Tag: Roger Huerta

Ex-UFC fighter Roger Huerta emerges for PFL fight booking after years-long hiatus

In 2007, Roger Huerta was the first UFC fighter on a Sports Illustrated cover. Fast forward to 2024 and he just took another fight.

[autotag]Roger Huerta[/autotag] isn’t done yet.

It’s been more than three years since he’s had a fight on the books, but Huerta (24-13-1) is back and will face fellow UFC alum [autotag]Robert Whiteford[/autotag] (16-5) at 2024 PFL Europe 3, the promotion announced Wednesday. The event takes place Sept. 28 in Glasgow, Scotland.

The fight is contracted for a weight of 150 pounds and will serve as the co-main event. A welterweight fight between former UFC fighter Stevie Ray (25-13) and Lewis Long (19-7) is slated to headline.

Huerta, 41, hasn’t competed since a Bellator loss to Chris Gonzalez in April 2021. Following the defeat, promotion officials informed MMA Junkie that Huerta had been released from Bellator. The defeat was his fourth in a row and 12th in his 16 most recent fights.

Over a decade before his Bellator stint began, Huerta gained notoriety during his eight-fight tenure with the UFC. All six of his UFC victories came consecutively at the start of his promotional stint. The final victory was a Fight of the Year performance vs. Clay Guida.

In May 2007, Huerta became the first MMA fighter to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Whiteford, also 41, hasn’t competed since May 2022 when he was finished in 72 seconds by Daniel Weichel. Prior to that, Whiteford fought to a no contest with Andrew Fisher after an errant eye poke ended that fight. Those two results came after a four-fight winning streak.

The current 2024 PFL Europe 3 lineup includes:

  • Stevie Ray vs. Lewis Long
  • Roger Huerta vs. Robert Whiteford

Bellator parts ways with eight fighters, including Roger Huerta, Brandon Girtz, and more

Eight fighters are no longer on the roster, according to promotion officials.

(Editor’s note: A previous version of this story mistakenly included Gabriel Varga on the list from Bellator. Varga still is with the promotion. MMA Junkie regrets the error.)

Eight fighters have parted ways with Bellator, including a pair of notable veterans.

Bellator officials informed MMA Junkie that former UFC standout [autotag]Roger Huerta[/autotag] and longtime featherweight [autotag]Brandon Girtz[/autotag] are among those who have departed the promotion.

It is unclear if each fighter was released or the promotion simply elected not to re-sign them.

Scroll below to see the eight names who have parted ways with Bellator.

Bellator 255 video: Chris Gonzalez mauls Roger Huerta, who drops fourth straight

Roger Huerta’s MMA record has seen better days following another loss at Bellator 255.

[autotag]Roger Huerta[/autotag]’s MMA record has seen better days following another loss at Bellator 255.

Huerta (24-13-1 MMA, 1-6 BMMA), the former UFC star and Sport Illustrated cover athlete, had his skid extended to four consecutive fights courtesy of promising lightweight prospect [autotag]Chris Gonzalez[/autotag] (6-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA), who picked up the dominant victory on Friday’s card at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

The defensive wrestling of Huerta was not where it needed to be against the unbeaten Gonzalez, and he paid for it by spending the majority of the fight on his back. The pressure of Gonzalez eventually became too much, and Huerta was forced to tap out to strikes at the 3:01 mark of Round 3.

Check out the replay of the finish below (via Twitter):

Gonzalez, who comes from a strong amateur wrestling background, remained undefeated through six fights, all of which have come in Bellator. He wants to continue to progress, and at 29 sees a bright future for himself.

“I come from a great camp, I’ve got some of the most experienced teammates and coaches,” Gonzalez said in his post-fight interview with John McCarthy. “Every day is just a process and learning curve and just that white belt mentality trying to learn everything in the game.”

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Bellator 255 pre-event facts: Patricio ‘Pitbull’ seeks 10th title-fight victory

Check out all the facts and figures about Bellator 255, which takes place Friday with a Patricio Freire vs. Emmanuel Sanchez main event.

Bellator puts on its first fight card of 2021 on Friday with Bellator 255, which takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., with a lineup that airs on Showtime and streams on MMA Junkie.

A featherweight championship bout that also doubles as a grand prix tournament semifinal takes center stage in the main event. Champion [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (31-4 MMA, 19-4 BMMA) will rematch [autotag]Emmanuel Sanchez[/autotag] (20-4 MMA, 12-3 BMMA) in a bout that will determine who advances to take on A.J. McKee in the $1 million final.

For more on the numbers behind the card, as well as the rest of the event, check below for 30 pre-event facts about Bellator 255.

Bellator 255 lineup finalized; Patricio Freire vs. Emmanuel Sanchez tops 13-fight card

On Friday, Bellator returns with it’s first event of 2021 – and its Showtime debut.

