Veteran Jeff Curran to Retire If He Loses to Sergio Pettis at RFA 8

Jeff Curran likes his chances at flyweight. But in the dusk of a 15-year career, the veteran of just about every major promotion in MMA history is a lot less fond of the farm-league grind.

Taken together, that explains both his confidence heading into his tangle with teen phenom Sergio Pettis and his announcement that he’ll leave the cage for good if he doesn’t net a victory June 21 at Resurrection Fighting Alliance 8.

“I will retire after my next loss, unless it’s in the UFC,” Curran said in an exclusive interview with Bleacher Report. “I don’t have any interest in treading water outside the UFC and trying to draw out my career.”

The 35-year-old Curran (34-15-1) has drawn at least one paycheck from more than 20 different organizations, including Pride, Bellator, the WEC and Strikeforce. The popular veteran has taken several runs in the granddaddy of them all, but despite Curran's three attempts, a referee has never raised his hand in the UFC Octagon.

Curran’s last UFC fight—a May 2012 decision loss to bantamweight Johnny Eduardo—came only a few months after the promotion announced it was creating a flyweight division. Following that loss, Curran stepped away from the sport for a while, but the UFC’s newest weight class presented an open window that was wafting in a breeze too sweet and strong to ignore. Almost exactly one year to the day after the Eduardo fight, Curran resurfaced as a flyweight. In his debut and fighting on short notice, Curran defeated Josh Killon in the Extreme Challenge promotion.

Now with fresh momentum, Curran said he’s feeling strong at 125 pounds and suspects this fourth weight class could be the charm. His only goal these days when it comes to combat is stringing together enough success for a crack at the UFC's flyweight stable. Curran, who started his career as a lightweight, is unquestionably large for the UFC's lightest division.

“Back when I fought Eduardo, I went ‘my God, he’s huge,’” Curran recalled. “I had a hard time getting near him. It’s been the same with other guys throughout my career. But now, being at 125 pounds, it changes things. I’m not going to run into the height or size problems.”

From a fighting perspective, Curran and Pettis (7-0) could not be more different if they tried. Curran has more than eight times as many fights as Pettis and is almost twice Pettis’ age (he made his pro debut when Pettis was only four). Curran’s bread and butter is grappling; Pettis prefers flamboyant precision striking in the vein of his famous older brother, Anthony. Curran has more than twice as many submission wins (19) as Pettis does total professional fights.

Curran knows all of this. He knows he’s being used as a measuring stick for the exciting young buck, one of several on the RFA roster, which has positioned itself as a successful UFC feeder league.

“There’s a lot of hope for [Pettis] in the sport, and I’ll tell everyone where he stands,” Curran said. “I think I have the tools to beat him.”

Curran’s passion for the sport has never been in doubt. He counts several pro fighters—including his cousin, Bellator featherweight champ Pat Curran—as clients in his Illinois gym, Team Curran MMA. He’s known to fans as a consummate gamer, the veteran who, in 60 contests, has been stopped on only five occasions, despite not possessing unparalleled skills or insurmountable physical tools.

So why the advance decision to retire with another loss? 

“I have a lot of responsibilities on the business front for my gym and my classes,” Curran said. “I have two little boys. If I’m not at the top of the sport, I want to focus elsewhere.”

First, though, time to saddle up for one final tilt at the windmill.

“This is one last chance to make something special happen at the end here,” Curran said. “I’ve had some rough runs. It's my dream to win in the UFC and make everybody feel proud about being my fan.”

Scott Harris is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report MMA. Follow him on Twitter @ScottHarrisMMA. All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.