CITY OF TONAWANDA — The last time Tonawanda native Erik Herbert stepped foot into the octagon, he was battered and bloodied in the third and final round against James Nevels at Raging Wolf VII, Mayhem in the Mist on May 8 at the Seneca Niagara Casino, but ultimately limped away with a unanimous decision victory.

The 5-foot-10 185-pound Tonawanda High School grad tore ligaments in his knee during the match, derailing his career, but not for long.

Tonight, just a few months removed from a rather serious ailment, Herbert will have at it yet again as he will square off in a middleweight bout against Daniel Dwyer in Raging Wolf IX, Mayhem in the Mist at the Seneca Niagara Casino.

Herbert said he has fully recovered and will be ready to perform once the bell sounds.

“It’s perfect. I’m 100-percent and ready to go,” he said. “My knee is better than it’s ever been.”

The fight is featured on the event’s fight card as the co-main event along with Elaina Maxwell matchup versus prominent female fighter, Alexis Davis.

Despite the lofty spotlight of the fight, Herbert said he is focused on the task at hand.

“It’s exciting, but I don’t really care,” said Herbert, co-owner of Victory Mixed Martial Arts and Fitness, 102 Broad Street in Tonawanda. “I’m not going to think about it after today. Whether it is the first fight or the last fight, when I step in the ring it’s all business.”

Herbert, who currently attends Niagara County Community College, is 2-0 as a professional mixed martial artist and has spent a great deal of time training with wrestlers from the University at Buffalo squad. His opponent, he said, is in equally good shape, and has a tendency to rely heavily on his proficiency in the ground game. Herbert said he is prepared.

“It’s going to be a good fight. It’s going to be a fast-paced fight,” he said. “(Dwyer’s) a wrestler, so I’m obviously going for the knockout and to stand it up. But if it goes to the ground, I feel real good there, too. I’m looking for the knockout, but most importantly I’m going for the win.”

In addition, another Victory MMA up-and-comer, Eddie Weiser is featured on the 10-fight card. The Grand Island graduate will take on Joe Duffy in a middleweight fight. Weiser is also coming off a win at Raging Wolf VII, defeating Kyle Rozanski in a unanimous decision.

Weiser is excited to get back in the ring near his home team.

“I’m feeling real good. I feel like this [fight] is a big one, a big stepping stone,” Weiser said. “It’s my third fight, so I just have to go out there and prove something.”

Gates open at 4:30 p.m. and fights start promptly at 6 p.m. For more information, visit Ragingwolf.com.

Contact sports editor Brandon Koch at 693-1000, ext. 117.