The month of March is a hectic one in the world of mixed martial arts, and in combat sports as a whole. Every weekend there’s some type of event that features some of the premier athletes in the fight game. This weekend will not be any different, as Bellator 112 kicks off from The Venue at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana. At the top of the card is the third fight in a trilogy that the majority of the fight world will not recognize. Pat Curran and Daniel Straus will square off for the promotion’s featherweight title. Even though this bout is being overshadowed by some of the other contests within the promotion, it’s still a fight that is worth looking forward to viewing.
Let’s travel back in time to 2009 to Lake Moor, Illinois and the Xtreme Fighting Organization’s event XFO 29. Curran put his 5-1 record up against Straus, who was 4-2 at the time. The two fledgling fighters would compete in a bout that ended when Curran put Straus away in the second round via a TKO due to strikes. At that time, neither of these fighters were considered big time prospects, so the idea of the two men crossing paths again for a title — let alone for the third time in a major promotional main event — couldn’t have been anticipated.
After that meeting their career paths would diverge, as Straus continued to fight on the regional circuit, while Curran began to develop into a star after signing with Bellator. Curran became the first man to win two Bellator tournaments, fighting for two titles. He was defeated by Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight championship, but dropped down to compete at 145, winning the belt in emphatic fashion over Joe Warren.
Meanwhile on the regional scene, Straus was putting together an impressive 17-1 run that would see him defeat such fighters as Marlon Sandro and Alvin Robinson en route to accumulating seven Bellator wins. That streak set the stage for Straus to once again face Curran, this time at Bellator 106, with the organization’s 145-pound title on the line.
Their second meeting was a display of domination, as Daniel Straus controlled the fight in every position. He executed the perfect game plan to stifle Curran’s striking and keep him on the mat, securing a unanimous decision victory. From start to finish it seemed as if Curran didn’t have any answer for his opponent’s offensive wrestling. The fight was so one-sided that many MMA fans and media members were surprised that Bellator granted Curran an immediate rematch instead of making the Illinois native compete in another tournament. At one point in time the organization stood firmly on the idea that all title shots would be earned, but this is yet another example of how that model doesn’t always suit the company’s long term goals.
The lopsided outcome of their second fight has played a role in the type of coverage that Straus vs. Curran 3 has garnered. Unlike the rubber match in the Michael Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez trilogy that is going to get prime placement in May at Bellator 120, this fight has been shuffled away on a card that is a part of one of the busiest months of MMA action in some time. The lead-up to the fight hasn’t been particularly eventful, as neither Straus nor Curran have made many appearances during the two Bellator Season 10 cards that preceded this one. Both Alvarez and Chandler continue to receive prime exposure, such as their new Dave & Buster’s commercial, but very few people would be able to pick Daniel Straus — one of the promotion’s champions — from a lineup of MMA competitors.
The lack of promotion by Bellator regarding this fight is yet another example of how styles really play a part in who gets prime placement on cards, and maximum exposure within the sport. Straus may not have the most exciting of styles, but it is very effective. Curran’s style is more “thrilling,” which is very attractive to mainstream fans. His penchant for finishing and putting on captivating fights definitely played a role in how quickly he received a rematch, regardless of what Bellator’s “policies” may actually be when it comes to title shots.
Patricio Freire, the top Bellator featherweight contender, will sit and watch the third meeting between Daniel Straus and Pat Curran on Friday night, along with much of the MMA world. Although this bout hasn’t been pushed to the extent that it deserves, the fact that two of the sport’s best featherweights will do battle make this fight hard to miss. The promotion has not seen fit to push it, but luckily, hardcore fans know what’s at stake, so they’ll have to pay attention.
• Daniel Straus vs. Pat Curran (FW Championship)
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Bellator 112: Straus vs. Curran 3 takes place on March 14, 2014 at Horseshoe Hammond Casino in Hammond, Indiana.
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