“I think it could have gone either way and it’s my fault I let it go to the judges and I can’t go out like that,” Huerta recently told Sherdog. “I can’t go out with two losses in a row. I don’t think I’m going to call it quits anytime soon. I’m still open to acting. Hopefully we get something going with that, but I’m not going to prioritize (acting) now. I’ll still prioritize fighting. If the UFC wants me back, I’d be willing to go back.”

Prior to his losses to Kenny Florian and Maynard, Huerta had won 16-straight, including UFC victories over Leonard Garcia and Clay Guida.

Nate Diaz and Carlos Condit were also among the card’s top earners, pocketing $48,000 apiece for their main card victories.

9,490 fans attended the event at the Cox Convention Center, generating a live gate of nearly $578,000, while another 2.5 million tuned in to watch the fights on Spike TV.

The disclosed fighter salaries for UFN 19 were:

• Nate Diaz ($48,000 — includes $24,000 win bonus) def. Melvin Guillard ($14,000)
• Gray Maynard ($24,000 — $12,000 win bonus) def. Roger Huerta ($21,000)
• Carlos Condit ($48,000 — $24,000 win bonus) def. Jake Ellenberger ($10,000)
• Nate Quarry ($60,000 — $30,000 win bonus) def. Tim Credeur ($10,000)
• Brian Stann ($22,000 — $11,000 win bonus) def. Steve Cantwell ($10,000)
• Mike Pyle ($30,000 — $15,000 win bonus) def. Chris Wilson ($17,000)
• CB Dollaway ($28,000 — $14,000 win bonus) def. Jay Silva ($6,000)
• Phillipe Nover ($20,00)0 vs. Sam Stout ($24,000)*
• Jeremy Stephens ($24,000 — $12,000 win bonus) def. Justin Buchholz ($8,000)
• Mike Pierce ($12,000 — $6,000 win bonus) def. Brock Larson ($26,000)
• Ryan Jensen ($8,000 — $4,000 win bonus) def. Steve Steinbeiss ($6,000)

* Nover and Stout still received their base salaries despite the fight being canceled due to a seizure suffered by Nover.

Remember, the salaries listed above are simply those reported by the UFC to the athletic commission and do not represent a fighter’s actual earnings.

In addition to their salaries above, Quarry, Credeur, Diaz, and Stephens each took home an extra $30,000 for “fight night” bonuses.

For more UFC Fight Night 19 coverage check out MMAFrenzy.com’s UFN 19 section.

Pictured: Nate Quarry

The finish capped off the Spike TV-televised card, which took place at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Guillard dominated the opening round against Diaz with powerful standup, as he knocked The Ultimate Fighter 5 winner to the ground in the opening seconds of the bout but refused to follow him down to the canvas for a possible finish out of respect for his ground game. Diaz returned to his feet and recovered, but Guillard finished the round strong with more accurate and powerful striking.

Looking to continue his gameplan and keep the fight standing, Guillard kept the fight on the feet early in the second frame, but fell victim to one of Diaz’s well-known guillotines midway through the round and was forced to quickly tap to the choke.

Diaz improves to 11-4 in rebounding from back-to-back losses to Clay Guida and Joe Stevenson, while the loss drops Guillard to 22-8-2, with all but one of his losses coming by way of submission, and snaps “The Young Assassin’s” three-fight winning streak.

In the UFN 19 co-headliner, Gray Maynard cemented his status as a lightweight contender and remained undefeated by edging Roger Huerta via split decision. Huerta, fighting for the first time in over a year in what was likely to be his final UFC fight for the indefinite future, didn’t go down easy in the final fight on his current UFC deal, as he traded shots with Maynard for much of the first two rounds. In the third, Maynard finally took the fight to the canvas where he secured the win with a near-fight-ending kimura. After the final horn sounded, the judges declared Maynard the winner by scores of 28-29, 30-27, and 30-27.

Maynard improves to 8-0 on his career with his sixth-straight UFC victory, while Huerta falls to 19-3-1 after dropping back-to-back fights to Kenny Florian and Maynard on his way out of the UFC.

In other main card action, former WEC welterweight champ Carlos Condit won his first UFC bout by taking a split decision over Jake Ellenberger in a tight battle, while Nate Quarry topped Tim Credeur by unanimous decision in an exciting slugfest that kicked off the night’s broadcast.

Brian Stann, Mike Pyle, CB Dollaway, Jeremy Stephens, Mike Pierce, and Ryan Jensen were victorious on the UFN 19 preliminary card, while a lightweight matchup between Phillipe Nover and Sam Stout was scratched from the event after Nover suffered a seizure backstage.

