Huerta not happy with UFC

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from Fight Magazine

Huerta is one of a growing number of Zuffa-contracted fighter who feel that there is a disconnection between the company’s success and the way fighters are compensated. 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. It sounds like a a good deal until you factor in time away from training, friends, and family, days often stretch twelve hours or more, and an exchange rate of one UK pound for two American dollars. “Why do you think I don’t do PR for the UFC any more?” he asks.

He’s also unhappy with the terms of his current contract, but to Huerta, the press tours underscore a larger point: by and the large, Zuffa does not treat its contracted fighters with sufficient loyalty or respect. He argues that many UFC fighters barely make enough to cover their training expenses. He brings up teammate Keith Jardine repeatedly, incensed that a main event fighter is working for ten and ten- $10k to show and 10k to win - while his opponent regularly makes ten times as much.

Huerta’s expression hardens and becomes more animated as talk turns to endorsements. The common counter-argument for complaints about fighter pay is that fighters often make more from endorsements and sponsorships than they do for competing. But Huerta has soured on the system after receiving lowball offers from companies who expect fighters to jump at the chance to endorse products. 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.”
 

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waaaaaaaaaaaa i fight for 15 minutes and make 20 grand waaaaaaaaa
 

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He's turning down sponsorship offers. If he wants to make money, it's out there. Not my fault he doesn't think it's enough. The guy is loaded and has never fought anyone in the top 10... all because the UFC decided to get him on the cover of SI.
 

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the UFC let Randy FREAKING Couture walk people... you think they give a SHIT about Huerta?
 

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Dana & the UFC will end up screwing up the good thing that they have going here.
 

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Dana & the UFC will end up screwing up the good thing that they have going here.

People have said that for at least 5 years now and the UFC has never been stronger.
 

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People have said that for at least 5 years now and the UFC has never been stronger.

they've never had the competition that they have now either. Can't really consider Pride to have been competition here in the US since they barely had a US presence but they did put out a better product.
 

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they've never had the competition that they have now either. Can't really consider Pride to have been competition here in the US since they barely had a US presence but they did put out a better product.

In my opinion, Pride's announcers were worse and less entertaining, and I can't stand the screaming lady. The walks to the octagon were the only better part other than soccer kicks.

If they had put on a better product, I don't think they would have been bought by the UFC. It was a good product, I liked Pride quite a bit, but I think you may be a UFC-hater haha.

PS, UFC has had some competition in the past. The WEC had Rampage and Lindland and other legit fighters in the US. UFC bought them too.
 

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In my opinion, Pride's announcers were worse and less entertaining, and I can't stand the screaming lady. The walks to the octagon were the only better part other than soccer kicks.

If they had put on a better product, I don't think they would have been bought by the UFC. It was a good product, I liked Pride quite a bit, but I think you may be a UFC-hater haha.

PS, UFC has had some competition in the past. The WEC had Rampage and Lindland and other legit fighters in the US. UFC bought them too.

The screaming lady was awesome, the announcers were better as well. Personally I liked the first rd being 10 minutes, the judging criteria, the soccer kicks, etc. Pride got into trouble because of their dealings with the Japanese Mafia and lost their tv contract. It wasn't because of poor quality.

No I don't hate the UFC. I just realize there is another world outside of the UFC. I really do dislike Dana White and his attitude though.

PS, I think you meant the WFA (Rampage and Lindland). I realize the UFC bought both companies (WEC & WFA). WEC was never any competition for UFC, they were basically a feeder organization. I mean come on now, they held their shows at an Indian reservation in Lemoore, CA and yeah they had some tv time on HDNET but they were never anymore competition than King of the Cage is/was which is none at all. WFA wasn't around long enough to be considered any sort of competition either, they had what 1 show? The only reason the UFC bought them is to get Rampage so they could set up the rematch with Liddell that they never thought he'd lose.

By competition now I mean Afflication, which also only has only 1 show but from the looks of things they'll be around for a while. Elite has the network tv deal which is huge. Clearly the UFC views both as serious competition or they would not have put on the competing shows like they have.
 

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In my opinion, Pride's announcers were worse and less entertaining, and I can't stand the screaming lady. The walks to the octagon were the only better part other than soccer kicks.

If they had put on a better product, I don't think they would have been bought by the UFC. It was a good product, I liked Pride quite a bit, but I think you may be a UFC-hater haha.

PS, UFC has had some competition in the past. The WEC had Rampage and Lindland and other legit fighters in the US. UFC bought them too.

PRIDE being bought out by the UFC had absolutely zero to do with "better product." The MMA market in Japan was on the downslide and a Yakuza scandal killed off a TV deal which effectively ended them.

