In reading all the articles I could find on Roger Huerta and Ken Florian, who are fighting to see who will be the next lightweight contender for BJ Penn's belt, I found one writer who felt Roger Huerta "is arrogant for calling out BJ Penn."
Please, someone, anyone say it isn't so!
I cannot explain how indignant I feel that the subject of arrogance came up in relation to one fighter calling another out.
After all, which fighter called Matt Hughes out for a re-match after winning the WW belt the first time, having to relinquish the title due to taking fights outside the UFC, taking his case to a court of law, losing his lawsuit, and then deciding to attempt to fight and reclaim the title from Hughes who was holding it..
Who yelled "cheater" the most loudly, and then called out Sean Sherk, the titleholder because the interim title was not good enough for him?
Who started calling GSP out long before he fought Sean Sherk to claim the LW title?
So how do we get to the point that Huerta reminding BJ that he will need to defend the lightweight title in spite of changing weight classes to challenge Georges for the WW title, is "arrogant?"
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It never ceases to amaze me that BJ Penn's fans are so eager to forgive him of the same things for which they are damning others.
If I were more like Matt Hughes, I would tell them to worry more about the mote in their own eyes and not go gazing into Huerta's eyes looking for one.
Luckily, I am used to the "in crowd" (those athletically gifted folks who are pursuing the new sport of MMA who tell an old girl like me that I have no right to an opinion, even though MMA wasn't around during "my glory days" as limited as my options were) casting aspersions where they please, with a sociopath's indifference and sense of privilege.
As a pioneer of my own times (having a 124-hour minor in Professional Physical Education and being one of three women enrolled in a previously all-male course of study) I learned about kinesiology, anatomy and physiology, etc. before these opinionated, egotistical upstarts were even zygotes.
I thereby deny them the right of considering themselves experts while talking to me with contempt and condescension.
Fortunately, by the end of his tirade, the author stated he kind of admired Huerta for his attitude, perhaps even more than he had for his supposed humility prior to calling out "the Prodigy".
I have seen Huerta practically beaten by Guida, until he somehow turned everything around and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at the last possible minute of the third round. And I had thought that was a done deal.
Huerta has a unique talent, but he does not look as dangerous as opponents like Guida, who was clearly fighting with blood in his eyes and the heart of a lion.
Yet he is undefeated going into the matchup with Florian. This will be a hell of a contest between two savvy fighters; either one could win, in my opinion.
And if Lady Luck should be in Huerta's corner and he wins, at least he has already reminded Mr. Penn of his responsibilities as current titleholder.
That is not arrogance—it is giving fair warning.
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about 1 month ago
I dont like Penns attitude, the guy seems like a huge jerk personally, but a huge jerk that is great in BJJ. I seriously think that he needs to shut up about all the other fighters like GSP and such and worry about his own damn weight class. I feel that unless he can dominate the lightweights like Silva is doing to the middleweights, then there is no need for him to start fighting people in different weight classes.
about 1 month ago
BJ is a freaking beast. Huerta is going to get a mouth full against Penn thats for sure. If he can get past Florian. NOBODY is beating Penn for awhile, not even GSP and I am a GSP fan...
about 1 month ago
HEY JOE. HOW IN THE WORLD DO YOU THINK PENN CAN BEAT GSP. ARE YOU SMOKIN CRACK? BESIDES A SILVA, GSP IS THE MOST DOMINANT FIGHTER IN MMA. BESIDES THAT FLUKE LOSS VS SERRA, GSP HAS ONLY LOST ONE ROUND IN I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY FIGHTS. AND IT WAS THE FIRST ROUND IN THE PENN FIGHT. SO HOW DO YOU EVER COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT PENN CAN BEAT GSP? AND FOR ALL OF YOU HYPING UP HUERTA, YOU WAIT AND WATCH FLORIAN DISMANTLE HUERTA. FLORIAN IS ON TOP OF HIS GAME AND HUERTA WILL LEARN WHY HE SHOULD KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT AND WORRY ABOUT THE TASK INFRONT OF HIM. U GO KENFLO!!!
from about 1 month ago
Take your caps off dude.