The official results for UFC Fight Night 19 were:

• Nate Diaz def. Melvin Guillard via submission (guillotine) — Round 2, 2:13
• Gray Maynard def. Roger Huerta via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
• Carlos Condit def. Jake Ellenberger via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Nate Quarry def. Tim Credeur via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-28)
• Brian Stann def. Steve Cantwell via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Mike Pyle def. Chris Wilson via submission (guillotine) — Round 3, 2:15
• C.B. Dollaway def. Jay Silva via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Jeremy Stephens def. Justin Buchholz via TKO (cut) — Round 1, 3:32
• Mike Pierce def. Brock Larson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  
• Ryan Jensen def. Steven Steinbeiss via submission (guillotine) — Round 1, 3:56

Click here for more UFC Fight Night 19 coverage.

Pictured: Nate Diaz

Nate Diaz vs. Melvin Guillard Prediction:
Nate Diaz via submission, Round 1.

Guillard is athletic, explosive, and has KO power. Diaz really is the opposite, but I think Diaz still has the better skill set and should take this one. Diaz should be able to use his reach to stay away from Guillard’s power until he decides to step in and take this fight to the ground, where he is (on paper) the better equipped fighter. Guillard has also shown a past weakness to submissions, and I think that will be the deciding factor.

Gray Maynard vs. Roger Huerta Prediction:
Gray Maynard via Unanimous Decision

Huerta is coming off of a thirteen month layoff, so I expect ring rust a plenty. Maynard on the other hand has been active, against good competition. In Huerta’s bout against Clay Guida in 2007, Guida was able to out wrestle him and control the action for most of the bout, before Huerta managed to land a shot that rocked Guida and led to the eventual submission victory. Gray Maynard is a better wrestler than Guida, and has better stand up than Guida. I expect Maynard to be able to take the fight to the ground and control Huerta there however he sees fit, and Maynard’s striking is clean enough to stay out of trouble on the feet. Maynard will therefore grind out another decision victory over another tough opponent.

Carlos Condit vs. Jake Ellenberger Prediction:
Carlos Condit via Submission in round 2

Condit is game fighter with slick submissions, and capable stand up. Ellenberger comes from a wrestling background but favors his adept striking game for defeating his opponents. Both men have done the rounds with lower tiered promotions, and this is a tough bout to call. However I think the fact that Condit has already spent sometime under the bright lights of the UFC, combined with his experience defeating the WEC belt will be enough to put him over the top. Ellenberger is taking this fight on short notice, and is making his UFC debut, and I think will cave to the pressure and make a mistake that Condit will capitalize on in the second round. Ellenberger could still make an impact in the division, however, even if he does lose to Condit.

Tim Credeur vs. Nate Quarry Prediction:
Nate Quarry via TKO round 1

Credeur is a game fighter, but Quarry’s skills are just a level above Credeur’s. Quarry has solid punching power and crisp striking, as well as decent take down defense. I expect Credeur to want to take this fight to the ground and go for a submission, where he is a much more dangerous fighter than he is standing. However, Quarry has faced more skilled grapplers in Pete Sell and Jason MacDonald and come out on top and I expect the same out of him against Credeur.

PRELIMINARY BOUTS Predictions:

• Steve Cantwell def. Brian Stann via submission in round 1
• Mike Pyle def. Chris Wilson via submission in round 2
• C.B. Dollaway def. Jay Silva via submission in round 1
• Sam Stout def. Phillipe Nover via unanimous decision
• Jeremy Stephens def. Justin Buchholz via TKO in round 3
• Brock Larson def. Mike Pierce via submission in round 2
• Ryan Jensen def. Steve Steinbeiss via submission in round 2

KRIS KARKOSKI’s UFN 19 QUICK PREDICTIONS

• Nate Diaz def. Melvin Guillard via submission — Round 2
• Gray Maynard def. Roger Huerta via unanimous decision
• Carlos Condit def. Jake Ellenberger via submission — Round 1
• Nate Quarry def. Tim Credeur via TKO –  Round 2
• Steve Cantwell . Brian Stann via submission — Round 2
• Mike Pyle def. Chris Wilson via submission — Round 3
• Jay Silva def. C.B. Dollaway via TKO — Round 2
• Sam Stout def. Phillipe Nover via unanimous decision
• Jeremy Stephens def. Justin Buchholz via unanimous decision
• Brock Larson def. Mike Pierce via submission — Round 1
• Steven Steinbeiss def. Ryan Jensen via submission — Round 2

Stop back tomorrow for live UFC Fight Night 19 coverage, as well as MMAFrenzy.com’s recap of the first episode of The Ultimate Fighter 10, which debuts immediately after UFN 19.

UFC Fight Night 19 Coverage

The rest of 11-bout card, including main card fighters Gray Maynard, Roger Huerta, and Carlos Condit, also successfully made weight on their first attempts for the Spike TV-televised event, which takes place on Wednesday at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City, the same venue which hosted today’s weigh-ins.

