Injury Bug Bites Strikes Again; Dave Herman Now Faces Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 162
UFC heavyweight Dave Herman was slated to fight Shane Del Rosario at UFC 162 on July 6 in Las Vegas, but the injury bug has claimed another victim.
UFC officials on Friday announced that Del Rosario had to withdraw from the bout due to an undisclosed injury, but added that Gabriel Gonzaga had already agreed to take his place.
Herman (21-5) has been skating on thin ice with the UFC for some time. He holds a 1-3 record in the Octagon and has twice failed a drug test for marijuana.
Herman had expected to fight Mike Russow at UFC 136, but failed his pre-fight test. He is returning to action at UFC 162 after testing positive again following a loss to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 153.
Entering the fight with Gonzaga on a three-fight losing skid doesn’t help matters. Herman desperately needs a victory.
Gonzaga (11-6) was forced to go outside the UFC following back-to-back losses in 2010. He won one bout outside of the Octagon, but returned in early 2012 as a late replacement for Rob Broughton at UFC 142.
He won at UFC 142 and UFC on FX 7, but got knocked out by Travis Browne at the TUF 17 Finale in April.
He makes a quick return, stepping in for Del Rosario.
UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva puts his title on the line against Chris Weidman in the UFC 162 main event on July 6 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
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