This Week’s MMA Birthdays: Pat Curran Turns 26

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One of the cornerstones of the Bellator MMA promotion, world-ranked featherweight Pat Curran will celebrate his 26th birthday on Aug. 31.

Curran captured the Bellator MMA 145-pound title at Bellator 60 in March 2012, when he wrecked Joe Warren with a wicked volley of unanswered punches in Hammond, Ind. It remains one of the most violent finishes in the history of the tournament-based organization. “Paddy Mike” trains under his older cousin -- respected Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and Ultimate Fighting Championship, World Extreme Cagefighting, Strikeforce and Pride Fighting Championships alum Jeff Curran.

A sound grappler and deft counterpuncher, Curran has won his last six fights, four of them finishes. He last appeared at Bellator 95 in April, when he choked Shahbulat Shamhalaev unconscious with a first-round guillotine at the Revel Casino in Atlantic City, N.J. Curran also holds victories over “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 16 finalist Mike Ricci, reigning featherweight King of Pancrase Marlon Sandro and Team Nogueira’s Patricio Freire.

Before downshifting to 145 pounds, Curran challenged for Bellator gold as a lightweight, losing a unanimous decision to then-champion Eddie Alvarez. He has not lost since.

Those in MMA celebrating a birthday the week covering Aug. 25-Aug. 31:

AUG. 25

Jeremy Horn (38)
Danny Castillo (34)
Mark Holata (31)

AUG. 26

Erik Apple (36)
Lance Benoist (25)

AUG. 27

Hermes Franca (39)
Amir Sadollah (33)
Lew Polley (32)
Ryan Couture (31)
Shahbulat Shamhalaev (30)

AUG. 28

Deividas Taurosevicius (36)
Anthony Ferguson (33)
Karo Parisyan (31)
Louis Gaudinot (29)
Rick Story (29)
Jon Tuck (29)

AUG. 29

George Kleber (36)
Gabe Ruediger (36)
Kelly Anundson (29)

AUG. 30

Eric Prindle (37)
Cole Escovedo (32)
Joe Brammer (30)
Jim Miller (30)

AUG. 31

Ido Pariente (35)
Pat Curran (26)

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