Barring any unforeseen fight week cancellations, the Bellator 255 lineup is set.

Tuesday, promotion officials announced the finalized 13-fight card and bout order, which includes a five-fight main card and eight prelims. Bellator 255 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

The event is headlined by Bellator featherweight champion [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (31-4 MMA, 19-4 BMMA) and challenger [autotag]Emmanuel Sanchez[/autotag] (20-4 MMA, 12-3 BMMA) who will face off in a grand prix semifinal fight.

In the co-main event, welterweight contenders [autotag]Neiman Gracie[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Jason Jackson[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) will face off in a fight that could have potential title shot implications for the winner.

Rounding out the main card is a heavyweight rematch between [autotag]Tyrell Fortune[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 9-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Jack May[/autotag] (11-7 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), the promotional debut of [autotag]Usman Nurmagomedov[/autotag] (11-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) as he takes on [autotag]Mike Hamel[/autotag] (7-4 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) at lightweight, and a women’s flyweight fight between [autotag]Alejandra Lara[/autotag] (9-3 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) and [autotag]Kana Watanabe[/autotag] (9-0-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA).

The finalized Bellator 255 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (Showtime, 9 p.m. ET)

  • Champion Patricio Freire vs. Emmanuel Sanchez – for Bellator featherweight title, grand prix semifinal
  • Neiman Gracie vs. Jason Jackson
  • Tyrell Fortune vs. Jack May
  • Mike Hamel vs. Usman Nurmagomedov
  • Alejandra Lara vs. Kana Watanabe

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 6 p.m. ET)

  • [autotag]Cee Jay Hamilton[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Magomed Magomedov[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Mukhamad Berkhamov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Herman Terrado[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Mandel Nallo[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Ricardo Seixas[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Fabio Aguiar[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Khalid Murtazaliev[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Chris Gonzalez[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Roger Huerta[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Jose Augusto[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jonathan Wilson[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Roman Faraldo[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Trevor Gudde[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Branko Busick[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jordan Newman[/autotag]

Bellator 255: Make your predictions for Patricio Freire vs. Emmanuel Sanchez 2

We want your predictions for Friday’s Bellator 255 event in Connecticut.

We want your predictions for Fridady’s Bellator 255 event in Connecticut.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Wednesday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the Bellator 255 main card staff predictions we release Thursday ahead of the event. Bellator 255 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Make your picks for the fights below.

Liz Carmouche vs. DeAnna Bennett, Campos vs. Huerta among Bellator 246 additions

The second half of Bellator’s shows on two consecutive nights has additions, including the debut of a former UFC title challenger.

The second half of Bellator’s shows on two consecutive nights has some new additions, including the promotional debut of a former UFC title challenger.

[autotag]Liz Carmouche[/autotag] (13-7 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) will fight in Bellator for the first time when she takes on [autotag]DeAnna Bennett[/autotag] (10-6-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) in a women’s flyweight bout on the Bellator 246 main card. Plus, [autotag]Derek Campos[/autotag] (20-10 MMA, 9-8 BMMA) is set to take on [autotag]Roger Huerta[/autotag] (24-12-1 MMA, 1-5 BMMA) in a lightweight bout.

On the prelims, [autotag]Ty Gwerder[/autotag] (4-1 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) fights [autotag]George Tokkos[/autotag] (4-1 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) at middleweight and [autotag]Davion Franklin[/autotag] (1-0 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) meets [autotag]Ras Hylton[/autotag] (6-4 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) in a heavyweight bout.

Bellator 246 takes place Saturday, Sept. 12, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie. One night prior, the same venue hosts Bellator 245.

Carmouche in 2013 made history when she became the first woman to step into a UFC cage for a fight when she challenged Ronda Rousey for the women’s bantamweight title. She lost with a first-round submission. In 2017, she dropped to flyweight and after back-to-back wins got a shot at UFC champ Valentina Shevchenko in August 2019. She lost that fight by unanimous decision. Now she makes her way to Bellator with a resume that includes 10 UFC fights, a pair of Invicta FC bouts and three fights in Strikeforce, where she also fought for a title.

Bennett fought on Season 26 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” She fought to a draw with Melinda Fabian at the TUF 26 Finale, which was her only official UFC bout. Most recently, she’s been with Invicta. In September 2019, she won her first two fights in the promotion’s single-night women’s flyweight tournament, but was submitted by Miranda Maverick in the third round of the tourney’s final.

