411 Fighter Profile: Sean Sherk
Posted by Fredrick Peterson on 05.14.2008
Sean Sherk, the controversal Lightweight contender, is now considered the Tim Sylvia of the Lightweight Division. Love him or hate him he has compiled an impressive record over a number of big-name fighters. Click here as 411mania's Fredrick Peterson shares the history of the The Muscle Shark...
Sean Sherk
Nickname: " Muscle Shark " Record: 35-2-1 Weight: 155 lb (70 kg) Height: 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) Hometown: St. Francis, Minnesota Ranking 5th Lightweight Association: Minnesota Martial Arts Academy Organizations: UFC, PRIDE, BP, EC, SF, CFX, PFA, ICC, YYYT, Pancrase, UW, KOTC, and Reality Submission Fighting, Accomplishments: Former UFC Lightweight Champion
Introduction
Sean was crowned the new UFC Lighweight Champion after defeating Kenny Florian by Unanimous Decision. He was the second ever UFC Lightweight Champion after the belt was reinstated in 2006. Sean Started his career with 14 victories and 1 draw which got him the big call to fight for the UFC. During the next few years Sean amassed an impressive record with his only loss to then Champion and future hall-of-famer Matt Hughes (which was for the welterweight title). After this fight Sean would go on to win 11 more victories before retiring from MMA. Sean was unable to find enough fights to provide for his family and decided to get into the flooring business. After the Ultimate Fighter brought on the potential of the UFC, Sean got back to training and after one more victory again got the call to fight in the UFC. In his first fight back Sean was stopped for the first time by current Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre. Since this loss Sean has gone on to win his last three fights and capture the Lightweight Title, defending it once. After his defense Sean tested positive for steroids, a charge which he venomously denies. After getting his suspension reduced to six months Sean was stripped of the title. For his first fight back on May 24 at UFC 84: Ill Will, Sean will get a chance to regain the title which he never lost against "The Prodigy" BJ Penn.
Since his return to the UFC, popularity has evaded the Muscle Shark. Between the steroid scandal and penchant for not finishing fights Sean has become the Tim Sylvia of the Lightweight Division. Many (if not most) MMA analytics do not feel that Sean deserves an automatic shot at the title due to his steroid suspension and many claim that he got the fight due to his close friendship with UFC president Dana White.
Regardless of his current non-popularity Sean Sherk remains one of the most dominant fighters in the Lightweight division. Between his strength, excellent wrestling, and top-notch conditioning he makes a tough fight for anyone in the Lightweight division. Sean does have 13 submissions and 8 (T)KO to his name. His victories include wins over Karo Parisyan, Tiki Ghosn, Manvel Gamburyan, Nick Diaz, Kenny Florian, and Hermes Franca. At UFC 84 Sean will try to prove all the naysayers wrong (BJ included) and once again become the UFC Lightweight Champion.
Early Life
Sean Sherk was born in St. Francis, Minnesota on August 5, 1973. Sean's desire for physical competition started at the young age of 7 where he competed at amateur wrestling for 11 years and racked up over 400 wins. Sean continued to fight for the rest of his life. In the mid 90's Sean decided to take up MMA. He discovered the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy where he began to study the other aspects of MMA and continued to hone his dominant wrestling ability. During his first few years of professional fighting Sean also worked as a machinist and would train during his lunch break.
MMA Career
Win, Roscoe Ostyn, Unamimous Decision, 2nd round 5:00 Dangerzone-Manhomen, 6.19.1999
-Sean wins his first fight by unanimous decision.
Win, Steve Gomm, Unanimous Decision, 1st round 10.00 Extreme Challenge 28, 10.9.1999
-The Muscle Shark wins his Second fight of the Night.
Win, Karo Parisyan, Unanimous Decision, 1st round Reality Submission Fighting 1, 10.10.2000
-After a year layoff Sherk comes back strong with a big victory over rising Judo star Karo Parisyan.
Win, Brodie Farber, Sub (Choke), 1st round 0:55 SF 6-Battleground In Reno, 9.23.2004
Win, Lee King, Sub (Arm Triangle Choke), 1st round 2:20 EC 60-Extreme Challenge 60,11.12.2004
Win, Joel Blanton, Sub (Rear Naked Choke), 1st round 3:22 BP-Pride And Glory, 9.17.2005
-Sherk finishes his eighth fight in a row 7 Subs, 1 TKO
Loss, Georges St. Pierre, TKO, 2nd round 2:53 UFC 56: Full Force, 11.19.2005
-Sherk loses his debut in the revamped UFC. This is also his only stoppage loss.
Win, Kenny Florian, Unanimous Decision, 5th round 5:00, UFC Lightweight Championship UFC 64: Unstoppable, 10.14.2006
-Sherk wins the newly reinstated Lightweight title that saw Sherk bloodied.
Win, Hermes Franca, Unanimous Decision 5th round 5:00 UFC 73: Stacked, 7.7.2007
-Sherk Defends title. Subsequently Sherk tests positive for steroids and is stripped of UFC title after appeal is denied.
Since a lot of Sherk Fights were hard to find here is a highlight video:
The Future
Sean "The Muscle Shark" Sherk has the fight of his life on May 24, against BJ "The Prodigy" Penn. This fight will prove who really is the strongest lightweight in the UFC. In the stacked lightweight division Sherk and Penn are head and shoulders above the rest. Love him or hate him Sean has something to prove here. After already testing clean due to "random testing" this fight should be a war and many of Sherk's questions should be answered.
Sherk does what he has to do to win but i cant see him beating bj. bj by 2nd round rear naked choke
Posted By: Joe (Guest) on May 14, 2008 at 06:25 AM
I'm picking BJ but only because I actually believe him this time about his renewed dedication to training. If Bj comes in as he did against Hughes or GSP, then Sherk will outlast him and win the last 3rds easily.
Posted By: guest guest (Guest) on May 14, 2008 at 08:31 AM
BJ has a new found dedication and is in better shape then he's ever been in his life... sadly, that's really not saying much. He was all excited and pointing out that his abs were showing...something that practically every other fighter always has.
So now, instead of being tired in the 2nd, he might last until the 3rd... or mostly likely, Sherk'll just push him harder and he'll still gas early.
Sherk, coming off the suspension, has a LOT more to prove... not only does he want his belt back, but he has to show the world that it wasn't just roids that make him that way. In which case, he'll have to show up bigger, stronger, and in better condition then he's ever been before.
I haven't seen anything from BJ to show that the fight won't go the exact same way as Sherk v. KenFlo went... with the exception of Penn gassing out. I'd love to see Sean attempt the impossible and make Penn tap late in the 4th. There'd be no better way to claim and show his dominance.
I actually wouldn't be surprised if either/both were to keep the fight standing for a while- it's the weaker of areas for both of them, and neither is known as a serious KO threat.
I see Sherks compact strength and wrestling skills nullifying Penn's submission game for both of the 2 rounds where it'll be a threat.
Posted By: cyks (Guest) on May 14, 2008 at 03:28 PM
