UFC Fight Night 177: Waterson vs. Hill - Predictions and Picks

#4 UFC Light-Heavyweight Division: Ed Herman vs. Mike Rodriguez

Longtime veteran Ed Herman is one of the UFC's most experienced fighters

One of the UFC’s most experienced fighters, Ed Herman has been with the promotion now for over 14 years (yes, it's hard to believe it). Over that time he’s practically seen it all, fighting everyone from Demian Maia and Jake Shields to Alan Belcher and CB Dollaway, and this weekend will mark his 40th professional fight, 24 of which will have been in the UFC.

Despite looking like he’d reached the end of his career in 2018 after he suffered 3 straight losses, ‘Short Fuse’ has actually rebounded recently. Wins over Pat Cummins and Khadis Ibragimov have put him on his first two-fight win streak in the UFC since 2011.

The Ibragimov fight was particularly impressive, as the Russian is a wild, heavy-handed puncher who looks to put his opponents away quickly. Herman used that aggression against Ibragimov, wearing him down in the clinch by leaning on him and then basically beating him up from close range. It was the quintessential veteran performance against a less experienced foe.

Rodriguez is an interesting opponent for Herman for a number of reasons. ‘Slow Mike’ has only won two fights in the UFC, but both opponents – Adam Milstead and Marcin Prachnio – ended up unconscious after they were done.

Basically, Rodriguez is a bread-and-butter MMA striker, using both boxing and Muay Thai skills to attack his opponents. And incredibly he only fought on 07/22, where he knocked out Prachnio with a series of brutal elbows to the temple from the clinch.

Where ‘Slow Mike’ has struggled however is on the ground. Both John Allan and Devin Clark easily controlled him once they took him down – although he did have some good moments against Allan – and that should probably be worrying for him when it comes to facing a grappler as good as Herman.

I can’t see Rodriguez knocking Herman out from range – ‘Short Fuse’ is too savvy for that – and so I can see this fight going one of two ways. The two men will clinch and either Rodriguez will knock Herman out as he did to Prachnio, or Herman will use his skills to wear ‘Slow Mike’ down with shots to the body and head while leaning on him with his grappling skill.

It’s a tough one to call but I’m leaning towards Herman. His UFC experience means he’s fought tons of fighters who are superior to Rodriguez, no offense intended, and despite his advanced age it doesn’t look like Herman is a shot fighter just yet. I’m taking the veteran by decision.

The Pick: Herman via unanimous decision