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Since returning to Bellator in 2018, veteran Roger Huerta has yet to score a victory. He’s had one tough assignment after another and is hungry for an emphatic win in his next fight. But Sidney Outlaw will have something to say about that. Himself a Bellator returnee, Outlaw will be making his way back to the promotion for the first time since beating Mike Bannon at Bellator 118 in 2014. The Dante Rivera BJJ standout is on a roll and hungry for a successful comeback. Let the numbers below show what each fighter is capable of.
Age and experience
At 27 years old, Outlaw is much younger than Roger Huerta, who celebrated his 36th birthday on May 20. Currently representing Tiger Muay Thai, Huerta debuted professionally all the way back on Aug. 2, 2003. Contrast that with Outlaw, who first stepped inside the cage as a professional on Feb. 2, 2013. The almost 10-year window shows just how much experience Huerta has over the Telford, Pennsylvania native. Moreover, Huerta has fought in several top promotions – aside from the Ultimate Fighting Championship, he also displayed his talent in Bellator and One Championship – and has faced the likes of Benson Henderson, Eddie Alvarez, Gray Maynard, Kenny Florian, Pat Curran, Clay Guida and, most recently, Patricky Freire. Outlaw most certainly cannot claim a resume as deep as Huerta’s.
Active winning streak
Since losing to Gregor Gillespie at Ring of Combat 55, Outlaw has been on a roll, stringing together seven straight victories. That successful run includes victories in promotions like ROC, Titan FC and Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series.
Huerta mounted an impressive 16-fight winning streak in his heyday but is presently on a two-fight skid. After beating Adrian Pang and Hayder Hassan in succession, he suffered back-to-back losses to Benson Henderson and Patricky Freire.
Wins by knockout
Huerta owns 12 wins by KO or TKO, three of which occurred in the UFC (against Alberto Crane, Douglas Evans and John Halverson). Outlaw, on the other hand, only has one knockout to his name, which he scored in his pro debut against Mtume Goodrum.
Wins by submission
With six submissions in 12 wins and two in his most recent fights, Outlaw possesses a slick ground game of which Huerta will have to be very careful. But’s that not to say that “El Matador” can’t hold his own on the mat. Huerta himself owns a total of five submission victories, which comprise 21 percent of all his career triumphs. His most prominent victim is Clay Guida, whom he choked out at The Ultimate Fighter 6 Finale.
Career losses
The more experienced Huerta has suffered 11 losses overall. He bowed to Patricky Freire, Benson Henderson, Ariel Sexton, Koji Ando, Zorobabel Moreira, War Machine, Eddie Alvarez, Pat Curran, Gray Maynard, Kenny Florian and Ryan Schultz. Meanwhile, Outlaw has only lost three times, to Gregor Gillespie, Elijah Harshbarger and Nick Browne.