Ed Herman Puts the Past Behind Him and Is Ready to Shock the World

When you go through adversity in life, it's how you bounce back that shows how strong you are. Ed Herman has shown how strong he is inside and outside the cage.

Herman suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in his fight with Aaron Simpson at UFC 102 in 2009. As he was preparing for his comeback, Herman tore the same ACL again in 2010.

After not competing for almost two years, Herman returned at TUF 13 finale last June, as he stopped Tim Credeur in 48 seconds. Herman since then has rattled off two more victories as he submitted Kyle Noke and Clifford Starks.

Herman now enters quite possibly the biggest fight of his career as he squares off against former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Jake Shields tonight at UFC 150. The "Short Fuse" feels the injuries gave him that something that was lacking in his career.

"I don't ever want to say an injury is a good thing," Herman told Bleacher Report. "I think (the injury) gave me that fire after I thought my career was possibly over. I didn't want my career to be done yet. It gave me that motivation to take this opportunity and make the most of this second chance in my career. My mental approach has changed in just trying to enjoy this time while I'm here and take advantage of everything I can."

After he defeated Clifford Starks at UFC 143, Herman told the UFC he wanted to fight a top-ten fighter and the UFC gave him that in Shields.

"It's a great matchup," Herman stated. "Jake's a top-ten guy in the welterweight division, but I feel that also translates into the middleweight division. I was excited when the UFC told me about the fight and I jumped on the chance."

Shields is returning to middleweight after posting a modest 2-2 record in the welterweight division after leaving Strikeforce and entering the UFC. Herman feels Shields is a better fighter at middleweight and plans on ruining Shields' return to the division.

"He has fought better at middleweight," Herman stated. "His most successful fights have been at this weight class. I plan on shocking the world and surprising Jake Shields by finishing him."

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