Cain Velasquez vs. Heath Herring Rumored for UFC 99

I always like it when UFC matches it’s HW against real opponents.

by bignerd on Feb 25, 2009 9:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

For sure, and I’m happy Velasquez is getting the step up. He’s ready for it.

I’ll be curious to see what the betting lines open up at on this one.

Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com

by Chris Nelson on Feb 25, 2009 9:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not necessarily a step up. I mean, Velasquez already beat a guy who beat Heath Herring.

MMA Math, y’know.

"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard

by Brett Jones on Feb 25, 2009 9:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

60% of the time, it works 100% of the time.

A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.

by iiowyn on Feb 25, 2009 9:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

But does he have real chunks of crazyhorse meat in him?

by asa on Feb 26, 2009 2:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Heath Herring is like that sign at the amusement park that says ‘you must be this tall to ride’, only the rollercoaster is a UFC title shot. Kongo would’ve already gotten one had be beat him, Lesnar got his, and Cain may well be next in line (unless, perhaps, Gonzaga wins).

by subo on Feb 25, 2009 9:15 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

So Subo....

We betting on this one? At least if you taking Cain…

by Gunslinger20 on Feb 26, 2009 10:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Gotta see the line first. If Herring’s more than +300….

by subo on Feb 26, 2009 1:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ok...

I’ll stand by and wait then.. :)

by Gunslinger20 on Feb 26, 2009 2:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m sure the UFC wants Cain to beat Heath convincingly, and, from what I’ve seen out of Herring lately, he should be able to do just that. Of course, you can’t count out a dude with Herring’s amount of experience unless he’s just way beyond his prime. All in all, pretty good matchmaking.

by Cannon Jacques on Feb 25, 2009 9:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hopefully, Cain isn’t too anxious to finish early and just outwrestles Heath, because he might get caught by a wayward punch or kick if he plays around too much. Herring is very, very tough (fifteen minutes with a broken orbital bone and Brock Lesnar on top of you) and a good striker.

by subo on Feb 25, 2009 9:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know

If someone gave me 2:1 odds on Herring, I’d take it.

"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry

by Blackout612 on Feb 25, 2009 9:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Now THIS

is what I’m talking about! We get to see Cains heart here hopefully. Herring basically finished Nog but let him stand up. UFC 99 should be great if BJ gets off his butt and Dan Hardy and Davis get it on as well.

Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on Feb 25, 2009 10:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Meh. A somewhat decent step up, but Herring is not much of an issue at HW anymore IMO. He’s just dialing it in and picking up a paycheck. Moreover, Cain is probably better at every facet of the game. Better wrestling, better striking, better team, etc. The only thing you can really question is heart, because Heath’s taken a few beatings and hasn’t quit, while Cain really hasn’t had to face much, if any, adversity so far in his short career (which also brings up HH’s experience edge).

by ilostmydog on Feb 25, 2009 10:57 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Herring is dialing it in?

Based on what, exactly? Look, I’m not the biggest Heath Herring fan in the world, but he’s no pushover. Getting his face smashed in last August was not for lack of trying. Nobody knew who or what Brock was at the time. Heath Herring is a tough out for anyone and he’s most dangerous when he feels like he has to win (ask Kongo). Cain didn’t look so hot against Stojnic. I wouldn’t look past this fight just yet.

"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry

by Blackout612 on Feb 25, 2009 11:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not saying he’s a pushover (in fact I pretty much said he isn’t). Just stuff I’ve heard from people around Vegas indicates that he’s basically going through the motions when it comes to training camps and isn’t exactly busting his ass for every fight. He’s been fighting pro for 12 years (since he was 19), and I don’t think it’s a stretch to imagine him being a bit fatigued of the fight game.

Cain didn’t look so hot against Stojnic? How so? He basically beat the man half to death and at no point was in trouble. I don’t understand how a dominating performance like that could be viewed as not ‘look[ing] so hot.’

by ilostmydog on Feb 26, 2009 1:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Half to death?

Hahaha.. Ok man. Dude stood up and said “Yeah, I’m fine” and hardly had a mark on him. Cain should have been able to finish him from top position and he couldn’t.

"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry

by Blackout612 on Feb 26, 2009 1:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Uh, he did finish him on the ground in top position? Contentious referee stoppage or not, that’s what happened. Is that the only reason you thought he looked ‘not so hot?’

by ilostmydog on Feb 26, 2009 2:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I believe I saw an interview where even he talked about how he couldn’t get his head into that fight. It happends I suppose.

by grb on Feb 26, 2009 2:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, pretty much

I’m not accepting that as a finish. I mean, he won the fight, no doubt. But that was just sloppy bullshit and he’s said repeatedly how disappointed he is in his performance.

"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry

by Blackout612 on Feb 26, 2009 2:22 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Fair enough.

by ilostmydog on Feb 26, 2009 2:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The fact that Stojnic has a granite chin...

…doesn’t mean Cain didn’t look good. He dominated every aspect of the fight and he hit the guy hard, repeatedly. He had good combos and he was patient and didn’t leave himself open for a Kos-style upset.

