Preview: UFC on ESPN 44 Prelims

Light Heavyweights

Zak Cummings (24-7, 9-4 UFC) vs. Ed Herman (26-15, 13-11 UFC)

ODDS: Cummings (-225), Herman (+190)

This should be a fascinating interlude, as two longtime vets look to prove they still have a solid bit left in the tank after some long layoffs. Herman has now been on the UFC roster since 2006, and “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 3 finalist seemingly lost the last of his athleticism sometime around 2013. Through it all, “Short Fuse” has remained tough enough and strong enough to make his hay on prospect-testing duty, even racking up three straight wins before losing his last fight in 2021. He returns here against Cummings, who is essentially in the same boat, even if there is some intrigue as to how he will return after missing nearly three years due to a major back injury. Cummings chugged along for a few years as one of the more underrated fighters on the UFC roster, never earning much notice with a crafty game that contained some impressive grappling chops. Even before this last layoff, Cummings was also clearly slowing down and suffering the effects of never having much of a range game, usually relying on his opponents to close distance and walk into his offense. There is some potential for this to be sneakily fun. Herman has a habit of throwing down against his less athletic veteran peers, and this seems to be a fight he can win as the more persistent striker and someone who can stall out Cummings’s grappling game, whether through skill or sheer physical strength. The pick is Herman via decision.

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