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[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

Bellator calls Monday press conference, expected to announce signing of Roger Huerta by John Morgan and Steven Marrocco on Mar 14, 2010

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight Roger Huerta (20-3-1 MMA, 0-0 Bellator) is set to test his mettle in Bellator Fighting Championships' season two eight-man lightweight tournament.

Sources close to the situation confirmed to MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) that the popular lightweight received his formal release from the UFC this week, which opened the door to finalize a deal with the upstart promotion.

Bellator has called a video press conference for Monday at 3 p.m. ET that will stream live at Bellator.com.

Huerta is the seventh 155-pound competitor added to Bellator’s second season, which kicks off April 8 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The twelve-week season airs live on FOX Sports Net affiliates on Thursday nights, and highlights packages air on NBC and Telemundo over the weekend. Tournament participants in the featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, and middleweight classes battle for the right to face season one's tournament champions.

Huerta made headlines in January over a Twitter comment that hinted at negotiations and a possible signing with Strikeforce. Promotion officials later confirmed a meeting with the fighter but said it did not produce a fight contract.

Huerta shot to stardom in 2007 when he became the first mixed martial arts competitor to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine.

He later drew controversy in the buildup to a career-making fight against Kenny Florian at UFC 87 when he told FIGHT! magazine he was unhappy with the terms of his UFC contract. He lost to Florian by unanimous decision and afterward told reporters he respected the UFC and was merely looking out for his financial health.

Four months later, he turned down a new five-fight contract with the UFC and announced his intention to start an acting career. Huerta appeared in the martial arts film "Tekken," and inked a three-fight development deal with Lions Gate Films.

Huerta waited 13 months to fulfill the final fight on his UFC contract – leading many to speculate the promotion retaliated against him for the interview – and lost to Gray Maynard by decision at UFC Fight Night 19 this past September.

In his most recent silver screen role, Huerta appeared in "Circle of Pain," starring Dean Cain and UFC veterans Heath Herring and Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson.

Huerta's win over Clay Guida at "The Ultimate Fighter 6 Finale" was a certain candidate for 2007 "Fight of the Year." After Guida nearly knocked him out in the second round, he staged a come-from-behind attack in the final frame and submitted the wild-haired fighter with a rear-naked choke.

Huerta made his UFC debut at UFC 63 and racked up six consecutive octagon wins before falling short to Florian.

Bellator's lucrative tournaments can earn each division's winner $100,000 over three fights and three months. Should Huerta made it through the promotion's eight-man tournament, he'll book a date with current Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez.


Bellator calls Monday press conference, expected to announce signing of Roger Huerta | MMAjunkie.com

Yet another sweet signing for Bellator, however one would think this is a step in the wrong direction for Huerta, whose clearly a pretty developed name fighter.

[Mac]

Nice get by Bellator. These guys seem to be doing things right, moving at their own pace and not talking shit about beating the UFC.

[TBEAR]

^^^agreed.

Great siging and will watch Roger where ever he fight dude always brings it.

[Xanatos]

Hey, good for Huerta and bellator, he could do some damage there. I like this organization

[QOTSA420]

I think this a step forward for Bellator but a step back for Huerta. He could have easily made money in SF or Dream, but given the uncertain longevity of those promotions I can see why he opted for the route he took. I'm interested to see if he is going to be a big fish in a small pond or if he is going to be pushed consistently. Bellator has some extrodanary talent but is not nearly as deep as some of the other promotions yet.

[willpunisher]

Huerta is an awesome fighter. i hope he does really well in the tournament so we can all enjoy Alvares vs Huerta for the title!!!
Bellator should try to get one of the Pride guys. Maybe Dida after his fight with KJ. Maybe Filho if he gets his head in order.

[maxp84z]

Huerta wanted out of the UFC for a while, I'm glad he got his freedom.

[Mac]

Don't see why people are saying this is a step back for Huerta because he didn't sign with Strikeforce or Dream. Any where he signs is a step down from UFC. I'm sure once this tournament is over he can fight for Dream or Strikeforce, even if he is Bellator champ.

[Mirko45]

This is clearly good for Bellator but there are a lot of good things in it for Huerta

1. Gets to be a face of the company, even moreso because Bellator advertises to the Hispanic market and Huerta, as a Mexican, is somewhat of a rarity in MMA.
2. By not having to fight BJ Penn/Kenny Florian/Gray Maynard he can pboably dominate 90% of the LW division
3. Bigger fish in a smaller pond gives him even more exposure

[TheKidInside]

Eddie Alvarez is a realy threat to Roger I can't wait to see it!!! Provided that he doesn't lose along the line lol