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In an odd way, Roger Huerta is proving you don’t need the UFC marketing machine to promote yourself to casual and non-MMA fans. The former UFC prospect is only 1-1 since leaving the promotion but has gotten plenty of national attention.
The reason? It wasn’t exactly part of some grand plan. At 2:15 a.m., Huerta happened to stumble upon what looked like a man hitting a woman outside an Austin bar in Texas. Huerta stepped in to beat the snot out of the unsuspecting dude, who was reported to have been a former University of Texas linebacker. According to TMZ’s Harvey Levin, the Huerta fight video was one of the biggest stories of that week on the site. Considering that TMZ is normally dealing with the likes of Mel Gibson, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Justin Bieber, for anything concerning an MMA fighter to compete with that mix is pretty impressive. Huerta was invited to appear on TMZ’s afternoon webcast and talked about the incident.
“I approached the man and said, “You don’t do that. You don’t hit a woman,” said Huerta. “The video doesn’t show what happened next, but he said, ‘[Expletive] you. I’ll knock any [expletive] out I want.’ The tape also doesn’t show that he swung at me two or three times right after that.”
“All you see is me bouncing up and down. He has already swung at me at that point. Then the guy takes off running. I chased him down and you saw what else happened … I can’t talk about what exactly happened because it’s a legal matter. If the same thing occurred, I would do it all over again. I have no regrets.”
It’s interesting to note that Huerta had to often restrain himself from going into too much detail. There are still plenty of legal hoops to jump through. Huerta says he do it again but you wonder if he’d like to erase the end of the brawl where he apparently got pretty vicious? The appearance actually makes you wonder who’s handling his case. It’s a little surprising that a lawyer would allow him to speak at all on this sort of platform.
These TMZ videos are unique. There’s no real setup. Check out the beginning. It looks like Levin is ready to ask Huerta to beat up a faulty chair.
Quotes via Fightlinker
UFC News Credit: Yahoo Sports
Props: Strikeforce
Quoteworthy:
“I’m super excited about the opportunity, and I think it’s a great thing for me. To be in the Strikeforce main event on Showtime, to be in line to be a two-time, two-division world champion, and getting to beat Nick again in the process… I couldn’t ask for a better fight. I already got one up on Nick. I beat the crap out of the guy. He’s had a good run, and there’s a lot of build-up for this rematch. We’ve both improved, this is a different weight class now, he’s gotten better, I’ve gotten better, it’s a different situation. But at the end of the day, I’m a true mixed martial artist, I have respect for the sport, and I am a good role model… Nick’s good for entertainment, but I come from a family of fighters. I started early, and I have respect for martial arts. It teaches you discipline, how to become a good person, and I feel that I am. On October 9, I’m fighting a guy that, if I had a kid, I wouldn’t want him looking up to. He’s a trash-talking, pot-smoking chump. It’s motivation for sure [to be fighting near Diaz's hometown]. I love being the underdog. Even when I’m not, I still try to picture myself as the underdog so I train harder and push myself. Nick says he’s bringing his guys, but so am I. They’re going to need to beef up security. This is beyond a grudge match. I’m going to light him up like a Christmas tree. He’s going to have to kill me to [to beat me]. It’s very personal.”
With the grudge match three years in the making between K.J. Noons and Nick Diaz set for October 9 in San Jose, California, it leaves us just over a month to enjoy the pre-fight verbal assaults that are sure to be fired between the two combatants. First shot comes courtesy of Mr. Noons, who holds nothing back calling Diaz a “pot-smoking chump” who is gonna “get lit up like a Christmas tree.” K.J also asserts that Nick will have to kill him to defeat him. I’m sure Diaz would have no problem obliging him there. Thoughts on the match up? Does Noons make it 2-0 against the current Strikeforce welterweight champ? Or, will Diaz get the revenge he so desperately craves?
UFC News Credit and Full Story: MMA Mania
UFC middleweight Alan Belcher was on a roll. After wins over Patrick Cote and Wilson Gouveia, he was training for a bout with Demian Maia when he had to pull out of the fight. He had a detached retina and had to undergo surgery in late July to have his eye corrected.
Now, more than a month later, he is still having problems with his vision.
According to his Twitter, Belcher again had to have surgery after experiencing blurry vision. His wife said that he is in pain, and that the next few weeks are important in seeing how his vision progresses.
UFC News Credit: Yahoo Sports
Let’s try this again.
After Urijah Faber was forced to pull out of his bantamweight debut against Takeya Mizugaki at WEC 50 last month because of a knee injury, the promotion has rescheduled the bout for WEC 52, which is set to go down on November 11 from The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada.
MMA Weekly confirmed the news earlier today.
Faber was recently pushed out of the 145-pound weight class by reigning division champion Jose Aldo. Aside from a Jens Pulver submission win, “The California Kid” dropped consecutive fights to his temporary successor Mike Brown, first at WEC 36 and then again at WEC 41.
His frame may be better served at 135-pounds, but don’t expect any liberties from Mizugaki.
The rugged Japanese brawler made a name for himself in his promotion debut, giving then-champion Miguel Torres all he could handle for five rounds in the main event of WEC 40 back in April 2009.
Since that loss, Mizugaki has gone 2-1 for the promotion, defeating Jeff Curran (WEC 42) and Rani Yahya (WEC 48) but losing on points to Scott Jorgensen at WEC 45. A convincing win over a “name” like Faber could possibly get him right back into contention.
Keep it locked to MMAmania.com for more news on WEC 52 as it breaks.
UFC News Credit and Full Story: MMA Mania
 As it turns out, UFC president Dana White believes in second, or maybe third, chances.
Nine months after White gave Karo Parisyan his walking papers, the welterweight veteran is octagon bound once again for a meeting with Dennis Hallman at UFC 123.
