(Like we needed a reason to run this photo again. Props: MMARecap via MiddleEasy)
There were a lot of questions coming into last night’s XFO 39. Would this mark the last appearance of Jeff “Big Frog” Curran? How would Jamie Varner fair in what is not only his first fight since being released by the UFC, but a welterweight bout nonetheless? Can Felice Herrig vs. Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc possibly live up to the pre-fight staredown? The short answers are maybe, pretty well and of course not. Tune in after the jump for more details.
Jeff Curran easily handled the .500 Strikeforce veteran Billy Vaughan. When he wasn’t busy countering every strike Vaughan threw, Curran was attempting submissions from his guard. However, Curran was unable to finish Vaughan, and instead ended up with a unanimous decision victory.
After the fight, Big Frog let it be known that he was just a little disappointed with his current situation. “This is the last damn time I’m fighting in the XFO,” he said before announcing that unless the UFC offers him a contract, he plans on retiring. Will a unanimous decision over Billy Vaughan be enough to get Jeff Curran a UFC contract? If not, then is Jeff Curran serious about retirement? Only time will tell. For what it’s worth, Jeff Curran told Sherdog.com after the fight that he was unable to finish off Billy Vaughan due to a foot injury he suffered during the fight.
In welterweight action, former WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner handled journeyman Tyler Combs with ease. Jamie Varner abused Combs on the feet before nailing a double-leg. After working the ground and pound, Varner transitioned to north-south and locked in a deep choke that made Combs go out. Total time? 90 seconds.
As for Felice Herrig vs. Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc, all you need to see is Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc’s entrance. Rivera-Calanoc walked out to the cage shouting “YES!”, Diego Sanchez style. As for the actual fight, Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc spent most of the fight clinching with Felice Herrig, despite Herrig consistently getting the better of the clinch exchanges. Herrig spent the rest of the fight controlling Rivera-Calanoc’s back on her way to a unanimous decision victory.
Main card results, courtesy of MMAmania.com:
Jeff Curran def. Billy Vaughan via unanimous decision
Jamie Varner def. Tyler Combs via technical submission (north-south choke) in round 1
Felice Herrig def. Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc via unanimous decision
Mike Stumpf def. Dan Bolden via unanimous decision in round 3
Dan Aguirre def. Terrance Kinney via submission (triangle armbar) in round 1