Sean Sherk
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| Sean Sherk | |
|---|---|
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| Statistics | |
| Nickname | Muscle Shark |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) |
| Weight | 155 lb (70 kg) |
| Nationality |  American |
| Born | August 5, 1973 |
| Fighting out of | Anoka, Minnesota |
| Town of birth | St. Francis, Minn. |
| Fighting style | Wrestling |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Wins | 33 |
| By knockout | 8 |
| By submission | 13 |
| Losses | 2 |
| Draws | 1 |
"The Muscle Shark" Sean Keith Sherk (b. August 5, 1973) is an American mixed martial arts fighter. As of October 14, 2006, he holds a professional mixed martial arts record of 33-2-1. He has fought in both the UFC and PRIDE, drawing comparisons in style and body-type to American wrestler and former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes, who Sherk had once fought and lost a close decision to after a five-round championship bout.
Sherk became the UFC Lightweight Champion on October 14, 2006 at UFC 64. He is only the second UFC Lightweight Champion to date, and is the first champion since the division's reinstatement in 2006.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Martial arts background
Sherk began wrestling at age seven and, prior to fighting in mixed martial arts, he competed in over 400 matches. After searching for something to fulfill his athletic and competitive desires, he found the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy and Greg Nelson. He first trained in Muay Thai and Shooto, and later began to combine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with his wrestling ability. His coach, Greg Nelson, is closely affiliated with Erik Paulson, and Sean represents Combat Submission Wrestling when he fights.
[edit] Mixed martial arts career
Sean began his mixed martial arts career in 1999 at the Dangerzone MMA Event in Mahnomen, Minnesota. He continued to win fights and was picked up by the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2001, where he defeated Tiki Ghosn by verbal submission. He was chosen to fight Matt Hughes for the UFC Welterweight Championship in 2003 after Sherk won his first 17 fights. He lost his title bid in a tough five-round fight where Sherk won two rounds, becoming only the second person ever to go five rounds with the champion, Hughes.
After losing to Hughes, he found it hard to get quality opponents. Many top ten fighters turned down offers to fight Sherk, most likely because of his performance against Hughes. He eventually fought Ryuki Ueyama in PRIDE Bushido 2 and won by decision, stunning the crowd with his aggressive wrestling style, but also showcasing his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills. It was in Japan where he adopted his nickname, "The Muscle Shark". The Japanese katakana for Sherk is the same for shark. Sherk's successful bout in PRIDE would be his last outing in the company.
He next fought Kaleo Padilla in Kona, Hawaii, and in a unique turn of events, the crowd – including Padilla's father – surrounded Sherk with malicous intent after he defeated the hometown hero. After this, Sherk won eleven straight fights by submission or TKO, but still was not signed to the UFC or PRIDE despite the fact that he showed he could be a force to be reckoned with. Despite his success in the sport, and his recognition as the 2nd-highest ranked welterweight, he could no longer earn sufficient income as a mixed martial artist. After the birth of his first child, he retired from the sport of mixed martial arts and got a job in the flooring business. When he left, he was embittered since the Ultimate Fighter reality TV show started, and all these new fighters were getting national exposure, while he was unable to get fights[1]. Sherk admits that the desire to compete at a professional level, and the frustrations of his everyday job, ultimately drew him back to mixed martial arts.
[edit] Return to the UFC
The UFC had experienced a growth in popularity after the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. After his coach suggested that he start teaching classes and speaking with his old manager, Monte Cox, Sherk began training for a return to professional mixed martial arts circuit. He defeated Joel Blanton, and then was invited back to the UFC for a fight with world-renowned welterweight contender, Georges St. Pierre. Sherk lost by TKO due to strikes, but showed improved boxing technique and tenacity, and was given another fight in the UFC at UFC 59, where Sherk defeated Nick Diaz by unanimous decision, earning his first victory in the organization since 2002. During the post-fight interview, Sherk stated his intention to drop down in weight to the lightweight division. Six months later, Sherk won the UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 64, defeating Kenny Florian by unanimous decision, and becoming the first champion in the UFC's lightweight division since Jens Pulver vacated the title in 2002.
[edit] Facts
- Sherk trains with a team of professional Muay Thai kickboxers (two U.S. champions); Division I and two champion freestyle wrestlers; and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Blackbelts at the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy. His training partners include UFC veterans Brock Larson, Dave Menne, and Nick Thompson.
- He currently coaches a team of fighters with coaches Greg Nelson, Nat McIntyre, Andy Grahn, Ryan Murray, Ishmael Bentley, and Rick Noyes at the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy.
- Sherk loves pit bulls.
- He has two sons, Kyler and Tegan.
- Sherk is an avid fan of the television series Friends.
- He cites Metallica, Linkin Park, Stone Sour, Disturbed, and Korn among his favorite bands.
- Sherk is sponsored by Xyience, Warrior Wear, American Fighter, and Frontier Homes.