As far as financially, the two products weren't even in direct competition unless you count the last two PRIDE shows. Completely different markets. Nobody in Japan decided to watch UFC because they thought it was better. Nobody that watched PRIDE in America decided to switch to watching the UFC exclusively.
 

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production value on Pride was off the chart

the into got you goosebumps each and every time

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XfY-JOprmUk&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XfY-JOprmUk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

sorry about guy in thong though
 

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also I’ve been to both UFC and Pride live shows

No comparison Pride was insane and when you are in the arena it is electric

UFC is also great but too many idiots yapping and talking shit and about stuff they do not know

many are there to be seen btw

but both crowds great but Pride just better from the get go

after the opening you are jacked for hours

anyone else been to a Pride or UFC live event?
 

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If you are talking production value as in all the theatre stuff that Pride had, well yea, they have more of that. I just like to watch the fights though personally. Never cared for the over-the-top ballet/song/dance thing Pride did. Just my personal preference.
 

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Don't know what you were watching, but there was no ballet in PRIDE.

They had one 4 minute section in the beginning with fighter introductions and fireworks. Then they had ring walk-ins. If you think that's some sort of "over-the-top ballet/song/dance thing," then I guess you really like stripped down sports. Even the UFC has ring walks. The only difference is that there's no bright screen with graphics in the background.

It's fine to not care much about the presentation of sports. I don't really either. But if you find PRIDE to have been over-the-top, then you must really be bothered by the Super Bowl and the Olympics as well since those are like 50% ceremony and performances and 50% actual sport.
 

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you don't think he trains leading up to those 15 minutes?

obv captain obvious. geez, why even bother when people make comments like that.

there is plenty of opportunity for him to make more money while he trains, while he fights so on and so forth.

and if it sucks that bad then he can take a hike, you think he would be missed? hell no.

first off the guy has not fought int he last 7 mos. i am sure he trains a lot but come on everyday for the last 7 mos he has not had the chance to improve his earnings?

secondly he has not fought anyone. yea the guida fight was awesome but so was the scott smith and robbie lawler fight, does not mean they are worth top dollar... (if they were they would not be fighting for a second rate operation.)

look at his weight class, he would not be missed. i could care less if i ever see the guy fight again.

maybe the guy wins at UFC 87 maybe he keeps winning and maybe he becomes someone worth top dollar but you won't get any sympathy from me for someone who makes 20 grand to fight for the UFC for 15 minutes at a time.
 

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obv captain obvious. geez, why even bother when people make comments like that.

there is plenty of opportunity for him to make more money while he trains, while he fights so on and so forth.

and if it sucks that bad then he can take a hike, you think he would be missed? hell no.

first off the guy has not fought int he last 7 mos. i am sure he trains a lot but come on everyday for the last 7 mos he has not had the chance to improve his earnings?

secondly he has not fought anyone. yea the guida fight was awesome but so was the scott smith and robbie lawler fight, does not mean they are worth top dollar... (if they were they would not be fighting for a second rate operation.)

look at his weight class, he would not be missed. i could care less if i ever see the guy fight again.

maybe the guy wins at UFC 87 maybe he keeps winning and maybe he becomes someone worth top dollar but you won't get any sympathy from me for someone who makes 20 grand to fight for the UFC for 15 minutes at a time.

But as a UFC bettor i'm taken him to beat Florian

http://www.fighting-mma.com/mma-matchups/2008/ufc-87-gambling-kenny-florian-roger-huerta.php
 

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despite the fact has anyone been to both a live Pride and UFC show?

No I didnt think so.

I was at the show and backstage with the some of the fighters. before you go out to the stage there are this huge door Pride door with the logo that slides open.

Before it slides open the rumble from the crowd is unreal

When u at a live Pride show it is nothing you can experience

Same experince when i went to Old Trafford to watch Man U play.

the crowd and atmostphere was something you can not explain without being there. at a UFC event it is loud but loud for a different reason. Japan they dont boo fighters, US audience gets restless after a minute

Passion is different there
 

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Huerta actually fills a hole for the UFC, he is Mexican and they market the hell out of him to hispanics. He and Diego Sanchez are the only hispanics of any note in the UFC. Huerta is in a bit of a unique situation in that regard and therefore worth more to the UFC than a Brazilian, American or brother in a similar situation. In a way he and Bisping are the only two guys in the UFC in that boat.

Whether or not you or I think these guys are underpaid (I happen to think they are), the fighters think they are and that is in the end all that matters. Perception is reality here. You can bet your ass Huerta isn't the only guy that is of the opinion he is underpaid by the UFC. If the feeling that they are underpaid isn't addressed, they will lose guys and if enough guys are lost, it will impact the product.
 

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