Vancouver’s Ed Herman, who entered Saturday as the longest-tenured fighter currently in the UFC, announced his retirement from competitive mixed martial arts.
Herman, 42, made that announcement after a defeat to Zak Cummings at UFC Fight Night in Kansas City.
Fighting in his hometown, Cummings stopped Herman 4 minutes, 12 seconds into the third round. A flurry of punches ended a fight in which Cummings held the upper hand but also showed Herman’s toughness.
Herman hung in the fight despite being knocked down in the first and second rounds. He absorbed 100 significant strikes in a fight where Cummings held a 114-71 advantage in striking.
Cummings, 38, also announced his retirement after the fight. The two MMA veterans laid their gloves down in the middle of the octagon and embraced.
“I just want to thank the UFC and all the fans who have supported me the last 17 years,” Herman told the crowd. “I’ve got my kids here for the first time. Don’t worry. Daddy’s OK.”
Herman’s UFC career spanned 25 fights dating back to 2006. He finishes with a 13-12 record in the top promotion of mixed martial arts and a 27-16 record as a professional.
Saturday’s fight was the last on Herman’s UFC contract. In March, he told The Columbian that he hoped a standout performance against Cummings would earn him another contract.
But Herman’s involvement in mixed martial arts is far from over. In addition to coaching up-and-coming fighters at Portland’s American Top Team, Herman co-owns a Brazilian jiu-jitsu gym in Hazel Dell that opened last year. He also was a main force in organizing and promoting CageWarriors Northwest 2 on March 25, the promotion’s second MMA event in Clark County.
