‘TUF 13’ Finale Preview: The Main Card

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Middleweights
Ed Herman vs. Tim Credeur

The Matchup: Herman and Credeur have a lot in common. They are both veterans of “The Ultimate Fighter.” They have grappling-based styles with limited standup. And they are decidedly on the bubble. A loss probably sends the loser out with a pink slip.

Qualitatively, there is not a lot of difference in styles that puts either man at a specific disadvantage; neither is much of a striker, and both have good cardio. This could be the kind of match where the fighters negate one another, or, hopefully, someone will reach into the fire, pull the win out and create an exciting bout in the process.

While it is pretty easy to resist using the much-hackneyed phrase of “K-1 Striker” in analyzing this matchup, Credeur may have a small edge in this department. He will wing shots in an effort to mix it up and close the distance to get it to the mat. Herman’s takedowns and physical strength are superior, and, positionally, his base should be good enough to stick Credeur to the mat and keep him there.

However, Herman, after an epic struggle against Kendall Grove in “The Ultimate Fighter 3” Finale, has seen mixed results. He has not fought since UFC 102 nearly two years ago, when a knee injury ended his bout with Aaron Simpson and put him on the shelf. Credeur’s jiu-jitsu is probably better in the pure tournament sense, but applied to MMA, Herman might just be a little too hardy and imposing.

The Pick: Expect a closely contested battle without extreme fireworks. This one has every indication of a close decision, and Herman should do enough to pull out a close one.

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