The only reason he was disappointed with himself was that he didn’t knock the guy out.

by ricker2005 on Feb 26, 2009 12:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree,

the only way Cain could have KO’d Stojnic was with a fucking baseball bat! I am curious to see him against Herring.

Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.

by dnevil001 on Feb 26, 2009 12:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nice sig line – but I plan on continuing arguing on the Internet.

by subo on Feb 26, 2009 1:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

lol, me too!

Going for the gold in 09!

Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.

by dnevil001 on Feb 26, 2009 1:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nope

Cain looked confused when striking him. Even guys that are downed can be finished convincingly by a referee stoppage. He was putting a glove down here, one over there.. It looked really confused and unmotivated. Looked like he was suffering muscle fatigue, quite honestly. Don’t tell me that’s a dominating victory, because 221+ has quite a few guys with granite chins that will be afforded an extra 10 seconds that Stojnic was not (Nog, Brock or Couture).

"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry

by Blackout612 on Feb 26, 2009 3:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Going through the motions?

Head down to the Las Vegas Combat Club and see for yourself…. no way he’s going through the motions.

by Gunslinger20 on Feb 26, 2009 10:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah no way Herring is dialing it in. He was in the best shape of his life (from the looks of it and according to him) for the Brock fight. I dont like when people just crap on a fighter without really looking at the facts. Go look at Herring vs Nog and then Herring vs Lesnar. 2 totally different Herrings. Thats not dialing it in.

Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on Feb 26, 2009 8:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Pretty sure you mean “phoning it in.”

Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken

by Richard Wade on Feb 26, 2009 6:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Howcan you say Cain “didn’t look so hot” against Stojnic? Because it took him 7 minutes instead of 5 minutes to finish him? That first round could be argued as a 10-8 round. He stomped him. Cain needs to be pushed and this fight is perfect. Herring will most likely get out of the first and second round with Cain, and then we will see what the kid id made of. I say TKO rd 3. Herring is a warrior, he will take a beating witht he best of them.

by Nick Travaglini on Feb 26, 2009 8:22 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah...

just because he didn’t leave Stojnic unconscious doesn’t really mean anything. He dominated every second of that fight. I don’t care if he says he is “disappointed in his performance” he used great combination striking and did not lose a second of those 7 minutes. The ref stoppage was correct in every way.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 26, 2009 8:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The only thing that fight made me worry about was Cain’s power, Stojnic was way over matched and was dominated but he did not look wobbly at all after the ref stopped it.

A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.

by iiowyn on Feb 26, 2009 9:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It will be impossible to tell what Cain’s power is like until we see him against more guys like Herring. Though it certainly looked like Stojnic would have needed a monster chin to have survived the beating he got.

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on Feb 26, 2009 10:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If that fight made you a believer

You’re easily convinced. That’s my take, I’m not convinced by Valasquez. For me, he’s got the tools, but he looked downright weak when striking Stojnic much of the time.

"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry

by Blackout612 on Feb 26, 2009 3:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

good move

Carwin and Velasquez are both full of potential, but so far they have been overhyped and underchallenged. Now each of them will face his first worthy opponent yet. There is a chance the up-and-comers will win, but they face real tests right now – finally!

by klown on Feb 25, 2009 11:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I’m mildly annoyed by this, as I expect it to result in another trouncing by Velasquez.

Oh well, at least after that he’ll be in line for huge fights.

by Michaelthebox on Feb 26, 2009 1:05 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don‘t think Herring will get trounced

He’s pretty damn difficult to finish. If Cain can finish him convincingly he’ll send a huge message.

by rainmaker6 on Feb 26, 2009 4:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Coin flip here IMO.

Def not an easy fight for Cain.

by Bigperm on Feb 26, 2009 9:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think Herring is going to get finished by Velasquez, if anything this is a huge test for Velasquez as he has not been past the 2nd round in a fight.

Herring is in top shape and has changed everything about his training. Granted he got out-wrestled by Brock but I would not count him out or even think for a moment that Cain is going to just steamroll Herring.

Herring is one of my favorite fighters because it takes a lot to stop him.

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Feb 26, 2009 9:45 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

dear heath

i hope that broken orbital bone wasnt to bad the first time because here comes round two

by bearcox13 on Feb 26, 2009 12:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

This is not an easy test for Cain.

Herring is notoriously tough to finish much like Stojnic, but he also offers a more versatile arsenal of weapons.

Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.

by dnevil001 on Feb 26, 2009 12:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Jee wiz you guys

Give Heath Herring some credit. Theres a reason he’s been in the ring with the best in world, and its not just cus he’s bait. A well prepared Herring is a great fighter.

im not impressed with your performance

by troy145 on Feb 26, 2009 12:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Herring is the UFC's "HW Kingmaker".

A credible name, tough opponent but has the right holes for most of the guys they want to use as credible title challengers.

You beat Herring and in the UFC’s and most fan’s opinions – you’re legit and a worthy title contender.

I’m sure Heath doesn’t mind because (a) his checks keep cashing and (b) a win puts him right back in the mix for a title. But at this juncture I’m pretty sure his career has been “Jardine’d”.

I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.

by The_Gaijin on Feb 26, 2009 1:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs