Herring replaces Coleman at UFC 87
Heath Herring (28-13 MMA, 2-2 UFC) has been tapped to replace Mark Coleman as an opponent for Brock Lesnar (1-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC). The two heavyweights will meet in August at UFC 87.
MMAjunkie.com (
www.mmajunkie.com) recently confirmed the fight with sources close to the event. Rumors of the bout first popped up late last week.
UFC 87, which features a main event between UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre and top contender Jon Fitch, takes place at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
This past week, the UFC announced that an injured knee had forced Coleman, a UFC hall-of-famer, out of his post-retirement return. After a solid career in PRIDE, Coleman called it quits in October 2006. He hasn't fought for the UFC since 1999 (UFC 18).
Coleman was set to face Lesnar, a former WWE performer who entered the UFC with a 1-0 record earlier this year. Although dominating Frank Mir for most of their fight, Lesnar ultimately suffered a first-round submission to the former champ at UFC 81.
Mac Danzig vs. Clay Guida at UFC 87
"The Ultimate Fighter 6" winner Mac Danzig (18-4-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) will look to continue his ascent in the UFC's lightweight division when he meets Clay Guida (23-9 MMA, 3-3 UFC) at UFC 87.
A source close to Guida told MMAjunkie.com (
www.mmajunkie.com) that the fighters recently agreed to the August bout.
UFC 87, which now features a main event between UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre and top contender Jon Fitch, takes place Aug. 9 at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
Danzig, a former King of the Cage champ who dominated the sixth season of "TUF," defeated Tommy Speer at the show's live finale. He then dropped from welterweight to lightweight at UFC 83 and defeated Canadian Mark Bocek via third-round submission. It was his 10th submission victory -- and 14th stoppage -- in 18 career victories.
As for the perpetually tested Guida, he gets another tough fight in the UFC. Although 3-3 in the organizatiom, the losses have come to notables Din Thomas, Tyson Griffin and Roger Huerta. He most recently defeated Samy Schiavo at UFC Fight Night 13 with a first-round TKO. Guida, a former Strikeforce champ, will look to put together his first back-to-back wins in the UFC.
He'll look to secure his first UFC victory when he meets Herring, a former PRIDE and K-1 fighter who joined the UFC in early 2007. He's suffered losses to Jake O'Brien and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira while defeating Brad Imes and, most recently, Cheick Kongo at UFC 82.
UFC 87 Updates
