UFC: The Fireworks Before the Fight

Should anyone be surprised that Roger Huerta is angry and is not going to take it any more?

No longer a child being abused at the hands of his natural mother or father, he is a 25 year old man who packs quite a punch, and even at the weight of 155# he is a force to be reckoned with in the octagon.

Now however his real fight is in a boardroom negotiating a new contract with UFC President Dana White.

Roger is not a happy camper.  He feels that being a company man traveling to promote the UFC has left him holding the short end of the stick.  He has complained about only receiving $50.00 per Diem while doing promotional work, which he feels doesn't even make it worth his wile to continue to do so.

That is just one complaint.  With his contract soon to expire he is making demands for a higher salary that some reports have put in the six figure amount, and a cut of the money from the Pay Per View revenues, where people feel the "real" money in MMA is made.

I would seriously doubt that when Chuck Liddell was traveling to do promotions that he only made $50.00 per diem, and I have read that Dana White and the UFC have made him a millionaire with his salary and a cut of the PPV moneys.  (I have seen his houe, cars and jet on TV).

Of course Chuck Liddell has been with the organization for a longer period than has Roger Huerta, but he started out in the lean years which have certainly fattened up to a much richer base today.

Having his picture on the front page of Sport's Illustrated before he was even well known in the organization may have been more harmful than helpful to his UFC career.  He had a distinction that veteran fighters did not, of being the first MMA fighter to be so recognized and being given such an eminent position.  Had it been Dana's choice, I am sure Chuck or Matt Hughes would have been chosen to grace the SI cover.

Roger Huerta is a big draw for the Mexican market that Dana is hoping to reach, and so far it seems to be working.  Can White afford to alienate this market by refusing to grant Huerta a contract worthy of his representation as a Hispanic poster-boy for the UFC?

Representing an organization that will treat him well and protect his interests is what Huerta has said he most desires, and he has made it clear that he will go where he feels most respected.

Ironically, the UFC since learning of Huerta's disatisfaction with the company has leaked the news that they have "protected" Huerta by scheduling him against "soft" opponents, excluding the bout with Clay Guida and now the one before him with Ken Florian.

To me, the thought of being in the fight of my life while struggling to agree upon a fair  contract would be a very stressfu situation.

Because he is a proud and honorable young man I am sure Roger will go all out to win not only his fight with Ken Florian and a chance at the Lightweight title, but also for the chance to receive a contract worthy of a fighter who knows how to deliver.

Apparently as many contracts are on the line as are titles in UFC 87 "Seek and Destroy."