Dave 'Pee Wee' Herman: A Worthy Addition To the UFC Heavyweight Division

The UFC heavyweight division just grew a little bit stronger with the recent signing of Dave Herman. He will be making his UFC debut in Vancouver at UFC 131 versus Rob Broughton.

Herman holds a record of 20-2. Of those fights, only one opponent has been able to take him the distance. Among his 19 stoppages, he has beaten the likes of Don Frye, Ron Waterman and Jim York.

After going 3-0 with ProElite, Herman was bound in the contract until they ceased operations in October of 2008. Herman was left with various options, but didn't find his way into the UFC until this year.

In that time, Herman fought in various promotions including Sengoku and Bellator, and many fans were expecting him to be included among the heavyweights featured on Season 10 of The Ultimate Fighter alongside popular heavyweights like Roy Nelson and Kimbo Slice. The deal was never offered, and Herman found fights elsewhere.

He later got involved in a lawsuit with Bellator Fighting Championship after he signed to fight Ricco Rodriguez in an upcoming event. Rodriguez pulled out, and Michal Kita stepped in. He submitted his opponent with an omoplata in the first round.

Herman fought once since then, defeating Yoshihiro Nakao by decision in an event promoted by World Victory Road. After the fight, he was open to be signed to the UFC and they didn't wait very long to offer him a contract in a division that has been growing in popularity over the last two years.

The 26-year-old has been impressing fans with his fighting ability since his brief showcase in EliteXC. His promotional debut versus Mario Rinaldo showcased his boxing and muay-thai skills. He battered Rinaldi's face for two rounds before the referee mercifully called a stop to the bout early in the third.

He followed up on that fight with an accurate display of ground and pound versus Ron Waterman, knocking him out in the first round. His third and last fight promoted by ProElite was against Kerry Schall. He won the fight with a first round knockout.

In a fight with Jim York in 2009, Herman knocked out the New Zealand fighter with axe kicks while York attempted a kneebar. It was one of the most brutal knockouts of the year and one of the most creative displays of kicks ever showcased in a professional fight.

It's that style of fighting that has attracted fans to the fighter nicknamed "Pee-Wee."

At 6'5", Herman will be one of the taller heavyweights in the division. His style helps him utilize this advantage, and it will be a factor when he faces the smaller heavyweights in the division. He is an aggressive fighter with finishing ability and good submission skills.

The only question left is has he improved his cardio?

Herman was notoriously known for being self-trained, and this is the only thing that prevented him from being taken seriously as a fighter who commits himself to the most important aspect of fighting.

If he can get a solid training camp to help him guide him through his career in the UFC, he will be on the of the more dangerous fighters in the division.

He is currently training out of Team Lloyd Irvin, which holds notable fighters like Phil Davis and Brandon Vera.

He could easily find himself in the top of the division if he makes the move to a more notable camp and shows improvement in the flaws of his past fights. His fight at UFC 131 will be a debut worth waiting for, and one that should help build his reputation among fans and trainers looking for the next "big" heavyweight.