Bellator 33: Eddie Alvarez vs Roger Huerta booked for Oct. 21 with Pat Curran hurt

by Jesse Holland on Aug 13, 2010 10:03 AM EDT

Former UFC lightweight contender and Bellator special attraction Roger Huerta (21-4-1) will need to take a hiatus from his role as avenging angel and go from stomping misogynists to battling division standout Eddie Alvarez (20-2) on Oct. 21.

The promotion yesterday announced that "El Matador" would step in for Pat Curran, who upset Huerta back in May en route to capturing the 2010 Bellator Lightweight Tournament by defeating Toby Imada on June 10.

Curran was forced to withdraw from the upcoming contest due to an undisclosed injury.

After staying perfect through 17 consecutive appearances, Huerta dropped back-to-back fights to Kenny Florian and Gray Maynard under the Zuffa banner. Acting, modeling and the pursuit of greener pastures kept the former Sports Illustrated cover model from inking a new UFC deal.

A submission win over Chad Hinton marked his much-ballyhooed Bellator debut, but he would get beaten to the punch by a busier Curran to bow out of the lightweight tournament and what initially seemed like a date with destiny against Alvarez.

Now he gets to fight the Philadelphia native after all; however, it won't be for the promotion's lightweight title and is instead being billed as a three round "Super Fight."

Those were the same circumstances for his last fight in Bellator, when Alvarez took on UFC castaway Josh Neer.

The part-time DREAM competitor made a mockery of "The Dentist's" takedown defense before cruising to a third round submission win, his fifth straight in as many attempts.

Curran remains the division's number one contender and is expected to challenge Alvarez for the 155-pound strap at some point in 2011.

A Huerta win, naturally, would only serve to complicate matters.

Bellator 33 is expected to take place on Oct. 21 at the Kansas City Power & Light District in Missouri and air live via Fox Sports Net.

Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more information on this still-developing fight card.

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Comments

AWESOME MATCHUP!

Both these guys always come to fight, so this is definitely a Bellator that I’ll be tuning into.

How big of a favorite do you all see Alvarez being?

I AM SOMETIMES BIASED - Get over it!!!!!!!

by ViolentMike on Aug 13, 2010 10:06 AM EDT reply actions

decent fave

based on his wrestling

It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail.

by Jesse Holland on Aug 13, 2010 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Thats exactly what I was thinking. Plus, I think he does hit a bit harder than Huerta.

Like a -240

I AM SOMETIMES BIASED - Get over it!!!!!!!

by ViolentMike on Aug 13, 2010 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Wrestling and boxing.

Huerta is far outgunned in terms of striking and power too. He thrives in fire fights but what Kawajiri-Alvarez and tell me if he can win one with eddie.

Big Nog for Life
Inventor/supporter of "Gleison Tibau to Featherweight" movement.

by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Aug 13, 2010 10:57 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Yeah,

Huerta will be the dog in this one.
Eddie’s better at pretty much everything.

Arlovski : Kang : GSP : Rampage : Lytle : Huerta : Quarry : Serra : Wandy : Pulver : Alvarez

by ArlovsKang on Aug 13, 2010 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Good match-up

And I know it will but butts in seats at the event and raise the TV numbers.
Only thing is it seems like Imada would be next in line, but I guess they don’t want to see that re-match.

@fjbar on twitter...formerly El Mexicutioner

by _Felix_ on Aug 13, 2010 10:12 AM EDT reply actions

You hit the nail on the head.

This is the match up they wanted all along, and even though Imada makes much more sense (both because he made it farther in the tournament and because he got robbed by the judges against Curran), this is a much more marketable fight. Plus, fresh off the heels of Huerta’s rise in fame/popularity from the streetfight, Bellator is jumping at the chance to get him back in the ring quickly.

"Before I do anything I ask myself, "Would an idiot do that?" And if the answer is yes, I do not do that thing." - Dwight Schrute

by TheGreg on Aug 13, 2010 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

@fjbar on twitter...formerly El Mexicutioner

by _Felix_ on Aug 14, 2010 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Curran was forced to withdraw from the upcoming contest due to an undisclosed injury

Read: Rebney went to Curran and promised a fight with Alvarez in the future, but Huerta needed to get this shot so he can cut him after Roger loses to another good wrestler. And Curran probably got padi a nice fee, too.

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop questioning." - Albert Einstein

by Ulf Murphy on Aug 13, 2010 10:18 AM EDT reply actions

Conspiracy theory much?

"The Red Eye Jedi Holds a 7th Degree Black Belt In BongHitsu"

by Red Eye Jedi on Aug 13, 2010 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Bellator is doing it right

Fun fights last night and they keep announcing interesting, competitive fights. This will be a good one.

"We fight, get beat, rise, and fight again."

by Deuce02 on Aug 13, 2010 10:40 AM EDT reply actions

They are doing it right but...

Pat Curran clearly lost every round against Toby Imada. He should never have won that fight. Imada was the aggressor, landed more shots and had Curran backing up for most of the fight. Curran did land some good shots and did cause more damage to Imadas face, but Imada easily put more work in and was definately landing more , and getting take downs. I felt sorry for him. You could tell by the way Alvarez was talking when he came into the ring afterwards that he thought Curran lost as well. I was enjoying the tournament up until that point. Curran didn’t deserve to be fighting Alvarez, so I am glad he is not able to make the fight, I was hoping he was going to lose against Alvarez anyway because of his hollow victory.

by Ade on Aug 13, 2010 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

I saw it for Imada, too. I’d honestly rather see him take Alvarez.

by Swedish Chef smerdy herdy verdy on Aug 13, 2010 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions

This has got Fight of the Year written all over it.

Arlovski : Kang : GSP : Rampage : Lytle : Huerta : Quarry : Serra : Wandy : Pulver : Alvarez

by ArlovsKang on Aug 13, 2010 11:16 AM EDT reply actions

wow way 2 go bellator

way 2 stand by toby imade who whooped curran but got fucked by judges

The Red Wings will come back stronger
RESTORE THE ROAR 2010 Detroit Lions

by GOLDIGGAH on Aug 13, 2010 11:45 AM EDT reply actions

awesome match

i wanted to see this since huerta joined bellator.
its a tough fight for roger but i think he can pull it off

SHOGUN SLAYED THE DRAGON! Hell Yeah

by Phenomenal Angel on Aug 13, 2010 11:49 AM EDT reply actions

Have been overall impressed with Bellator

This is a good match up huge fan of huerta, but eddie won when the fight was announced. True winner though is US! Huerta will fight his heart out.

by mayhemike on Aug 13, 2010 12:04 PM EDT reply actions

Luv this match up!

They’re both some of my fav lw’s I’m pulling for huerta. Both of them always put on exciting fights can’t w8!

by d*locc on Aug 13, 2010 1:33 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

now im interested

I’m happy huerta gets his chance bcuz he got robbed by pat curran,eddie alvarez is a beast so I’m officialy pumped for this fight now

"A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything" -Malcolm X

by Mr.MMA on Aug 13, 2010 1:47 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Yo Eddie I got some advice for you .....

…….. whatever you do don’t hit a woman outside a nightclub before the fight or Roger will hunt you down and stomp on your face !

" Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth. " ~
Mike Tyson

by MidWayMonster54 on Aug 13, 2010 2:05 PM EDT reply actions

Huerta's got this

good luck to Roger. That dude went way up in my book after fucking up that big ass dude who sucker punched that chick in the back of the head like a bitch.

by Josh H. on Aug 13, 2010 3:04 PM EDT reply actions