about 1 month ago
Hey Jason, QUIT WITH THE CAPS!!! IT GETS ANNOYING READING IT!! No crack for me, i like the expensive stuff. You need to go watch that fight again, it was so close it could have went either way. GSP was far more damaged then BJ, if it was Pride then BJ won on damage alone. But it wasnt pride, and UFC judges are skeptical at best. You never know what they are going to do. BJ during his fight with GSP was lazy, didnt take mma serious, and just partied all the time. He came in unprepared, and still dominated GSP in the stand up game then GSP layed on him for a few rounds. BJ is training harder than ever, and that is just not good for GSP. The reason GSP is ahead of BJ right now is because of the past, but it is the present now.
about 1 month ago
great article. I didnt want to like Roger Huerta at first but he has definately shown that he deserves to fight in the UFC, the guy is tough as nails and extremely well conditioned. With that win over Guida he has proved that he can hang in there with the top guys. I wouldnt say that GSP cant beat BJ Penn, I mean I know BJ has been taking his training seriously lately and he has improved a lot since his fight with GSP, but so has GSP. I mean the guy just outwrestled Josh Koscheck and finished Matt Hughes. His performance in both of those fights is just unreal considering the guys that he was fighting. I think that GSP will still be able to take down Penn at will like he did in their first fight if they fight again.
from about 1 month ago
I think Sports Illustrated did Huerta a great disservice by featuring him so early in his career and therefore prejudicing many MMA fans against him for not waiting his turn for fame.
about 1 month ago
Can it be true? Dorothy has brought high-brow discussion to MMA. Now if you only knew something about college football. Those folks need sum edjicatin'.
about 1 month ago
bj is such a fucking dumbshit its not even funny,i can't wait to see roger huerta vs bj penn.roger huerta is my second favorite fighter behind GSP,he is young and can only get better he is a all around fighter. i want to see bj get his ass kicked not once but twice by GSP to becuase there is no way he will beat gsp mark my words
from about 1 month ago
Sure hope you are right about that!
from about 1 month ago
that would be great to see gsp and Huerta beat the crap out of penn
from about 1 month ago
Do you mean together, or one at a time? Either way, I am up for seeing it happen, let me know where and when.
from about 1 month ago
Jesse, while I agree that Penn cannot beat the GSP of today, I feel Huerta would have a very difficult time against Penn. BJ is a beast at 155 (where he SHOULD stay). Not to say Roger can never be champion (he improves everytime I watch him), just not now. BJ is fairly young and his new found respect for his "job" makes it possible for him to hold that belt for a long, long time. Right now, I don't see any 155er beating him (on paper). I actually thought Sherk had the best chance of beating him. But, just like the first GSP/Serra fight, anyone can get caught.
about 1 month ago
Roger Huerta is the "Real Deal" in MMA. He is talented, smart fighter, and best of all , stands up and knocks the shit out of people. He is not the best yet......But after tommarows fight, he'll be up for it.
about 1 month ago
I feel like such a traitor to Ken Florian who is a tremendous fighter. Huerta is one of my favorite fighters ho is on his way up, but I think Ken is great for what he has gone through to get to the top. I would choose either man over BJ, but I hate having to choose one of them over the other. It is like I feel every time GSP meets Matt Serra in the ring.
about 1 month ago
BJ Penn is abrasive. YES. He crosses that line between confidence and arrogance. But at the end of the day, the man CAN FIGHT. Probably the most well-rounded fighter in the sport. His biggest problem used to be his cardio. Now, I think his arrogance/confidence can hurt him. He has always enjoyed fighting bigger guys. BJ is a lightweight, always has been, always will be. Unlike in boxing (where they have a different weight class every half-pound), the size difference between weight classes in MMA is significant. BJ at 170 (he fought Hughes at 166) is a slow, out-of-shape BJ. I agree with the person who said he should just concentrate on his weight class. But WOW, the man can fight.
from about 1 month ago
Agreed, he can fight, but I value humility in a fighter as much as skill.
from about 1 month ago
I agree completely. But when the octagon door is closed and the fighters' mouths are shut, BJ is a handful for anyone. I just would prefer not listen to his interviews and post-fight press conferences.
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