Rodriguez vs. Herman Set For Bellator 31

Former UFC star Rodriguez and heavyweight prospect Herman set to clash

A heavyweight tilt between Dave Herman and Ricco Rodriguez has been tapped for Bellator 31 at the end of this month.

Bellator officials announced the bout during last night’s broadcast of Bellator 29.

Herman, one of the top heavyweight prospects not in the UFC, is coming off his second career loss, which came via disqualification due to illegal knees against Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou last May. The loss snapped a

three-fight winning streak, pushing Herman’s professional record to 16-2. All 16 of those wins have come via stoppage, including 13 knockouts and three submission victories.

Rodriguez, meanwhile, has been on quite the hot streak as of late, winning nine straight fights. The 55-fight veteran of the sport currently boasts a record of 44-11-0, with his most recent victory coming over John Juarez this past August. Rodriguez earned the split-decision after three very competitive rounds.

The heavyweight match up, easily one of the most intriguing in the history of the promotion, gives a big boost to Bellator 31, which is set for September 30 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The card features two semi-final bouts in the women’s tournament, along with a welterweight bout between UFC veteran Yoshiyuki Yoshida and Chris Lozano.