The official weigh-in results for UFC Fight Night 19 were:

MAIN CARD

• 155: Melvin Guillard (155) vs. Nate Diaz (156)*
• 155: Gray Maynard (155.5) vs. Roger Huerta (156)
• 170: Carlos Condit (171) vs. Jake Ellenberger (170.5)
• 185: Nate Quarry (184) vs. Tim Credeur (186)

PRELIMINARY CARD

• 205: Steve Cantwell (206) vs. Brian Stann (205.5)
• 170: Mike Pyle (170) vs. Chris Wilson (171)
• 185: C.B. Dollaway (186) vs. Jay Silva (185)
• 155: Phillipe Nover (155.5) vs. Sam Stout (156)
• 155: Justin Buchholz (155.5) vs. Jeremy Stephens (155.5)
• 170: Brock Larson (171) vs. Mike Pierce (169.5)
• 185: Ryan Jensen (186) vs. Steven Steinbeiss (185.5)

* It was announced that Diaz weighed in at 156.5 pounds, but he actually made weight at 156 pounds, according to official weigh-in results released by the UFC.

Stop back tomorrow for live UFC Fight Night 19 coverage, as well as MMAFrenzy.com’s recap of the first episode of The Ultimate Fighter 10, which debuts immediately after UFN 19.

UFC Fight Night 19 Coverage

Sherdog’s Loretta Hunt reported on Thursday that the 155-pound bout is being planned for the event, which will serve as the lead-in for the debut of The Ultimate Fighter 10: Heavyweights featuring Kimbo Slice.

Huerta (20-2-1) had been unbeaten in 17-straight fights dating back to 2004, including 6-straight UFC victories over the likes of Clay Guida and Leonard Garcia, before suffering a unanimous decision loss to Kenny Florian in August 2008. “El Matador” has not fought again since the loss, just the second of his 24-bout career, instead pursuing a career in acting. If the bout against Maynard is finalized it would be the final fight on Huerta’s current contract with the UFC.

Maynard (7-0), a semifinalist on The Ultimate Fighter 5, has emerged as a lightweight contender by winning five-straight fights inside the Octagon since debuting in mid-2007, including wins over Jim Miller and Frankie Edgar among others.

Huerta-Maynard is currently the only rumored bout for UFN 19 and is likely to be promoted as the card’s co-main event.

Click here for the latest UFC Fight Night 19 rumors.

Roger Huerta

Popular lightweight Roger Huerta has turned down a new five-fight contract from the UFC and will instead, at least temporarily, pursue an acting career, the fighter has confirmed to Sherdog.

“I’m not burned out [with fighting],” said Huerta. “I have one fight left with the UFC and I want to honor that. As soon as they tell me to fight, I’ll fight my last fight on the contract. I saw that you have to dedicate as much as you do to training for a fight as you do for an acting role and I’m intrigued by that. I’m 25 years old. I see Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture and they didn’t really hit their primes till their thirties. I’m only going to be young so long and I know that movies and agencies and what not want the young look.”

Huerta (20-2-1) rose to popularity with an exciting unanimous decision victory over Leonard Garcia at UFC 69 in April 2007 and a subsequent appearance on the cover of Sport Illustrated, a first for the sport. After compiling six-straight victories in the UFC, including a hard-fought third-round submission of Clay Guida in late-2007, controversial comments left “El Matador” inactive for most of 2008 before returning to lose to top 155-pound contender Kenny Florian in August.

Huerta, who, according to the report, declined a February matchup with Joe Stevenson, also confirmed that he’ll return to the UFC when he resumes his fighting career and won’t negoitiate with competing promotions.

“The UFC is my home and it is my family and eventually I’ll come back,” said Huerta. “Pursuing the modeling and acting thing, that’s kind of where I’m at right now. The fighting will always be there. I’ll always have that in me. The truth is I’ve been fighting my whole life for everything, and this to me, is something else.”

Spencer Fisher

Lightweights Roger Huerta and Spencer Fisher are likely to meet in early-2009, possibly at UFC 96 on March 7th in Columbus, Ohio, according to MMAJunkie.com.

Huerta, who recently inked a new five-fight deal with the UFC, has not fought since an August loss to Kenny Florian at UFC 87. He had previously won 17-straight fights, including six-straight in the UFC.

Fisher has won five of his last seven fights in the UFC, including recent back-to-back victories over Jeremy Stephens and Shannon Gugerty.

Roger Huerta

Lightweight Roger Huerta (25-2) and the UFC have come to terms on a new contract that will see the popular lightweight contender return to action in March.

“El Matador” has inked a new, five-fight deal with the promotion, according to MMA Weekly.

A top contender in the UFC’s 155-pound division, Huerta fell out of title contention in August with a unanimous decision loss to Kenny Florian at UFC 87 and simultaneously fell out of the UFC’s good graces as Huerta’s rise in popularity led him to reportedly demand a contract more lucrative than UFC champion BJ Penn.

The two sides now appear to have resolved their issues and Huerta will return to the Octagon in March, likely at UFC 96 in Columbus, Ohio, and will look to work his way back into title contention against an opponent to-be-announced.