If Heath Herring is Out, Who Will Replace Him Against Velasquez?

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So, with all the injuries in the recent UFC events, Joe Silva has had a really tough time coming up with replacement fighters, but he's done a great job.

In this slideshow, I'm helping him out and coming up with some possible fights for Velasquez.

The difficult thing about this is the weakness of the UFC HW division. Yeah, it's starting to get rejuvenated, but if I'm not mistaken, there are only six heavyweights who have been on the main card since January 2008 who are still in the UFC and not tied up in other fights (not counting Herring or fighters that have fought Velasquez).

Also, one of them is Josh Hendricks, so that really only leaves five.

Antoni Hardonk

Alright, so he just fought at 97 AND he's coming off of a loss.

Not exactly a top choice for the UFC, but not a bad one nonetheless.

Cro Cop

Alright, so Cro Cop makes six; I lied.

The UFC doesn't want to chance him losing on his debut, and he definitely doesn't want this fight, but I'd definitely be co-main event.

Cheick Kongo

Alright, so he also fought at 97, so he might not be ready

BUT

He is one of the top candidates otherwise.

A huge step up in competition, and this would make an exciting co-main event that would turn out being for a title shot (The only problem is that would kind of disregard Carwin).

Gabriel Gonzaga

Alright, so he fought at 96 so he'd DEFINITELY be ready for a fight at 99.

Gonzaga is a huge step up as well, the only problem is that he just came off of a loss, and with the HW picture as it is now, the UFC needs to protect their top fighters, especially one who is top 8.

Junior Dos Santos

Junior Dos Santos. Now THIS is a fight I've been dreaming of.

They both need a big step up, and this would be the ultimate fight of the up-and-comers.

Both have great hands and a great ground game so I think this is the best possible decision, but not necessarily the most likely choice.

Shane Carwin

This fight would also be AWESOME.

Two great wrestlers with dynamite in their gloves, this would be one of my favorite possible HW match-ups.

He'd be ready for the fight, and definitely want it badly, the only thing is these two are the up-and-comers of the division so Joe Silva might not want to pit them against each other just yet.

Carwin and Velasquez are probably the next two who get a title shot, so this would make the HW division a little less exciting.