Roger Huerta will have another opportunity to make a big splash in Bellator MMA as the veteran lightweight steps up on short notice to take on former title challenger Patricky Freire at Bellator 205 on Sept. 21 from inside CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho, per a recent report by ESPN.
Freire’s original opponent, Goiti Yamauchi, recently withdrew from the event due to injury.
Huerta, 35, made his Bellator return this past April in Budapest when he was choked out by former UFC champion Benson Henderson in the second round. It has been quite some time since “El Matador” fought with the same magic he had when he won his first six UFC fights from 2006-2007, but he’ll try to recapture lightening in a bottle against “Pitbull” next month.
Freire, 32, has looked like a killer since getting knocked out by Michael Chandler back in 2016. The lightweight finisher has won three straight against notable contenders like Josh Thompson, Derek Campos, and Henderson. Given his track record and recent success, Freire may not have to do much more entering 2019 to lock down another Bellator title shot. Losing to Huerta will certainly set the Brazilian back so it’s a pretty dangerous fight.
Bellator 205 was expected to be headlined by a featherweight bout pitting former champion Pat Curran against undefeated sensation A.J. McKee, but a recent injury to Curran has left the main event in limbo.
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