"I think this is going to be a really exciting fight. Hopefully it's 'Fight of the Night' or 'Ass Whooping of the Night.' I'm looking to finish him as fast as I can...I've lost two in a row and if I lose another fight, the UFC will probably cut me so I'm trying to keep my job. It's rough times. It's a bad economy, so I gotta keep my damn job so I can keep living," stated UFC middleweight Ed Herman as he talked about his upcoming clash with Dave Loiseau at UFC 97. Check it out!
PC: How has your training been going for your fight against The Crow?
EH: It's going great man. It's going awesome. I couldn't ask for a better camp. I've been busting it for about twelve weeks now getting ready for this fight so I'm in shape and ready to go.
PC: On the 18th, it will be exactly seven months and a day since the Belcher fight. How are you feeling physically and in the gym?
EH: I feel great. I had some injuries to deal with after the Belcher fight so I was able to take some time off and let them heal up. After I did that, I've been basically training for the last five months for this fight. This is probably the healthiest I've been in a long time.
PC: Was Loiseau one of the fighters you studied and looked up to in the sport?
EH: For sure man. I totally watched him and rooted for him. He was one of my favorite fighters. He was one of the guys I kind of learned how to throw elbows from. It's like that sometimes. You gotta show the people you looked up to what's up. It's like the new breed and a new generation, even though we're the same age.
PC: This is your second time coming off of a two-fight losing streak and the first time you ran off three straight wins. How do you bounce back from the Maia and Belcher losses on the 18th?
EH: I'm going to bounce back and freaking smash this dude. I respect Loiseau, but on the 18th, I'm going in there to beat his ass, so that's the plan bro.
PC: Loiseau has been begging to get back in the UFC and he's finally accomplished that. Do you think that will make him fight tentative and not want to make a mistake or do you think he will show signs of the old Dave Loiseau?
EH: I've been watching plenty of tapes and I've not been too impressed with the way he's been looking in his last couple of fights. He's still dangerous with those elbows. He has an awkward style. If you stand on the outside, he dances around and does like Taekwondo kind of stuff, spinning kicks and plus he's got a good shot now. He's been working on his wrestling. He has a good double leg so I'll be looking out for that and obviously in the clinch, he has his elbows. I think I can shut that down. Stay close to him in the clinch, shut him down and put him on his back where he's not that good.
PC: Against Belcher, you told me you should have took him down more and used your wrestling advantage. I'm sure that's the mindset for this fight?
EH: For sure man. I should have capitalized on that stuff against Belcher, but I had some injuries bothering me at the time and I think it shut me down mentally a bit. Normally I would have been more aggressive. I want to take him out of his element, but hey, David is a smart fighter and I think he may try to come in and take me down to take me out of my game. I just have a feeling he's going to try and do that, but we'll see what happens.
PC: At one time, Loiseau was one of the most diverse strikers in the division. He really mixed things up. You mentioned the dangers of his awkward style so how important is it for you to stay close to him?
EH: Right! I need to be all the way in or all the way out. I can't be standing there in reach for him to be able to move freely and attack with all of that stuff. He's quicker than me and he's got some tricky stuff so I'm either all the way in or all of the way out.
PC: This is your second trip to Canada in three fights, but this time, you're fighting a Canadian. Do you expect to get the Serra treatment when he went over to fight GSP in the rematch?
EH: I'm preparing myself for a hostile environment, but the fans are good there man. They just want to see a good fight. I'll just get through the walkout because I'm sure I'll get booed pretty hard, but after I whoop his ass, I bet you I get some cheers.
PC: Do you have a tough time adjusting to the different time zones and things like that when you travel to other countries to fight?
EH: No, not really. I've been traveling my whole career so I'm fine with that. I like Montreal. Cool city, good food and I like the women.
PC: On paper, this has "Fight of the Night" written all over it. Are you expecting that type of fight from Dave?
EH: That's what I'm thinking man. That's why I'm kind of bummed we're not on the main card. I think this is going to be a really exciting fight. Hopefully it's "Fight of the Night" or "Ass Whooping of the Night." I'm looking to finish him as fast as I can, but I don't think Loiseau's ever been finished so that's easier said than done. It's a tough task and hopefully I could be the first to do it.
PC: When you go to a fighter's backyard, does that relieve pressure on you because they feel like they have to perform a certain way in front of their crowd?
EH: Sure. You know he's the one coming back into the UFC trying to get back in and it's in front of his hometown. He trains with Pierre so everybody expects him to be like St. Pierre, so that's on his shoulders. But the pressure's on me to. I've lost two in a row and if I lose another fight, the UFC will probably cut me so I'm trying to keep my job. It's rough times. It's a bad economy, so I gotta keep my damn job so I can keep living.
PC: You have an opportunity to spoil things for Dave in two ways. You could spoil his UFC return as well as his homecoming. If you could predict the perfect ending, how does this fight end?
EH: I would like the fight to end with me on mount, dropping bows and punches and the ref jumping in to stop it because he's took too much damage. He ain't going to be able to do nothing, he tries to give up his back, but he's not going to be able to do that and if he does, he's only going to take more punishment.
PC: You were known as this vicious ground-and-pound fighter. You're hands have definitely improved, but do you feel you need to get back to your roots of pounding guys out?
EH: That's right. That's what is going to happen. But like you said, my hands have gotten better so I'm going to use that to come forward and throw all of my punches, kicks, knees and elbows.
PC: Good luck on the 18th my man. I know this is a big fight for you so thanks for taking time out to rap with me. Is there anything you want to say in closing?
EH: I just want to thank all of my fans who have been backing me up and all of the people that helped me get ready for this fight.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]