With the additions, the Bellator 246 lineup now includes:

MAIN CARD (Paramount, DAZN, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Juan Archuleta vs. Patchy Mix – for vacant bantamweight title
  • Jon Fitch vs. Neiman Gracie
  • DeAnna Bennett vs. Liz Carmouche
  • Derek Campos vs. Roger Huerta

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie)

  • Daniel Madrid vs. Austin Vanderford
  • Ty Gwerder vs. George Tokkos
  • Davion Franklin vs. Ras Hylton

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Video: 20 must-see Bellator ‘fire’ fights (in full)

If you’ve got nearly six hours to kill, here you go with some classic Bellator action.

Since its first event held in 2009, Bellator has given us some of the most memorable fights in MMA history.

While events remain on hold because of coronavirus pandemic, Bellator has put 20 of its greatest bouts – “fire” fights, if you will – all in one place, which you can watch in the video above.

The complete list, which goes for nearly six hours, includes:

  • 1. [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Eddie Alvarez[/autotag] 1 – Bellator 58 | 0:00
  • 2. [autotag]Joe Schilling[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Melvin Manhoef[/autotag] – Bellator 131 | 24:51
  • 3. [autotag]L.C. Davis[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Hideo Tokoro[/autotag] – Bellator 135 | 37:25
  • 4. Michael Chandler vs. [autotag]Benson Henderson[/autotag] – Bellator 165 | 55:41
  • 5. [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Julia Budd[/autotag] – Bellator 238 | 1:31:16
  • 6. [autotag]Daniel Weichel[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] – Bellator 138 | 1:56:41
  • 7. [autotag]Henry Corrales[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Aaron Pico[/autotag] – Bellator 214 | 2:09:58
  • 8. [autotag]Anatoly Tokov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Gerald Harris[/autotag] – Bellator 218 | 2:17:18
  • 9. [autotag]Derek Campos[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Brandon Girtz[/autotag] 3 – Bellator 181 | 2:29:29
  • 10. [autotag]Paul Daley[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Brennan Ward[/autotag] – Bellator 170 | 2:49:20
  • 11. [autotag]Douglas Lima[/autotag] vs. Paul Daley – Bellator 158 | 2:59:15
  • 12. Douglas Lima vs. [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag] – Bellator 221 | 3:18:09
  • 13. [autotag]Patricky Freire [/autotag]vs. [autotag]Roger Huerta[/autotag] – Bellator 205 | 3:33:28
  • 14. Patricio Freire vs. [autotag]Daniel Straus[/autotag] – Bellator 178 | 3:44:52
  • 15. [autotag]Saad Awad[/autotag] vs. Brandon Girtz – Bellator 219 | 3:57:46
  • 16. [autotag]AJ Agazarm[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Adel Altamimi[/autotag] – Bellator 238 | 4:19:31
  • 17. [autotag]John Salter[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Costello van Steenis[/autotag] – Bellator 233 | 4:36:10
  • 18. Douglas Lima vs. [autotag]Ben Saunders[/autotag] 2 – Bellator 100 | 4:57:18
  • 19. Patricio Freire vs. [autotag]Emmanuel Sanchez[/autotag] – Bellator 209 | 5:11:22
  • 20. [autotag]Ricky Bandejas[/autotag] vs. [autotag]James Gallagher[/autotag] – Bellator 204 | 5:44:13

So sit back, relax and enjoy the action.

Roger Huerta believes MMA approach got too spiritual, embraces grind once again

Roger Huerta back in grind mode.

[autotag]Roger Huerta[/autotag] knows something needs to change if he’s going to turn his career around.

The MMA veteran is switching things up in hopes to snap a three-fight skid that marks his second Bellator run. Among the several changes Huerta (24-12-1 MMA, 1-5 BMMA) is implementing, his mentality and approach to fighting remains at the top of the list.

“My head, man, it’s just my head,” Huerta told MMA Junkie. “I have to get out of my head and let my, I went to some places and like I was going to temples and a lot of things last year. It was a little too strange and eventually now I’m just going back to how I was as an athlete.

“I’ve been in athletics since I was 13. I played football, I ran track and filed, I wrestled in middle school, high school, college and then I started fighting. So I’m just going back to that and basically just being in the driver’s seat knowing I can do this.”

Huerta believes he got too spiritual and holistic in his approach to MMA, and he’s now going back to his roots and embracing the grind.

The change in mentality came after his most recent defeat – a unanimous decision loss to Sidney Outlaw back in November at Bellator 234. Huerta felt his skills didn’t translate into the fight and feels he’s a much better fighter than what he showed that night.

“It was literally right after my last performance, it was one of the weirdest, strange times of my life,” Huerta said. “I just, (expletive), man, I felt like an amateur. I was like, ‘What was that?’ I don’t know it was weird. It was just really a strange thing and hopefully those would understand like, ‘Hey, give him a freebie and let him do his thing.’ I’m just asking for that.”

The UFC, ONE Championship, and Bellator veteran wants to make sure he doesn’t come off like he’s discrediting his opponent, but he feels his performance was subpar that night in Tel Aviv. Huerta said he just couldn’t pull the trigger.

