UFC 150 ‘Henderson vs. Edgar 2’ Preview

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Middleweights

Jake Shields (27-6-1, 2-2 UFC) vs. Ed Herman (20-8, 7-5 UFC)

The Matchup: Lost amid all the excitement regarding the new contenders at 185 pounds is the fact that Shields will be making a return to the division for the first time since he defended the Strikeforce middleweight strap against Dan Henderson in 2009. The Cesar Gracie protégé had mixed results as a welterweight in the UFC, defeating Martin Kampmann and Yoshihiro Akiyama and falling to Georges St. Pierre and Jake Ellenberger.

Herman has been gradually building momentum since returning from a knee injury that kept him out for nearly two years. “The Ultimate Fighter 3” finalist has won three straight fights in the Octagon, most recently submitting Clifford Starks with a rear-naked choke at UFC 143.

Neither man is known for prolific standup, although Shields did show nice aggression while landing at a high volume in his victory over Akiyama at UFC 144. Generally, Shields uses his standup to set up takedowns, where he can put his wrestling and jiu-jitsu skills to good use. In his most recent fight at 185 pounds, Shields was able to repeatedly take down and mount Henderson -- an Olympic-level Greco-Roman wrestler. The California native is tough to handle on the ground, as he is constantly looking to improve position. When an opponent attempts to attack or escape, Shields is adept at capitalizing on the opening to apply submissions.

Herman is similar in the fact that his striking on the feet is best in small doses. On the floor, however, “Short Fuse” has a high work rate and physical ground-and-pound. He is also capable of doing damage in the clinch, though attempting too much offense against Shields might result in him being taken to the canvas.

Shields’ conditioning has been spotty at times, and it will be interesting to see how his gas tank holds up at a heavier weight. He is the more skilled grappler, while Herman tends to rely more on brute force. However, Herman’s submission game is dangerous enough that Shields might take a more cautious approach and ride out a decision.

The Pick: Herman will make things interesting for a while, but, eventually, Shields will start to consistently land his single-leg, and, from there, it will be a frustrating evening. Shields wins by decision.

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