Jorgensen’s Plan to Thwart Curran’s Jiu-Jitsu: Hit Him

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Jeff Curran is a black belt in jiu-jitsu, but Scott Jorgensen says he’s willing to engage him on the ground when they meet Oct. 29 at UFC 137.

“I feel comfortable on the ground,” Jorgensen told the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown” show. “I’m a wrestler. I have a good base. I’m strong. I’ve got an edge. I’ve got a little bit of an edge … . I try and hurt people down there. You can know all the jiu-jitsu in the world, but if I hit you once, you’ll forget it.”

Jorgensen displayed his ground-and-pound prowess in his June UFC debut, knocking out Ken Stone from inside the guard. Curran is a far more experienced opponent, however, and he can also fight on the feet.

“I know he’s probably not afraid to stand up and box a little bit,” Jorgensen said. “He’s got what, 40-something fights? I’m expecting a well-rounded opponent, but I definitely know on the ground is probably where he wants this fight. I really don’t care. In my professional career I’ve never lost to a submission.”

A September 2006 loss via armbar shows up on Jorgensen’s record, but he explained that it was an amateur bout and he hasn’t been caught since.

“I haven’t come close since then,” he said. “I’m not going to come close against Curran. I’m going to dominate him. … I think I may have read the same article where he said I’m predictable. Great. Count on me being predictable.”

Jorgensen’s own prediction is that he’s going to outwork Curran. It’s a strategy he’s formed since losing a bantamweight title bout to Dominick Cruz in December 2010.

“I can’t count on that lottery ticket. That’s what I did a lot with Dominick, was wait for that right hand to land,” Jorgensen said. “I’m not doing that anymore. I can outwork guys all day long. I don’t care how much they know. If they know more than me, if they’re more knowledgeable, if they’re stronger, faster, whatever -- if I outwork you, you won’t be. I guarantee it because I can function when I’m tired. I’m not built to squeak by on decisions. I’m built to build leads. I was raised that way wrestling. I never wrestled a wrestling match to win by a point. I wrestled to beat you by 15.”

Against Curran, Jorgensen plans on pushing the pace standing and on the ground. He credits his long history as a wrestler for giving him the stamina and drive to execute such a demanding game plan.

“You’ve got to be willing to do the same if you want to beat me, and I don’t think there’s a lot of people willing to put themselves through the hell that I’ve done the past 20 years,” Jorgensen said. “I’ve done it for 20 years. I’m very good at what I do. I love it. I love being tired.”

Jorgensen would also love another crack at the bantamweight title. For now, though, he’s focused on Curran.

“I’ve got to outwork him,” Jorgensen said. “I’ve got to keep winning. I’ve got to keep ahead of the competition, and as long as I do that, I’ll be back fighting for that title.”

Listen to the full interview (beginning at 1:14:44).