When the middleweight matchup between Ed Herman and Tim Credeur was announced for the Ultimate Fighter 13 finale, the first thought was “ring rust”. Both fighters had been out of action for over 21 months and typically when coming off a long break like that they show some ring rust upon their return.

Just 48 seconds into the fight it was clear that ring rust had affected one fighter more than the other as one fighter was now lying on the canvas while the other was circling the Octagon with his hands raised.

Herman (20-7) last fought back in August of 2009 at UFC 102, losing to Aaron Simpson due to a nasty knee injury which required multiple knee surgeries. Nearly 22 months later “Short Fuse” showed little ill effects from the injury or long layoff by dispatching Credeur in just 48 seconds.

Credeur (12-4) had been out of action since September of 2009 where he lost by unanimous decision to Nat Quarry at UFN 19. He was schedule to fight at UFC 113 in May of 2010 but was forced off the card when an abnormality was found during his brain scan. The Louisianan native looked rusty and stiff inside the Octagon and Herman made him pay.

It was a right upper from Herman while the left was holding the back of the head that dropped Credeur. Herman followed it up with four unanswered shots to the face of Credeur before Herb Dean stopped the fight at the 48 second mark. Credeur tried to get up after the fight was stopped but his legs weren’t under him and he needed to be helped.

Credeur has now lost two in a row after starting out 3-0 in the UFC and finds himself shaky ground. The win for Herman improved his UFC record to 5-5, but the Ultimate Fighter 3 runner-up is still on shaky ground having lost three of his last five.