The Heath Herring Club

Heath Herring has traveled the world and fought some of the best fighters it had to offer. He never backed down from a fight and became a very fan-friendly name, especially in Japan.

In his earlier days in the Pride Fighting Championships, Herring was widely considered championship material.

Later, when he signed with the UFC, he was expected to shake up the division.

Throughout the years, he has made a career out of getting by the journeymen heavyweights, and then getting demolished by the champions.

Four champions in particular used a win over Herring to catapult themselves into the elite category of the sport. I dub these fighters "The Heath Herring Club."

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

In November of 2001, Pride was to have their top two contenders fight for their newly created heavyweight title.

Antonio Rodrigo Noqueira was coming off of a first round destruction of Mark Coleman, and was widely considered a new force in the sport. Heath Herring had recently stopped Mark Kerr.

The two met for the title at Pride 17. For 20 minutes, Nogueira dominated Herring no matter where the fight took place.

Herring showed his toughness by going the distance; taking the strikes and slipping out of every submission. The Japanese fans loved it. Every time you thought Herring was going to tap, he would find a way out.

Nonetheless, he was on the defensive for the distance and Nogueira became the first Pride heavyweight champ. He also became the first member of "The Heath Herring Club" by using Herring as a springboard to become recognized as the top heavyweight in the game.

Nogueira went on to solidify himself as the leader of the club by beating Herring two more times.

The rematch took place in the second round of Pride's 2004 heavyweight tournament. After a first round where Herring held his own, he was quickly choked-out within 30 seconds of the second round.

The third fight took place in 2007 in Nogueira's UFC debut. After a first round of being thoroughly outstruck, Herring landed a kick to the head of Nogueira, dazing him and dropping him to the ground. Apparently afraid he might actually win a fight against Nogueira, Herring let him stand up and survive to the end of the round.

In the second round Nogueira was still hurt, but was allowed to recover and take control, eventually leading to a win by decision.

This win earned Nogueira a shot at the UFC interim title, again using a Herring win as a springboard for bigger things. He went on to win that title, becoming the only man to hold titles in both Pride and UFC.

Fedor Emelianenko

After his first loss to Nogueira in 2001, Herring put together two good wins and was still considered Pride's No. 1 contender.

In an unofficial title eliminator, Herring was matched with Pride newcomer, Fedor Emelianenko.

Emelianenko was the former Rings heavyweight champion and had most recently pounded on Semmy Schilt for 20 minutes in his Pride debut.

The Pride commentators both picked Herring to win a decision. What was to come was Fedor's coming out party.

Immediately after the opening bell, Herring threw a straight kick only to be instantly taken to the ground. Fedor began throwing some of the hardest shots the MMA world had ever seen on the ground.

Quickly swelling one of Heath's eyes, Fedor continued to pass guard and pound on an defenseless Herring.

The fight was stood up and after a brief exchange with their hands, Fedor suplexed Herring and resumed pounding him with brutal punches and knees on the ground. Herring's face was a bloody, swollen mess and the fight was mercifully stopped after the first round.

The win earned Fedor a shot at the heavyweight title against Nogueira. Fedor won that title and held it for the duration of the promotion's existence.

Emelianenko went on to become the most dominant heavyweight of the sport's history, and to many, it all started with his upset win over Heath Herring.

Mirko Cro Cop

Mirko Cro Cop was an accomplished kickboxer, but was making his transition to MMA. He had made three appearances in Pride, but never against anyone his own size, and never under Pride's rules.

This was a pick-em fight to most; Herring was the more experienced MMA fighter, but Cro Cop was deadly with his strikes. This would be Mirko's first test in the top ten of MMA's heavyweight division.

Herring started the match sloppily charging in. Mirko would step to the side, letting Heath fall to the ground, then let him stand back up to trade on their feet. Cro Cop hurt Herring early with a straight left to his right eye, and Herring was seen wincing.

After a failed takedown attempt, Cro Cop sprawled and landed a series of knees to the head of Herring before standing up.

Around three minutes into the round, Mirko landed a left kick to the liver of Herring, dropping him in the corner. Mirko followed it up by pounding out a hurt Herring and winning by TKO.

It was a totally one-sided fight and established Cro Cop as a top level MMA fighter, not just a good kickboxer. He went on to become one of the biggest names in Pride. Though he never was able to take the belt away from Emelianenko, Cro Cop won Pride's 2006 Open Weight Grand Prix, putting him on the short list of Pride champions.

This fight would also mark the permanent exit of Heath Herring from the top ten of heavyweights.

Brock Lesnar

Despite holding a record of 1-1, Lesnar was already a main attraction in the UFC. It was clear he had talent, but the resume would take some time. First things first: get a single win in the UFC.

Brock was originally scheduled to face the beyond faded Mark Coleman in August of 2008. Coleman opted to back out of the fight and move down in weight. An opponent was needed to keep Lesnar on the tip of everyone's tongue.

After beginning his UFC career going 1-2, Herring had recently eked out a split-decision over fringe contender Cheick Kongo, making him a credible opponent for the burgeoning Lesnar.

Despite the vast difference in experience, Lesnar was heavily favored and from the opening bell the match went as many might have expected.

Within the first 10 seconds Lesnar landed a heavy right hand, fracturing Herring's orbital bone. He soon took control of Herring on the ground, landing knees to the body and punches with both hands for the rest of the round.

The second round saw Heath easily taken down and controlled. Near the end of the round, Heath rose to his feet only to take some brutal knees to the body.

More of the same in the third, and after three rounds Lesnar had his first victory in the Octagon. Herring's face was a familiar bloody, swollen mess.

This single win would springboard Lesnar into a title fight with Randy Couture. Lesnar went on to win that title and become the No. 1 heavyweight in the UFC.

Cain Velasquez was set to fight Herring in what would have possibly made another club member, but Herring pulled out of the fight and has not fought since his shellacking at the hands of Lesnar.

Lesnar is likely the last member of The Heath Herring Club.