Sean Sherk
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Template:MMAstatsbox "The Muscle Shark" Sean Keith Sherk (born August 5, 1973) is an American mixed martial arts fighter. As of October 14, 2006, he holds a professional mixed martial arts record of 31-2-1. He has fought in both the UFC and PRIDE, drawing comparisons[who?] in style and body-type to American wrestler and former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes, whom Sherk had once lost 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 only champion since the division's reinstatement in 2006.
Biography
Martial arts background
Sherk began wrestling at age seven. 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.
Mixed martial arts career
Sean began his mixed martial arts career in 1999 at the Dangerzone MMA Event in Bonville, Minnesota. He continued to win fights, including two notable victories over rising Judo star Karo Parisyan, and was picked up by the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2001, where he defeated Tiki Ghosn by 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 five-round fight where Sherk won two rounds, becoming only the second person ever to go five rounds with the champion, Hughes.
He eventually fought Ryuki Ueyama in PRIDE Bushido 2 and won by decision. It was in Japan where he adopted his nickname, "The Muscle Shark". The Japanese katakana for Sherk is the same for shark. Sherk's win in PRIDE would be his last outing in the company.
He next fought Kaleo Padilla in Kona, Hawaii, and the crowd – including Padilla's father – surrounded Sherk with after he defeated Padilla. After this, Sherk won eleven straight fights by submission or TKO, but still was not signed to the UFC or PRIDE. 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]
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 welterweight contender, Georges St. Pierre. Sherk lost by TKO due to strikes, but 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 second champion in the UFC's lightweight division since Jens Pulver vacated the title in 2002. However, before the title bout Sherk tore his rotator cuff and had to take a break to rehabilitate.
He successfully defended his title against Hermes Franca in UFC 73 on July 7, 2007, wining by unanimous decision after 5 rounds. On July 19, 2007 the California State Athletic Commission announced that Sherk and Franca had both tested positive for banned steroids in post-fight drug tests. After testing positive for Nandrolone Sherk has been fined $2,500 and suspended from competing in California until July 6, 2008. He is expected to appeal the results of the test.[2]
Personal life
Sherk and his wife Heather have two sons, Kyler and Tegan.[3]
Facts
- Sherk trains with close friend and coach Erik Paulson; 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. [4]
- Sherk is an avid fan of the television series Friends. [5]
- 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.
Mixed Martial Arts record
| Total | 31 Wins | 2 Losses | 1 Draw | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 matches | (T)Knockout | 8 | 1 | |
| Submission | 13 | 0 | ||
| Decision | 11 | 1 | ||
| Draw | 1 | |||
| No Contest | 0 | |||
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | Hermes Franca | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 73: Stacked | 07/07/2007 | 5 | 5:00 | Defends UFC Lightweight Title. Tests positive for banned substances after fight. |
| Win | Kenny Florian | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 64: Unstoppable | 10/14/2006 | 5 | 5:00 | Won UFC Lightweight Title |
| Win | Nick Diaz | Decision (Unanimous) | 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 | N/A | |
| 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 | 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 | N/A | |
| 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 | N/A | |
| Win | John Alexander | TKO | EC: Extreme Combat | 8/2/2003 | 1 | N/A | |
| Loss | Matt Hughes | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 42: Sudden Impact | 4/25/2003 | 5 | 5:00 | For UFC welterweight title |
| Win | John Alexander | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | EC 2: Extreme Combat 2 | 12/7/2002 | 1 | N/A | |
| 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 Gamburyan | 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 | N/A | |
| 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 | N/A | |
| Win | Johnnie Holland | Submission (Keylock) | Ultimate Wrestling | 8/13/1999 | 2 | 2:10 |
External links
- Professional MMA record for Sean Sherk from Sherdog
- Official Site
- PRIDE profile
- UFC profile
- The Ballad of the Muscle Shark