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Apart from thinking it’s a mental hurdle he needs to address, Huerta doesn’t discard the idea that he might’ve came back too soon from a shoulder surgery he had to undergo after getting in a motorcycle accident.

“This wasn’t mentioned before, but I was in a motorbike crash and I had surgery on my shoulder,” Huerta added. “It was kind of weak as well, so maybe I was gun shy from that, but I would say psychologically it was really strange too. It was odd. Not to take anything away from my opponent, or the guys who have beat me, but I just know mentally I haven’t been there yet, but I will be.”

Following the defeat in November, Huerta changed training camps. He’s still training out of Phuket, Thailand, but he’s no longer with Tiger Muay Thai. There was no beef or ill will in his departure from the team, Huerta just wanted to hit the reset button and start fresh.

The 36-year-old will be mixing his training in different gyms, but plans to make Absolute MMA one of his primary gyms. Huerta will stick to competing at 155 pounds.

Despite being deep into his 30s and having a lengthy run in combat sports, Huerta is confident he can turn things around. He takes inspiration in UFC middleweight Yoel Romero, who at age 43 is still contenting for championship belts.

“Man, I look at a guy like Yoel Romero for example, and if this guy is still at this, and obviously I’m not comparing myself to Yoel Romero – he’s an Olympian and what not – but he is human,” Huerta said. “So I look at a guy like that and he’s motivating me to continue training, stay discipline, eat right. Of course I do cheat a bit with some pizza and some pastries here and there, but I don’t drink alcohol I haven’t had alcohol in four years now. So yeah, I just stay discipline.”

Huerta know it’s not easy to become champion, especially at his age. However, he still has that goal in mind and believes maybe his past hiccups have come from forgetting on what his ultimate goal is in this sport.

“Obviulsy the title is what keeps me going,” Huerta said. “Achieving that belt and and becoming a world champion – that’s what I want. I started to go back into why I’m doing this and it was that I wanted to be a world champion. I just steered off that and now I’m back on that path. That’s what keeps me going and hopefully I get to achive that. If not, I gave it my best.”

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Bellator 234 post-event facts: Youngster Aviv Gozali already making waves

Check out all the facts and figures from Bellator 234, which took place Thursday in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Bellator hosted its latest oversees event Thursday with Bellator 234, which aired Friday via tape delay on Paramount from Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv, Israel.

An upset occurred in the heavyweight headliner of the card when [autotag]Linton Vassell[/autotag] (19-8 MMA, 8-5 BMMA) stopped [autotag]Sergei Kharitonov[/autotag]’s (29-7 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) unbeaten streak with a second-round TKO for his first win in the weight class since moving up from light heavyweight.

For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 20 post-event facts to come out of Bellator 234.

* * * *

General

Betting favorites went 2-1 on the main card. Betting odds weren’t available for two fights.

Betting favorites fell to 12-7 (with two no contests and one draw) in Bellator main events this year.

Total fight time for the six-bout main card was 43:23.

Main card

Vassell improved to 1-1 since he moved up to the heavyweight division in March.

Vassell has earned 15 of his 19 career victories by stoppage.

Vassell earned his first knockout victory since Feb. 27, 2015 – a span of 1,721 days (nearly five years) and eight fights.

Kharitonov has suffered six of his seven career losses by stoppage.

Kharitonov has suffered both of his Bellator losses by knockout.

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[autotag]Roger Huerta[/autotag] (24-12-1 MMA, 1-5 BMMA) fell to 0-3 since he returned to Bellator for a second stint in April 2018. He hasn’t earned a victory with the promotion since April 2010.

Huerta fell to 4-11 in his past 15 fights dating back to August 2008.

[autotag]Aviv Gozali[/autotag] (4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA), 18, is the youngest fighter to reach four Bellator wins.

Gozali has earned all four of his career victories by submission.

[autotag]Haim Gozali[/autotag] (12-6 MMA, 4-3 BMMA) has earned all 12 of his career victories by stoppage.

Gozali has earned all four of his Bellator victories by first-round submission.

[autotag]Artur Pronin[/autotag] (16-4 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) has suffered all four of his career losses by stoppage.

[autotag]Grachik Bozinyan[/autotag] (10-4 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) suffered the first decision loss of his career.

Preliminary card

[autotag]Sinead Kavanagh[/autotag] (6-4 MMA, 3-4 BMMA) improved to 2-3 since she moved up to the Bellator women’s featherweight division.

Kavanagh has earned all of her career stoppage victories by knockout.

[autotag]Olga Rubin[/autotag] (6-2 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) has suffered consecutive losses after starting her career 6-0.

Rubin has suffered both of her career losses by knockout.