanji of stone on my back. It was just one of those joking around things that stuck with me.
MaxFighting: You have fought MMA since 1998 and participated in events such as the UFC, KOTC, WFA and many others. You're the IHC champion, but do you think you've reached your goal by getting to Pride?
Jeff Curran: Pride, UFC...to me and most guys are the pinnacle or the top of the mountain in MMA. Fighting in Pride makes me feel like all my hard hours in the gym and on the mat over the years are really beginning to show. I have a chance to fight in the great country of Japan in the largest show on earth. It's truly amazing to know this. It gives my up and coming fighters some motivation to stick out the training and work towards their goals too. I am very happy right now.
MaxFighting: When you fight in the UFC, you weighed in at 150lbs. Do you think this harmed your chances against Matt Serra?
Jeff Curran: I definitively think that being the lighter fighter and weaker in strength had a bit of effect on the fight. To me, the fight was a success because I came out un-harmed and was able to show I belong there. However, it would have been nice to get the win. I had 9 days total to get my mind straight and try to gain some food weight. I think Matt Serra is just too strong and too talented in Jiu-Jitsu to do much more than I did in that fight. But hey, maybe someday the fight would go more my weight.
Read more here (http://www.maxfighting.com/index.cfm?ac=news.detail&nid=1576).
MaxFighting: Why is your nickname "Sapćo" (Big Frog)?
Jeff Curran: The nickname Big Frog was given to me after a training session at Professor Pedro Sauer's Academy back in September of 1999. My friend Mica and Rodrigo Sauer (Pedro's nephew) were the 2 that were calling me Big Frog (Sapćo). I was training and warming up with jumps and movements that they thought made me look like a big frog and I have a tattoo of a Tree Frog climbing an Asian Kanji of stone on my back. It was just one of those joking around things that stuck with me.
MaxFighting: You have fought MMA since 1998 and participated in events such as the UFC, KOTC, WFA and many others. You're the IHC champion, but do you think you've reached your goal by getting to Pride?
Jeff Curran: Pride, UFC...to me and most guys are the pinnacle or the top of the mountain in MMA. Fighting in Pride makes me feel like all my hard hours in the gym and on the mat over the years are really beginning to show. I have a chance to fight in the great country of Japan in the largest show on earth. It's truly amazing to know this. It gives my up and coming fighters some motivation to stick out the training and work towards their goals too. I am very happy right now.
MaxFighting: When you fight in the UFC, you weighed in at 150lbs. Do you think this harmed your chances against Matt Serra?
Jeff Curran: I definitively think that being the lighter fighter and weaker in strength had a bit of effect on the fight. To me, the fight was a success because I came out un-harmed and was able to show I belong there. However, it would have been nice to get the win. I had 9 days total to get my mind straight and try to gain some food weight. I think Matt Serra is just too strong and too talented in Jiu-Jitsu to do much more than I did in that fight. But hey, maybe someday the fight would go more my weight.
Read more here (http://www.maxfighting.com/index.cfm?ac=news.detail&nid=1576).