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When you first look at the six-foot, five inch Dave Herman (20-2), you see a gentle farmer-looking folk from Indiana who might play some college hoops. While not shredded or physically imposing, the Bellator and Elite XC veteran looks as if he paid his dues by tossing hay behind the barn.
"Pee-Wee" is set to make his Octagon debut at UFC 131 in Vancouver against English heavyweight Rob Broughton.
Herman started his venture in cage fighting back in 2006 by beating Mike Cookie at LOF: Black Tie Battle via technical knockout (punches). In his first 15 fights he went undefeated and placed names like Mario Rinaldi, Ron Waterman and Kerry Schall on his resume.
He would taste defeat in his 16th fight at Sengoku: No Ran 2009, losing via technical knockout to Choi Mu Bae. Herman would return to amass a three-fight win streak adding Jim York and the legendary Don Frye as victims. He would then experience just his second loss when he was disqualified for an illegal strike against Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix First Round.
Herman would string together two consecutive wins, bringing him to his upcoming UFC 131 fight.
The biggest story that "Pee-Wee" has been involved in was a contract dispute that negated his partcipation in the Bellator season three heavyweight tournament. Herman had signed a 30-month, six fight contract that Bellator claimed was breached.
The attorneys fought over whether or not Bellator broke down a contract talk between Herman's camp and Strikeforce. Bellator claims Herman had to ask for written permission to compete in outside bouts. Herman and his camp claimed they didn't recieve or request permission for the Sengoku fight, which he lost.
Bellator started getting distant with Herman because they wanted an undefeated heavyweight.
Herman, desperate to fight, was getting shot down behind his back when Bellator would threaten lawsuit to any promotion trying to wiggle him on its cards. Shark Fights handed Herman his first big-time opponent in ages when it attempted to sign world class grappler Jeff Monson.
Shark Fights scrapped the fight after recieving a letter from Bellator threatening lawsuit.
Herman, now free of the litigation problems that he estimates took $30,000-$50,000 out of his own pocket, is set to debut in the world's elite promotion, UFC. This fight is his biggest test to date as it could get him up and running against the best heavyweights in the world.
It really is unfortunate that Herman couldn't cut his teeth against the best 265-pounders not in Strikeforce or UFC like Pedro Rizzo, Tim Sylvia, Jeff Monson and Josh Barnett. The Bellator stress is now off his back and he can focus on getting up there.
"Pee-Wee" hits like a truck and yet stays very agile as seen in the bicycle kick to Ron Waterman's face at Elite XC: Return of the King.
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