After being denied several chances to unleash that patented “Short Fuse” during the 2020 UFC campaign, Ed Herman will finally fight this Saturday night on September 12. He brings his 26-14 record with 1 no-contest against Mike Rodriguez (11-4-0, 1 NC, 2-2-1 UFC) in a light-heavyweight bout. At 39, Herman has a 14-11-1 UFC record, giving him 26 bouts in the company, dating back to his days as a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter: Season 3, compared to Rodriguez’s 16 total fights in the sport. Rodriguez last fought on August 22 against Marcin Prachnio, which resulted in a first-round knockout at UFC on ESPN 15: Edgar-Munhoz.
With John Allan out, Ed Herman takes on Mike Rodriguez at UFC on ESPN+ 35https://t.co/X7TzJ5ImK5#ufc #mma #boxing… https://t.co/itWhiG4dmo
— World Wide Sports Radio Network (@WWSRN_Radio) September 4, 2020
Herman was scheduled to face Gerald Meerschaert back on August 1 before testing positive for the coronavirus and the matchup between the two has not been revisited. After two attempted bookings to face Korean fighter Da In Jung, Herman has been matched with a product of Dana White’s Contender Series contestant. With two fighters possessing reality TV experience, this should be quite a show.
Going up against a man whose fight career spans seventeen years and three decades, Rodriguez has admiration coming his way along with a big test that may be what’s needed for the 31-year old. The Portland native fighting under the Gracie Barra banner in his hometown looks to increase his win streak to three fights after Patrick Cummins and Khadis Ibragimov in May and November last year. The Lauzon MMA product of Boston looks to boost his UFC above .500. Rodriguez, standing at 6’3” comes in with a reach advantage of 82.5 to Herman’s 77, at 6’1′. While Rodriguez holds a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Herman earned his black belt under decorated grappling ace, Fabiano Scherner.
One expects Herman to hold his own with his experience and well-rounded arsenal. Others feel Rodriguez can pull off an upset, being eight years younger, but must be able to keep it off the ground and remain standing up in order to secure a win.
UFC Fight Night will be aired on ESPN+ at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT at the UFC APEX in Clark County, Nevada.
