This kid had the look of a monster in his patient one-punch annihilation of Mike Ricci at Bellator XIV. Could he be better than his cousin Jeff at this point? I was wondering this before I even noticed that Jeff lost to an unheralded journeyman in an untelevised bout on the very same card. Granted, Jeff has been in with the world-class opposition ("Bryan Goldsby" notwithstanding...) - holding his own against a slew of B+ - A+ talents, especially in his recent unsuccessful WEC run: Faber, Brown, Benavidez and Mizugaki. He was always a good wrassler, and a fairly well-rounded hybrid fighter, so-so or better in the other aspects of the game. Some good wins over Crazy Horse and Assuncao. He was just never quite special...and certainly his best days are now well behind him. Pat, on the other hand, just appears to be another kind of physical specimen altogether...and that's without even having wet his feet at the elite level. That's about to change, very quickly. My understanding is that he's seeded to face none other than Roger Huerta in the BFC Lightweight Tournament Semi-Finals. Tough, tough draw. Getting by Huerta would pretty much render my above question rhetorical. Hell, even just staying highly competitive in a loss. Thoughts?
Hard for me to comment yet. Im a big Jeff Curran fan and thought he was on his way back to the WEC but losing to a journeymen killed those chances for the moment. I read an interview were I believe he said that fight would be at 155 which IMO was stupid stick to 135 or even 145 pal.
We'll give him another go or two to bounce back, but time isn't on his side. I'm actually pretty pumped about Huerta-Curran if it is actually happening in the next round. It might actually be at Bellator 17, which is right here in Boston (I'm so there if it is...probably going anyway, since Eddie Alvarez is headlining...plus it'll be a historic occasion as the first significant televised MMA bout in the commonwealth of MA since the sport was sanctioned, beating UFC to the punch by a few months). It's maybe even the 2nd most exciting match-up on the near horizon behind Aldo-Faber.
It IS Huerta vs. Curran in the lightweight semifinal!!!! Also on the same night, Toby Imada vs. Carey Vanier in the other lightweight semi-final match, as well as Eddie Alvarez vs. Josh Neer! I'm so there.
Yeah, Pat!! :happy That's a huge win over Huerta. Two more very dangerous foes in his way if he wants to be lightweight champ. Imada and Alvarez are each scary in their own way.
