For most of us, there are only two guarantees in life: death and taxes.
Roger Huerta's pre UFC 87 guarantee that he would never lose may have come across the wrong way, because as any mixed martial artist will tell you: there are no guarantees inside the cage.
To me, his prediction wasn't so much a guarantee that he would never lose another fight, but more of a guarantee that, no matter what, he would never quit.
Quitting for Roger Huerta just isn't an option. Not only is it not an option, it's not even in his vocabulary. I'm sure most have seen his fight with Clay Quida as evidence, but if not, watch that fight and you'll see a completely different level of heart and determination.
It's the life he's led up to this point that has made him who he is. A life that saw him beaten by his mother and stepmother, abandoned at age seven, and left to sleep on rooftops with no place to call home. He's seen some of the worst that life can dish out. There's nothing Roger can't overcome.
His recent defeat at the hands of Kenny Florian at UFC 87 is the latest obstacle to cross Huerta's path. It has no doubt set him back, but not quite as far as one may think.
Roger will look to begin his ascension up the lightweight ladder once again and here's a look at a number of talented lightweights that might be looking to block the road ahead for Roger Huerta.
Mac Danzig
Danzig won the Ultimate Fighter: Team Hughes vs Team Serra series with a submission victory over welterweight Tommy Speer. Danzig then submitted a very game Mark Bocek in the third round at UFC 83 in Montreal.
Danzig's next fight comes at Ultimate Fight Night 15 in Omaha, Nebraska where he'll face off against the man that Roger Huerta last defeated: Clay Guida.
Guida is always an exciting fighter to watch. A win over Guida would give both Danzig and Huerta a recent victory of a common opponent and could set up a Mac Danzig-Roger Huerta matchup in the near future.
Frank Edgar
Edgar made a big splash in the UFC when he defeated Tyson Griffin by unanimous decision in his UFC debut. He was very quickly making his way up the lightweight ladder with wins over Mark Bocek and Spencer Fisher.
The wind was taken out of his sails at the hands of Gray Maynard at Ultimate Fight Night 13. But Edgar made a huge comeback with a unanimous decision victory over former number one contender Hermes Franca at Ultimate Fight Night 14: Silva vs Irvin.
Edgar comes in with a good wrestling base and could pose some serious problems for Huerta as Huerta's takedown defense is average at best. The win over a top quality opponent like Franca has shot Edgar right back in the lightweight mix.
He has shown that he can hang with some of the best in the UFC's lightweight division. For me, a bout against Huerta would be the next logical step forward for Edgar.
Winner of Kurt Pellegrino vs. Thiago Tavares
8 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Dorothy Willis 10 months ago
Iy was just s big a disappointment to me as to Huerta that he lost to Kenny. I had not thought what would come next, butyou have mentioned a lot of possibilities. I hope he gets his contract negotiated and does not actually leave as he has threateded.
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Adam Schoonover 10 months ago
I don't think he will really leave. He has said his goal over and over to be the champ. UFC is still number one in terms of size and reputation. If you want your name know UFC is where to do it. Not just that Huerta want more Mexican fighters and UFC is the only one making new markets for MMA. I don't feel his loss to Kenny Florian will really have any effect on his future fight. His losing was probably the best thing for him long run.
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Jessy Morris 10 months ago
I would be very surprised to see Roger Huerta leave the UFC, I think he could beat both Tavares and Pellegrino so to me there is no interest in those two fights. I think Danzig vs Huerta would be good, but only if Danzig beats Guida. The fight I think makes more sense is Huerta vs Edgar, but I consider Edgar to be a very good lightweight fighter and he would be a hell of a challenge for Roger. Her's the fight I would love to see, I think it would be a very exciting fight, Roger Huerta vs Hermes Franca but since Franca is already scheduled to fight Gleison Tibau at UFC 90, it won't happen before the end of the year but maybe in the future.
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Nate Double 10 months ago
Huerta won't leave. The UFC will offer him more money than he currently makes and like it or not, the UFC is the only viable company to sign a contract with right now.
If Pellegrino wasn't already fighting I would expect the UFC to match Huerta with him to give Huerta a semi-hard fought win. The UFC has a lot invested in Huerta so they'll match him with someone he can beat on paper but not a total can since Huerta needs to fight named fighters.
What about Spencer Fisher? Or Melvin Guillard? Recognizable fighters that Huerta should beat.
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Leo Clarke 10 months ago
Nate you make a good point mentioning Fisher and Guillard. They are both good fighters.
I am surprise nobody mentioned Joe(daddy)Stevenson. He is definitely worth mentioning when it comes to the lightweight division. He is a known fighter and is recognized by most if not all UFC fans.
It would make for a good fight.
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Nate Double 10 months ago
Joe Daddy was on my list until I realized that he would probably beat Huerta. Huerta's take down defense isn't good enough to deal with Joe Daddy right now.
My vote is for Fisher. What a friggin stand up brawl that would be.
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Dorothy Willis 10 months ago
Both Nate and Leo have made good match ups that I would love to see, hope Joe Silva is reading this.
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Leo Clarke 10 months ago
Huerta and Fisher would make for a great fight and would not miss it if it happens. And your right about Huerta (Nate) and his take down defense. I thought of this before mentioning Stevenson. But he did get away from Kenny a few times when I thought the fight might be over.
Either way I will second your vote. I can't argue the fact that this would be a brawl and much more exciting to watch as a fan of both fighters.
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