Roger Huerta Expected for ‘World Series of Fighting’ Lightweight Tourney in Las Vegas

Sherdog.com has learned from multiple sources that MMA World Champions will launch its “World Series” with an eight-man lightweight tournament, which is expected to feature UFC veteran Roger Huerta. The tournament winner will be rewarded with an unspecified “six-figure” payday, according to sources.

Events are slated to take place at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, but an exact date for the promotion’s debut has not been announced.

As reported by Sherdog.com in October, the new Las Vegas-based promotion plans to hold tournaments in five different weight classes. Initially, the WSOF was expected to debut with 16-man tournaments in the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions before deciding on an eight-man lightweight field for its initial venture.

However, 16-man draws are still on the organization’s agenda, according to one of Sherdog’s sources, who also asserted that the promotion is currently negotiating a domestic television distribution deal. While nothing has been signed, the organization also has plans to broadcast internationally and is in the process of securing deals in China, Japan and Brazil.

Huerta, 28, competed for the UFC eight times between 2006 and 2009, rattling off six consecutive wins before dropping back-to-back fights to Kenny Florian and Gray Maynard. Though “El Matador” rebounded from his UFC release with a victory over Chad Hinton in Bellator’s Season 2 lightweight tournament quarterfinals, Huerta was bested in the semifinal round by eventual tournament winner Pat Curran. Back-to-back defeats would follow, as Huerta was beaten by former Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez at Bellator 33 before falling to fellow UFC vet War Machine in his most recent outing on Nov. 26.