Jeff Curran Invitational 1: The Inception hits the MAC in Crystal Lake Sept. 6
Submission-only super fights to include 25+ matchups and main event
CRYSTAL LAKE — Retired professional MMA fighter, fifth-degree black belt and Jiu-Jitsu Academy owner Jeff “Big Frog” Curran has had a longtime dream of hosting a super fight event that will be both fan-friendly and athlete-forward.
On Saturday, Sept. 6, that dream comes to fruition. The Jeff Curran Invitational 1: The Inception, will take place at the MAC Sports Center, 1310 Ridgefield Road, Crystal Lake, with doors opening at 5 p.m.
Producing the invitational, submission-only super fight is the next step in Curran’s evolution from Jiu-Jitsu student to mixed martial arts fighter, teacher, pro MMA fighter and boxer, coach, Xtreme Fighting Organization (XFO) co-founder, promoter, Jiu-Jitsu competitor, Illinois Martial Arts and Boxing Hall of Famer — and husband and dad.
“I’ve been retired from the sport of mixed martial arts for almost nine years after 20 years fighting for the UFC and every major organization in the world,” said Curran, still competing in Jiu-Jitsu as he approaches his 48th birthday Sept. 2, just days before the inaugural JCI. “Since I retired from MMA, I’ve been focused on building my Jiu-Jitsu team and making plans to start this event.”
Curran, who grew up in Wonder Lake and now lives in Island Lake, said he could not be more excited to host his first Curran Invitational. His vision is to host similar events two to three times a year, and possibly take the show on the road. He credits his sons, Ty, 18, and Jacob, 16, with pushing him to take the event from something he’d talked about for years to its imminent, heart-pounding reality.
About $30,000 is going into the production, Curran said. It will feature a raised, 32-foot-by-32-foot, LED light-rigged stage at the MAC, with a seating capacity of about 600. Most tickets will range from $45 to $100 each, with some group and VIP seating options also available at jcinvitational.com. Athletes are lined up to compete in about 25 matches, with the main event being Joey Diehl vs. Timmie Carpenter, Curran said.
“There will not be a bad seat in the house,” he said. “I’ve got competitors coming from as far west as Utah, as far east as Washington, D.C., as far north as Fargo, North Dakota, and as far south as Florida. There will be some local gym rival matchups, there’s a UFC vet on the card, and this is a major opportunity for others to make names for themselves.”
Among big local matchups will be Justin Seeberger vs. Mark Millare, both of whom are Jiu-Jitsu black belts. Seeberger is a teacher at the Curran Academy and Millare is an instructor for Dan Hart Jiu Jitsu in Woodstock. The complete fight card is available at fightertix.com/jci.
The no-gi, submission-only, grappling style of fighting emphasizes technical expertise, Curran said. There is no punching or striking.
“The straight-up grappling is very exciting when you get people on the mat who know what they’re doing,” Curran said. “They win by putting their opponent into chokeholds, arm locks, leg locks and other joint locks to the point of forcing the opponent to tap out. The competitions tend to be more intense and active.”
Curran said the lack of striking and emphasis on technique will make the invitational both family friendly and exhilarating for all spectators.
“There is no spending two or three minutes on the mat just holding on because you’re up in points,” he said. “People can’t just stall or penalties can haunt you. You have to go for the finish.”
For everyone from the uninitiated spectator to the skilled competitor, the Jeff Curran Invitational will not disappoint, Curran predicted.
“I want the athletes to go away saying ‘Man, I felt love. I felt appreciated. It was a super cool experience and I want to do it again — win or lose,’” Curran said. “I think this can be, not a fast track, but it can be a consistent way for the people who really believe in themselves to ... earn the opportunity to fight someone who is going to catapult them to something else.”
Find event images and video on Instagram @bigfrogbjj or @JeffCurranInvitational.
If you go
What: The Jeff Curran Invitational 1: The Inception
When: Doors open 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6
Where: MAC Sports Center, 1310 Ridgefield Road, Crystal Lake
Featuring: No-gi, submission-only super fights; more than 25 matches
Main Event: Joey Diehl vs. Timmie Carpenter
Tickets, details: jcinvitational.com