Roger Huerta isn’t happy with UFC and he’s telling anyone who will listen. Two interviews have come to light in the last day or so as Huerta readies for his fight UFC 87 against Kenny Florian.
He’s more than just the ‘SI Cover-Boy’
Huerta, 25, has been built into a star by UFC, which has carefully selected his opponents to allow him the time to hone his skills. He was also the first MMA fighter featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. He is a perfect 6-0 in the octagon and has done sterling work for the company as a go-to guy for interviews. He’s also one of the few Spanish-speaking fighters who can help UFC reach the Latino market. It’s been a productive two-way relationship. Huerta (pictured w/Diego Sanchez) is beginning to think he’s giving a lot more than he’s getting in return.
His first complaint was to MMAMadness.com. He says UFC put him a bad light with some creative video editing.
“They put these videos on the UFC where I said the fight was going to be a “cakewalk”. They fucking pissed me off because what I was saying is that, COMPARED TO MY LIFE, this fight is a cakewalk,” said Huerta. “It was in no way a disrespect to Kenny, it’s just with all the shit I’ve been through as a kid, fighting Kenny is a cakewalk. Anyway…when it comes down to it, it really is just a fight…it’s just a fight.”
FiveOuncesofPain.com points out that ‘El Matador’ took it up a notch in a conversation with Fight! Magazine:
Huerta’s disillusionment with the UFC began when he did press tours for his employer in Miami, Houston, Los Angeles, and London and received a $50 per diem for his troubles. Zuffa does not treat its contracted fighters with sufficient loyalty or respect. He rails against a Fortune 500 company for offering a deal to build him as a spokesman that included unpaid work. “Are you serious?” Huerta ask. “I know Dale Earnhardt Jr isn’t doing appearances for free.”
Huerta laid down the gauntlet later in the convo with Fight! Magazine’s Neil Taflinger:
“The truth is, I don’t really care if I fight in the UFC or somewhere else,” Huerta says. “For a company that is as loyal to me as I am to them.”
Huerta is one of the best interviews in the business because he doesn’t hold back. I’m not taking either side in this spat but it seems like this should’ve been handled behind closed doors. That said, maybe Huerta has tried that approach and this was the next best step.
- Steve
