Houston Alexander possible for Sept. 18 bout against Sherman Pendergarst at Adrenaline MMA IV

by Jesse Holland on Aug 13, 2009 11:40 AM EDT

UFC light heavyweight Houston Alexander (8-4) could be making a quick pit stop before returning to the UFC as the Nebraskan has been slotted to face Sherman Pendergarst (11-14) in the co-main event for Adrenaline MMA IV from the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on Sept. 18.

In spite of the upcoming bout, Alexander remains under contract to Zuffa.

The hard-hitting radio DJ was relatively unknown to the masses until he burst onto the scene with two destructive performances inside the Octagon, taking out top contender Keith Jardine in his debut back at UFC 71: "Liddell vs. Jackson" in May 2007 and then crumbling Alessio Sakara at UFC 75: "Champion vs. Champion" less than four months later.

"The Assassin," however, quickly returned to Earth — practically crash landing with three straight losses to Thiago Silva at UFC 78, James Irvin at Fight Night 13 and Eric Schafer at Fight Night 15.

The charismatic father of six was on track to slug it out with Andre Gusmao at UFC 98: "Evans vs. Machida" until he broke his hand just three weeks out from the event.

Now it appears he'll get things going again when he faces "The Tank" this September.

Pendergarst had one appearance inside the Octagon back in November 2006 opposite Antoni Hardonk at UFC 65: "Bad Intentions." The Dutch kickboxer sent him packing with a brutal first round knockout.

It hasn't slowed down his progress, but Sherm is in desperate need of a win. In addition to losing five straight, he's just 3-13 since his the loss to Hardonk.

Upsetting Alexander would be the perfect catalyst for a comeback -- if he can stay away from those heavy hands.

Adrenaline MMA IV is expected to feature former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia returning to the cage against Jason Riley. MMA veteran Jeremy Horn will also be in action.

Stay tuned for more information on this developing fight card as it becomes available.

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Comments

A guy with a losing record of 11-14 in the co-main event.

What’s next, trying to get Tim Sylvia for the main event???

Oh wait…

by ViolentMike on Aug 13, 2009 11:45 AM EDT reply actions

It’s a warmup KO for his return..

by RoBerto on Aug 13, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions

I have no desire to see hOuston ever fight again

by john G on Aug 13, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Another fight, another chance for him to get cut. I’ll take it. Don’t care about the fight just let m know when he gets cut.

by DSmith on Aug 13, 2009 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Giampaolo is saving his money to go to see AS Roma at Stadio Olímpico!

by RoBerto on Aug 13, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Mania or Jesse, why did you deleted my comment? It was in response to john’s comment not the troll Zuffa guy. Not that it means a lot of importance… just saying!

by Alpha Male on Aug 13, 2009 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Hopefully Houston is out with his next fight. I’m very disappointed to see this fight on a televised portion of any card.

by Cogito Ergo Sum on Aug 13, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I got no problem with Houston. Obviously he is limited in his abilities and at his age it’s highly unlikely that he’ll be able to learn an any semblance of a ground game. He’s more of a spectacle. Put him in against a striker and watch someone get knocked out. There’s nothing wrong with that.

by RealDrew on Aug 13, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I would agree with you but for the fact that when the pressure is on he gasses after the first round. I would rather they had kept George Gurgel on than Houston. At least Gurgel gives you quality entertaiment he doesn’t gas, never quits, gives you as much action as you can handle, and his abilty to absorb punishment is second to none. Houston doesn’t come close to that. Its just that being in the heavier weight class seems to have been lucky for him, if he was a lightweight he would have been a distant memory.

by Ade on Aug 13, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Hhis KO power has helped him, it has nothing to do with his weight class. As a matter of fact its going to be harder for him to beat most LHWs with KO power than it would be to beat LWs.

by Cogito Ergo Sum on Aug 13, 2009 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed w/ RealDrew.

by OJR on Aug 13, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Get him there with McFedries. Both KO guys who are fast starters. Something good and hard to open on a Fight Night or something.

by NameNotRequired on Aug 13, 2009 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope his “warm up ko for his return” turns into a KO loss and him being sent back to Nebraska unemployed!

by kevin on Aug 13, 2009 11:48 AM EDT reply actions

How is Houston allowed to fight for another promotion while under contract with UFC?

by AJ on Aug 13, 2009 11:53 AM EDT reply actions

they gave him permission, why not, he sucks any ways!