[edit] MMA record
| 33 Wins (8 TKO's, 13 submission, 10 decisions), 2 Losses (1 (T)KOs, 1 Decisions), 1 Draw, as of Oct 14, 2006.[1] | |||||||
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round, Time | Notes | |
| Win | Kenny Florian | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 64: Unstoppable | 10/14/2006 | 5 5:00 | Won UFC Lightweight Title | |
| Win | Nick Diaz | Decision (Unaminous) | UFC 59: Reality Check | 4/15/2006 | 3 5:00 | ||
| Loss | Georges St. Pierre | TKO (Strikes) | UFC 56: Full Force | 11/19/2005 | 2 2:53 | ||
| Win | Joel Blanton | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | BP: Pride and Glory | 9/17/2005 | 1 | ||
| Win | Lee King | Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) | Extreme Challenge 60 | 11/12/2004 | 1 2:20 | ||
| Win | Brodie Farber | Submission (Choke) | SF 6: Battleground in Reno | 9/23/2004 | 1 0:55 | ||
| Win | Darin Brudigan | Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) | Cage Fighting Xtreme 2 | 9/4/2004 | N/A | ||
| Win | Gerald Strebendt | TKO | Extreme Challenge 58 | 6/11/2004 | 1 3:52 | ||
| Win | Eric Heinz | Submission (Neck Crank) | Pride and Fury | 6/3/2004 | 1 0:58 | ||
| Win | Jake Short | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | ICC: Trials 2 | 4/30/2004 | 1 | ||
| Win | Kaleo Padilla | Submission (Neck Crank) | You Think Your Tough | 4/17/2004 | 2 1:17 | ||
| Win | Ryuki Ueyama | Decision (Unanimous) | PRIDE: Bushido 2 | 2/15/2004 | 2 5:00 | ||
| Win | Charles Taylor | Submission (Keylock) | EP: XXXtreme Impact | 12/28/2003 | 2 0:58 | ||
| Win | Mark Long | Submission (Strikes) | EC: Extreme Combat | 12/12/2003 | 1 | ||
| Win | John Alexander | TKO | EC: Extreme Combat | 8/2/2003 | 1 | ||
| Loss | Matt Hughes | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 42: Sudden Impact | 4/25/2003 | 5 5:00 | Was for UFC welterweight title | |
| Win | John Alexander | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | EC 2: Extreme Combat 2 | 12/7/2002 | 1 | ||
| Win | Benji Radach | TKO (Cut) | UFC 39: The Warriors Return | 9/27/2002 | 1 4:16 | ||
| Win | Jutaro Nakao | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 36: Worlds Collide | 3/22/2002 | 3 5:00 | ||
| Win | Claudionor Fontinelle | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | UCC 6: Redemption | 10/19/2001 | 2 1:04 | ||
| Draw | Kiuma Kunioku | Draw | Pancrase: 2001 Neo-Blood Tournament, Round 2 | 7/29/2001 | 3 5:00 | ||
| Win | Curtis Brigham | TKO (Towel) | UW: St. Paul | 7/15/2001 | 3 1:15 | ||
| Win | Jason Purcell | TKO | UW: Ultimate Fight Minnesota | 6/2/2001 | 1 1:42 | ||
| Win | Marty Armendarez | TKO (Punches) | KOTC 8: Bombs Away | 4/29/2001 | 3 2:07 | ||
| Win | Manvel Gamberyian | Decision | RSF 3: Reality Submission Fighting 3 | 3/30/2001 | 1 18:00 | ||
| Win | Tiki Ghosn | Submission (Shoulder Dislocated) | UFC 30: Battle on the Boardwalk | 2/23/2001 | 2 4:47 | ||
| Win | Karo Parisyan | TKO (Towel) | Reality Submission Fighting 2 | 1/5/2001 | 1 16:20 | ||
| Win | Ken Parham | Decision | Submission Fighting Championships | 11/3/2000 | 2 | ||
| Win | Karo Parisyan | Decision | Reality Submission Fighting 1 | 10/10/2000 | 1 18:00 | ||
| Win | Steve Gomm | Decision | Extreme Challenge 28 | 10/9/1999 | 1 10:00 | ||
| Win | Scott Bills | Decision | Extreme Challenge 28 | 10/9/1999 | 1 10:00 | ||
| Win | Kurtis Jensen | TKO | Extreme Challenge: Trials | 10/4/1999 | 1 | ||
| Win | Johnnie Holland | Submission (Keylock) | Ultimate Wrestling | 8/13/1999 | 2 2:10 | ||
| Win | Dean Kugler | Decision | Midwest MMA Championship 1 | 7/11/1999 | 1 10:00 | ||
| Win | Joe Paun | Decision | Midwest MMA Championship 1 | 7/11/1999 | 1 15:00 | ||
| Win | Roscoe Ostyn | Decision | Dangerzone: Mahnomen | 6/19/1999 | N/A | ||
[edit] External links
| Previous champion Jens Pulver |
2nd UFC Lightweight Champion October 14, 2006 – Present |
Next champion Incumbent |
