Roger Huerta has signed an exclusive, multi-fight agreement to compete in the 2010 Bellator Fighting Championships lightweight tournament, the promotion announced on Monday. Huerta debuts in the promotion’s eight-man 155-pound draw on April 8 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
“The thing that Bellator has that no one else has is the tournament format,” Huerta said during a press conference on Monday. “If I win, I continue to fight. I need to fight. This tournament is perfect for me. We get to control our own destiny.”
Huerta enters the second-season eight-man bracket with
Chad Hinton,
Ferrid Kheder,
Mike Ricci,
Janne Tulirinta,
Carey Vanier and returning season-one finalist
Toby Imada. The eventual tournament winner will bank $100,000 over three bouts ($10,000/$10,000; $15,000/$15,000; $25,000/$25,000) during a 12-week span and will also earn the opportunity to challenge Bellator lightweight champion
Eddie Alvarez in the fall.
“Our styles match up amazingly,” Huerta said of a potential showdown with Alvarez. “I’ve got to climb the mountain first before I get there. Right now, my number one concern is to win this tournament.”
Huerta -- who was the first mixed martial artist featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated in May 2007 -- opted not to re-sign a five-fight renewal contract with the UFC in January 2009, choosing instead to pursue acting opportunities. The 26-year-old fighter lost a split decision to
Gray Maynard at UFC Fight Night 19 in September. Prior to defeats against Maynard and
Kenny Florian at UFC 87 in August 2008, Huerta rode an 11-fight win streak, which included victories over
Clay Guida and
Leonard Garcia.
“Ultimately, he will make the determination of how seminal a moment this is [for Bellator],” Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “It remains to be seen. It’s very exciting. I love to watch him fight. He’s a consummate fighter’s fighter.”
Huerta said he left the UFC on good terms.
“I wouldn’t be where I am without them,” Huerta said. “There are no hard feelings. More power to them.”
Bellator’s second season will broadcast live on Fox Sports Net on Thursday nights (check local listings for times). The promotion will also air on Telemundo with a weekly one-hour highlights show and a half-hour version on NBC as part of its Saturday late-night line-up.
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