by kevin on Aug 13, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Because they let him. If he loses they will prob cut him, if he wins, good for him.

by Kung Foo on Aug 13, 2009 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

They gave him permission.

by Alpha Male on Aug 13, 2009 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Great, now I look like the guy who cut N paste Kev’s comments.

by Alpha Male on Aug 13, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

it’s ok alpha, lots of guys do it, when you agree with the master, it puts you closer to being a master!
I don’t know what that means, just babbling!

by kevin on Aug 13, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions

john g no one really wants to hear from you. The guy is entertaining. thats more than i can say compared to a fighter that is just boring, and we know that the ufc has many less than exciting fighetrs. let the man rock and roll baby.

by Carnage on Aug 13, 2009 11:56 AM EDT reply actions

I’ll give you this. A Houston Alexander fight is more exciting that a Thales Leites fight.

by ViolentMike on Aug 13, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Completely agree.

by Adam T. on Aug 13, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions

mike, an arguement between you and your wife is more exciting than a Thales Leites fight!
as I said Sat., he got cut anyways so it doesn’t matter, and I don’t wanna hear “I wanna see Leites/Diaz or Shields.” Diaz will kill him!

by kevin on Aug 13, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree too, he “fights” unlike Leites

by RoBerto on Aug 13, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

For sure it’s a must win. If he looses……well i believe it only makes sense to cut him from ufc roster.

by Carnage on Aug 13, 2009 11:58 AM EDT reply actions

“looses” it never gets old!

by kevin on Aug 13, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Ugh I know! So annoying!

If he “looses”? Its loses.
I hope he doesn’t “loss” this weekend. Its lose.
That was his only “loose”. Its loss.

Come on this isn’t really that difficult yet more ppl spell this word wrong and use it in the wrong context then any other word on this site. Yikes.

by Daniel worby on Aug 13, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Adrenaline MMA IV aka Bum Fights

by UKmmaBOY on Aug 13, 2009 12:08 PM EDT reply actions

What is he 38 now? I don’t see him developing a ground game any time soon. Maybe they should feed him to chuck, because we all know that chuck needs to stay away from the elite LHW fighters. Give chuck Alexander and then Coleman and call it a career with two W’s.

by Dave O on Aug 13, 2009 12:26 PM EDT reply actions

While Houston makes 1-dimensional fighters look like GSP, I’ll never forgive Joe Silva for ruining Houston’s UFC career.

Houston needed to be matched up against nobodies so he could get a huge KO win. He could have been Mr. Fight Night, making us all smile as he took out can after can. The ’net chatter would have been legion, proclaiming him as the next LHW champ. Alas, what might have been.

by Drake_Labatt on Aug 13, 2009 12:29 PM EDT reply actions

yeah, I’m mad too! We should have hoped they’d set a one dimensional (not that good at that dimension) fighter up with guys that wouldn’t take him down… let me guess, you’re an Elitexc/Kimbo fanboy!

by kevin on Aug 13, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

id like to see him put on some more muscle and fight in the most one dimensional weightclass of all HW. lots of one dimensional guys there, could be fun to watch. not going to do anything at 205 anyway. but i like him and would like to see him fight some more.

by irishlilpete on Aug 13, 2009 8:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Looks like Ultimate Challenge UK have a sister American promotion. What an absolute joke of a card, Tim Sylvia in the main event against a nobody, Houston against a nobody with a losing record and in worse form than Ken Shamrock and the 1000th Jeremy Horn fight. I’d laugh if Houston lost again, what would be his excuse this time?

by David W-S on Aug 13, 2009 1:04 PM EDT reply actions

I like Houston. Seems like a down to earth, cool guy, that just likes to throw down.

Do I think he’ll ever be a champ? No! But he’s fun to watch. I’d rather watch Houston play golf than watch Tim Sylvia fight again, and that guy was HW champ.

by Miketsi on Aug 13, 2009 3:51 PM EDT reply actions

What’s with all the Houston bashing? Yes he has lost his last 3 but any fight with Houston in is going to be exciting. I don’t see why the UFC put him against Schafer when they had already seen how he struggled against Silva. Put him against some other strikers maybe Bonnar if he stays at 205. I know I’ll probably get bashed for this but I would rather see a Houston fight than a boring Jon Fitch lay ‘n’ pray any day.

by Riley on Aug 13, 2009 5:11 PM EDT reply actions