A retired mixed martial arts fighter, coach and owner of a Crystal Lake jiu-jitsu school is bringing professional “super fights” – with athletes from around the country – locally to McHenry County .

Jeff Curran, who owns Curran Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Crystal Lake, hosted his first jiu-jitsu event – called the Jeff Curran Invitational – earlier this month at the MAC Sports Center in Crystal Lake. The sold-out show brought in a live audience of about 600 people and athletes from over 33 clubs around the country and drew in an online audience of about 5,000 live views.

Jiu-jitsu is a form of mixed martial arts, or MMA. Curran’s events focus on what’s known as a “no-gi, submission-only, grappling style” of fighting that emphasizes technical expertise with no punching or striking, Curran sa

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