Huerta Has It Right

At 25 years old, Roger Huerta is ready to hang up his gloves after going 6-1 in the UFC. The top-ranked fighter will give Hollywood a shot and I think thats a great decision. 

All good things must come to an end. It's a phrase that has been proven true time and time again. It's also a concept many sports fans fear. 

It was a sad day when Michael Jordan retired from the Chicago Bulls. It was a sad day when Cal Ripken Jr. called it a career. And it will be a sad day when Tiger Woods sinks his last putt. 

And while it is sad to see fighters retire, fans should not criticize a fighter for leaving the game early, instead we should all be thankful for the contributions and happy for the person. Floyd Mayweather Jr. drew a lot of criticism for leaving boxing as an undefeated fighter after defeating Ricky Hatton on Dec. 8, 2007.

Mayweather was only 30 years old at the time and was still in his prime. Many boxing enthusiasts and experts criticized "Pretty Boy Floyd" for retiring while tough challenges against Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto were still out there. 

But at 39-0 and with millions of dollars in the bank, I could not criticize the young fighter. He paid his dues and more importantly, he made his money. Boxing has always been a way to improve a tough situation and Mayweather did just that. He knew he was financially set and he still had his health. It was a great move to retire. 

Now the mixed martial arts media has disapproved of Roger Huerta's decision to leave UFC after his next fight to pursue opportunities in acting and modeling. The Mexican-American fighter is 6-1 in the UFC and was on the brink of being a top-10 lightweight. 

But going 6-1 in the UFC is usually good enough for some decent money and fighting opponents such as Clay Guida and Kenny Florian secures even a bigger purse. So with money in his pocket and his fame established, he decided to leave fighting for a while to pursue entertainment. And at 25 years old, this is his best shot to succeed in Hollywood. 

Once again, while I would love to see Huerta continue to fight, I have to agree with the decision. No person should ever endanger their well-being for longer than they need to. MMA and boxing are both dangerous sports. When a fighter feels they have accomplished what they need to, then there is no shame in calling it a career. 

Does the UFC lightweight division take a hit with the absence of Huerta? Yes. But that gives another fighter the chance to realize their dreams and make the type of money that can support their families. Manny Pacquiao became boxing's biggest star after Mayweather left. Everyone wins except for the fans, but sometimes that is OK. 

But for every Huerta and Mayweather, there is a Jesse Taylor. The former Ultimate Fighter cast member has been fighting in the small show circuit on a monthly basis and racking up wins. With another kid on the way, he said this is his way to make a steady living. Since he is winning and has an expanding family, the drive is there to fight as often as possible. 

I will never criticize a fighter for leaving the game at an early age. If a person can use boxing or MMA as a way to achieve a better life and walk away with health intact, than more power to that person. 

Mayweather is about to come out of retirement and fight in as early as July. He has the itch again, but he knows he doesn't need to take a beating four times a year anymore and I think that is a good thing. 

Huerta will be back. But for now, he should give his body a rest and enjoy any success he can get from his five years of professional fighting. And when he wants to come back, I will welcome him gladly.