<a href="http://ufcnews.com/files/2008/05/roger-huerta.jpg”>Bellator will make a “major announcement” tomorrow, Monday March 15, at a press conference that will stream live on Bellator.com at 3pm ET, with the upstart promotion expected to announce the signing of lightweight UFC veteran Roger Huerta, who will compete in it’s upcoming, season two 155-pound tournament.

According to MMAjunkie, which first reported the signing earlier today, Huerta was formally released by the UFC this week, clearing way for his quick signing by Bellator.

Huerta (21-3-1) emerged as a lightweight contender with six-straight UFC victories over the likes of Leonard Garcia and Clay Guida, but after dropping a decision to Kenny Florian in August 2008, “El Matador” <a href="http://ufcnews.com/8819/roger-huerta-turns-down-ufc-contract-to-pursue-acting-career/”>declined a new contract with the UFC and took a break from fighting to pursue an acting career. He returned to action in September, completing his UFC contract with a split decision loss to Gray Maynard.

The back-to-back losses snapped Huerta’s 16-fight win streak.

Huerta, who was notably the first mixed martial artist to appear on the <a href="http://ufcnews.com/450/the-sports-world-has-taken-notice-of-the-ufc/”>cover of Sports Illustrated in 2007, was also <a href="http://ufcnews.com/12723/quick-hits-part-of-ufc-sold-strikeforce-talking-to-huerta-and-barnett-rampage-gets-probation-and-more/”>in talks with Strikeforce before signing with Bellator, where he joins Toby Imada, Carey Vanier, Ferrid Kheder, Mike Ricci, Janne Tulirinta and Chad Hinton in the lightweight tourney, which kicks off in April and airs live on Fox Sports Net.

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