Although not officially announced by the promotion, UFC 123 is expected to take place Nov. 20 at Palace of Auburn Hills in suburban Michigan.
UFC News Credit and Full Story: MMAjunkie
The Massachusetts State Athletic Commission recently issued its list of medical suspensions for UFC 118: “Edgar vs. Penn 2,” which took place on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010, from the TD Garden in Boston.
With several of the bouts ending early (and violently), 10 of the 20 fighters who competed on the “Beantown” pay-per-view were flagged for follow up visits with their doctors.
Chief among them was UFC welterweightMarcus Davis. “The Irish Hand Grenade” is on the shelf indefinitely (possible head trauma) until a CT Scan clears him for return. Still, Davis must serve a minimum suspension of 60 days with 30 days of no contact.
His opponent, savvy submission expertNate Diaz, was also busted up in his Boston debut. The Cesar Gracie disciple will be out for six months due to a possible nasal fracture unless X-Rays prove otherwise. Like Davis, Diaz is benched for a minimum of 60 days.
Also getting a mandatory vacation was Birmingham’sJohn Salter. A possible left hand fracture will require X-Rays to get him off the hook after falling toDan Miller, who got a precautionary 30-day rest of his own.
But that’s not all.
Here is the complete list of UFC 118 injuries and their medical instructions:
Nick Osipczak:Suspended 30 days (21 days no contact) for precautionary reasons.
Greg Soto:Suspended 45 days (30 days no contact) for precautionary reasons.
Amilcar Alves: Suspended 30 days (21 days no contact) for precautionary reasons.
John Salter:Suspended 180 days (possible left hand fracture) pending physician X-Rays. Minimum suspension 30 days (21 days no contact).
Gabe Ruediger:Suspended 30 days (21 days no contact) for precautionary reasons.
Nate Diaz:Suspended 180 days (possible nasal fracture) pending physician X-Rays. Minimum suspension 60 days (60 days no contact).
Marcus Davis:Suspended indefinitely (possible head trauma) pending physician CT Scan. Minimum suspension 60 days (30 days no contact).
Kenny Florian:Suspended 45 days (30 days no contact) for precautionary reasons.
Gray Maynard:Suspended 30 days (21 days no contact) for precautionary reasons.
Dan Miller:Suspended 30 days (21 days no contact) for precautionary reasons.
Just a quick reminder: Fighters often return to action much quicker once doctors give them the green light. The lengthy suspensions are just a precaution in most cases.
For complete UFC 118: “Edgar vs. Penn 2″ results and play-by-play coverage of the televised main card clickhereandhere.
UFC News Credit and Full Story: MMA Mania
 Despite a less-than-impressive return to the organization, Gabe Ruediger will get another fight in the UFC.
Ruediger, who failed to make weight and then flamed out of “The Ultimate Fighter 5″ cast back in 2007, posted a six-fight win streak to earn his way back into the UFC.
But this past weekend as a replacement for injured Terry Etim, Ruediger suffered a one-sided beatdown and eventual submission loss to Joe Lauzon at UFC 118.
UFC News Credit and Full Story: MMAjunkie
And not only that, he earned more than Randy Couture and BJ Penncombined:
Frankie Edgar — $96,000 (Includes $48,000 win bonus) def. B.J. Penn — $150,000
Randy Couture — $250,000 def. James Toney — $500,000
Demian Maia — $68,000 def. Mario Miranda — $8,000
Gray Maynard — $46,000 (Includes $23,000 win bonus) def. Kenny Florian — $65,000
Nate Diaz — $120,000 (Includes $30,000 win bonus, $60,000 “Fight of the Night” bonus) def. Marcus Davis — $91,000 (Includes $60,000 “Fight of the Night bonus)
Joe Lauzon — $84,000 (Includes $12,000 win bonus, $60,000 “Submission of the Night” bonus) def. Gabe Ruediger — $8,000
Nik Lentz — $22,000 (Includes $11,000 win bonus) def. Andre Winner — $10,000
Dan Miller — $30,000 (Includes $15,000 win bonus) def. John Salter — $8,000
Greg Soto — $12,000 (Includes $6,000 win bonus) def. Nick Osipczak — $10,000
Mike Pierce — $24,000 (Includes $12,000 win bonus) def. Amilcar Alves — $6,000
Salaries from the Massachusetts State Athletic Commission courtesy of Sherdog.com
Note: Salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc.
UFC News Credit and Full Story: MMA Mania
 Well, that didn’t take long.
UFC welterweight Thiago Alves is more than willing to fight up-and-comer Mike Pierce this fall. Alves plans to text UFC president Dana White for a possible booking at UFC 123 on Nov. 20.
“I would be more than happy to beat [Pierce's] ass if the UFC allows me,” Alves told MMAjunkie.com. “I will show him some love, definitely.”
UFC News Credit and Full Story: MMAjunkie
“What Brock needs more than anything are good sparring partners that can kickbox and grapple, so he’s gotta get some guys in his camp that can actually throw down with good striking, good takedowns, good takedown defense. I’m sure the goal for that camp will be to bring some good strikers in. [Velasquez] is real tough, there’s a big size difference between Brock and him though, the power factor. He’s a good qwrestler so he can actually stop stuff, get out of stuff, but I don’t know if he’s used to going with someone as big and powerful as Brock.”
Lesnar coach Eric Paulson tells Marcos Villegas that Cain Velasquez will present a significant challenge when he goes head-to-head with the division champion at UFC 121 on Oct. 23 in Anaheim. The big story surrounding the heavyweight championship bout is the size difference between champion and challenger, but the Lesnar camp is confident that “Brown Pride” will succumb to the power of the former WWE star. Anyone disagree?
UFC News Credit and Full Story: MMA Mania
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