(Video courtesy of YouTube/BratIvan88)

When news first got out that a little known fighter named Jon Olaf Einemo who hadn’t fought in over five years was scheduled to take on former UFC number one heavyweight contender Shane Carwin at UFC 131, many wrote it off as an easy tune-up fight for “The Engineer” who has been out of commission rehabbing a back and neck ailment since having surgery last year.

To those in the know, however, Einemo is a tough challenge, no matter how long he’s been away from MMA.

Einemo’s only MMA loss came by unanimous decision to Fabricio Werdum at PRIDE 31. For most, not being submitted by the decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt would be an accomplishment in itself considering he tapped out Alistair Overeem and Aleksander Emelianenko just a few months later. But Einemo was an ADCC champ who won the revered submission grappling tournament in 2003, (and would later lose to Roger Gracie on points in 2009 in the same tournament) so it was unlikely he’d be submitted, even by Werdum.

Fast forward five years and the 35-year-old Norwegian heavyweight, who has remained busy training with his new Team Golden Glory teammates in Holland and competing in grappling tournaments since stepping away from MMA to focus on his family, is stepping back in the cage to take on UFC newcomer Dave Herman, who replaced Shane Carwin in the match (who stepped in to face Junior dos Santos in the main event when Brock Lesnar was forced off the card due to a diverticulitis flare-up) this weekend in Vancouver at UFC 131 this weekend. Most think that ring rust and Herman’s proven stand-up may play a factor in the bout, but considering Einemo is a main training partner of Strikeforce and K-1 champion Alistair Overeem and according to his coaches has had “many wars in sparring” with “The Reem,” it seems doubtful that the 6′ 6″ fighter (Herman is no slouch himself at 6′ 5″) will be unprepared in any areas of the fight.

(Video courtesy of YouTube/BratIvan88)

(Video courtesy of YouTube/PedroLMariano3)

(Video courtesy of YouTube/PedroLMariano3)

(Video courtesy of YouTube/PedroLMariano3)