Sean Sherk
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Template:MMAstatsbox "The Muscle Shark" Sean Keith Sherk (born August 5, 1973) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. As of October 14, 2006, he holds a professional mixed martial arts record of 31-2-1. He has fought in both the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and PRIDE Fighting Championships, and draws comparisons in style and body type to American wrestler and former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes.
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. In December 2007 Sherk was officially stripped of the title.
Martial arts background
Sherk began wrestling at age seven. After searching for something to fulfill his athletic and competitive desires, he found Greg Nelson's Minnesota Martial Arts Academy in Minnesota. He first trained in Muay Thai Shooto and later began to combine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with his wrestling ability. His coach, Greg Nelson, is closely affiliated with Erik Paulson founder of Combat Submission Wrestling.
Mixed martial arts career
Sherk began his mixed martial arts career in 1999 at the Dangerzone MMA Event in Bonville, Minnesota. He opened his career with a twelve-fight win streak, including two notable victories over rising Judo star Karo Parisyan, and was picked up by the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2001.
UFC contender
He made his UFC debut at UFC 30 where he defeated Tiki Ghosn. After going 5-0-1 outside of the UFC he was brought back to fight Jutaro Nakao at UFC 36, a fight in which Sherk won via unanimous decision. His next fight was on September 27, 2002 against Benji Radach at UFC 39. Sherk won the fight when it was stopped due to a cut Radach received.
Sherk was then chosen to fight Matt Hughes for the UFC welterweight championship on April 25, 2003. Sherk lost his title bid in a five round fight where he won two rounds, becoming the first person ever to go five rounds with the champion, Hughes.
PRIDE FC
Following the fight with Hughes, Sherk fought three more times in 2003, winning all three bouts. In 2004 he signed with PRIDE and made his debut with the Japanese-based organization at PRIDE Bushido 2, facing Ryuki Ueyama. Sherk won the fight via unanimous 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 only outing in the company.
Layoff
Sherk then won seven straight fights, all 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 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. 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, but was given another fight in the UFC at UFC 59, where he 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.
Lightweight championship; controversy
Six months later, Sherk won the UFC lightweight championship at UFC 64, defeating The Ultimate Fighter 1 finalist Kenny Florian by unanimous decision. With his win he became 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 at UFC 73 on July 7, 2007, winning by unanimous decision after five 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 was fined $2,500 and suspended from competing in California until July 6, 2008. He has since filed an extension for his appeal hearing.[2] His appeal was December 4, 2007, which saw Sherk's suspension reduced to 6 months, making him eligible to fight in early January 2008.[3] According to UFC President Dana White, Sherk has passed a lie detector test that he did not knowingly take steroids.[4] Several recent studies have shown banned substances in nearly 1/4 of the tested over-the-counter supplements which might support Sherk's assertion that he did not knowingly take steroids.[5]
The UFC announced on November 12, 2007 that Sherk will most likely be stripped of the lightweight title if the steroid ruling is upheld by the CSAC.[6] Joe Stevenson will fight B.J. Penn for the vacant title at UFC 80.
Personal life
Sherk and his wife, Heather, have two sons, Kyler (born in 2004) and Tegan.[7]
Trivia
 | This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. (August 2007) |
- Sherk trains with close friend and coach Erik Paulson. 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.[citation needed]
- Sherk loves pit bulls.[7]
- Sherk is an avid fan of the television series Friends and Entourage.[7]
- He cites Metallica, Linkin Park, Stone Sour, Disturbed, and Korn among his favorite bands, and typically makes his pre-fight entrance to the song Wait by Earshot.[citation needed]
Mixed martial arts record
| 34 matches | 31 wins | 2 losses |
| By knockout | 8 | 1 |
| By submission | 13 | 0 |
| By decision | 11 | 1 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | Hermes Franca | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 73: Stacked | 07/07/2007 | 5 | 5:00 | Defended UFC lightweight title; tests positive for banned substance 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 | 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) | Extreme Combat | 12/12/2003 | 1 | N/A | |
| Win | John Alexander | TKO | 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) | 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 | 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
References
- ^ Gerbasi, Thomas (October 11, 2006). "Sean Sherk's Second Chance". UFC.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "UFC's Sherk, Franca get one-year suspensions for failing drug tests". July 19, 2007.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "UFC Champ, Sean Sherk's Suspension Reduced". December 4, 2007.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Perkins, Jason (October 9, 2007). "Sean Sherk Passes Lie Detector, Details". MMA Fightline.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Perez, A.J. (December 5, 2007). "Study: Steroids found in supplements". USA Today.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "White, Headliners Offer 'Validation' for UFC 78". sherdog.com. November 12nd, 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-02.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c {{cite web | url=http://seansherk.com/?page_id=3 | title=Bio HIS NOTHING BUT A ROID FREAK AND HE DOESNT DESERVE TO HAVE HIS OWN WIKIPIDEA PAGE and i would like to add KARO WOULD FUCK URE ASS UP A STERIODED GROWN MAN FIGHTING AN 18 YEAR OLD HOW SICK DO PPL HAVE TO BE