Looks like Christmas is coming early this year for Ed Herman.

UFC.com is reporting that David Terrell has been forced to withdraw from UFC 78 because of an ankle injury and that mixed martial arts veteran Joe Doerksen has agreed to replace him.

Doerksen has a submission win over Ed Herman back in 2004 when the two met in the main event at Sportfight 7. No doubt an improved Herman is eager to avenge that loss.

It comes however at the disappointment of Terrell, a dangerous striker who many once pegged to be a future contender - assuming he could ever stay healthy and fight on a consistent basis.

MMAmania.com contacted the Caesar Gracie camp for clarification on the injury. Here was the response:

"Terrell is out with torn tendons. MRI report confirms this."

Terrell last withdrew from his fight against Yushin Okami at UFC 66 due to an elbow injury. This most recent incident marks the fourth time Terrell has withdrawn from a fight in his UFC career.

As such, he'll have to sit back and watch Doerksen and Herman slug it out for a chance to move one step closer to facing middleweight juggernaut Anderson "The Spider" Silva.

Maybe Ed Herman's not so lucky after all.

(Thanks to MMAmania reader Ferstanscoi for the assist)