Heath Herring Offered Fight With Kongo - Fight Forum - MMA - UFC - Boxing - K1

The-Iceman-Chuck-Liddell · 01-05-2008, 08:29 PM

http://mmajunkie.com/2008/01/05/sour...k-kongo/Rising

Quote:

heavyweight contender Cheick Kongo (11-3-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) may meet veteran fighter Heath Herring (27-13 MMA, 1-2 UFC) at UFC 82 — an event that takes place March 1 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

A source close to Herring told MMAjunkie.com (UFC News & Rumors - MMA News - UFC Fighters - UFC Event Recaps and Previews - MMAjunkie.com) that the fighter had been offered the rumored bout, plans to accept it, but hasn’t yet signed to make it official.

Neither Herring nor Kongo could immediately be reached for comment.

For Kongo, a victory could thrust the French fighter into immediate title contention. Aside from a close split-decision loss to Carmelo Marrero at UFC 64, Kongo has posted a spotless record in the UFC. The success peaked with an upset unanimous-decision victory over Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic at UFC 75 in September.

Kongo had been a rumored opponent for former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia. Sylvia himself even campaigned for the fight in a post-UFC 77 press conference. However, the former champ was instead tapped to fight Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 81 next month for the UFC’s interim heavyweight title.

As for Herring, he’ll return to the octagon for the first time since his July loss to Nogueira. After flooring the former PRIDE heavyweight champion with a first-round head kick, Herring backed off from his opponent and allowed him time to recover. Nogueira stormed back for the unanimous-decision victory, and Herring opted to take a short break from competition after the loss.

Herring originally signed on with the UFC a year ago after the UFC purchased — and disbanded — the World Fighting Alliance promotion. He made his UFC debut with an upset loss to Jake O’Brien in January but rebounded for an entertaining unanimous-decision victory over Brad Imes in April.

UFC 82 is headlined by a title fight between UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and former PRIDE standout Dan Henderson. For the latest UFC 82 fight card, check out the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.

This would be an ok fight. I think Kongo would own Herring on the feet. I don't know how herring would do on the ground.

stillstanding · 01-05-2008, 08:30 PM

I want to see Herring pull this one out. I like his brawl style. He also hasn't done so well of late and I would like to see him get a win.

AikaImmortal · 01-05-2008, 09:19 PM

Without knees to the head on the groud, Herrings major weapon is gone.

Greenman · 01-06-2008, 09:13 AM

This should be a great fight, but Aiki is right Herring will suffer in the Octagon so long as knees are not permited. Maybe he should do some training with Kenflo and learn how to throw big elbows.

Saskabush · 01-06-2008, 09:52 AM

I'll take Herring in this one (hopefully not the Herring who fought O'Brien). He has heavy hands and good enough wrestling to take Kongo down and keep him there.

Elder · 01-06-2008, 12:07 PM

I think Herring can hang with anyone if he doesn't get intimidated. He could have slugged it out with Nog, and possibly won, but Nog intimidated him so much that a lot of Herring's were short armed and he was backing away when throwing them. The problem I have is if Nog intimidated him with strikes, Kongo definitely will. I would like to see Herring take him down.. but he just doesn't look like the Herring of old to me physically.