Sean Sherk

MMAstatsbox
name=Sean Sherk


nick=The Muscle Shark
height=height|ft=5|in=6
weight=convert|155|lb|kg st|abbr=on|lk=on
nationality=American
birthdate=birth date and age|year=1973|month=8|day=5
fightingfrom=Anoka, Minnesota
hometown=St. Francis, Minnesota
fightteam= Minnesota Martial Arts Academy
fightstyle=Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
wins=32
losses=3
draws=1
ko=8
submissions=13|

Sean Sherk (born August 5, 1973) is an American mixed martial artist currently fighting for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He currently holds a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) record of thirty-two wins, three loses, and one draw. Sherk has fought in both the UFC and PRIDE Fighting Championships, and is a one-time UFC Lightweight Champion.

Sherk began fighting MMA in 1999, where he originally fought at the welterweight weight-class. During his time as a welterweight, Sherk suffered only two loses; one to Matt Hughes and one to Georges St. Pierre. In 2006, Sherk decided to drop down to the lightweight class of 155 lb. In his first fight as a lightweight, Sherk defeated Kenny Florian to become the first UFC Lightweight Champion in over four years. After his first successful defense with the title, Sherk was stripped of the title after testing positive for steroids. Upon his return in May 2008, Sherk failed to win back the title from the champion, B.J. Penn.

Martial arts background

Sean Sherk was born on August 5, 1973 in St. Francis, Minnesota.cite web|url= http://seansherk.com/?page_id=3|title=Sean Sherk bio|publisher=SheanSherk.com|accessmonthday=August 9|accessyear=2008] Sherk began wrestling at age seven. He continued to wrestle for eleven years, where he wrestled over 400 matches.cite web|first=Fredrick|last=Peterson|date=May 14, 2008|url= http://www.411mania.com/MMA/columns/75492|title=Sean Sherk profile|publisher=411mania.com|accessmonthday=August 9|accessyear=2008] After finding Greg Nelson's Minnesota Martial Arts Academy in 1994,cite web|url= http://www.mmaacombatzone.com/mmaa_people_fighters.php?pg=fighters&sel_record=15&subject=&action=|title=Sean Sherk fighter profile|publisher=Minnesota Martial Arts Academy|accessmonthday=August 9|accessyear=2008] Sherk began to practice boxing, shoot wrestling, and Muay Thai. In 1999, Sherk defeated Roscoe Ostyn by decision in his first MMA fight.cite web|url= http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Sean-Sherk-277|title=MMA record for Sean "The Muscle Shark" Sherk|publisher=Sherdog|accessmonthday=August 9|accessyear=2008]

Mixed martial arts career

Sherk began his mixed martial arts career in 1999, where he went on an eight-fight win streak before signing with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2001. Sherk fought only one fight before leaving the UFC. He eventually came back and fought Matt Hughes for the UFC Welterweight Championship. He lost the match and went on to sign with PRIDE Fighting Championships (PRIDE). In 2005, Sherk resigned with the UFC and lost to Georges St. Pierre.cite video|title=|medium=DVD|publisher=Ultimate Fighting Championship|location=Las Vegas, Nevada|year2=2006]

UFC (2001–2003)

Sherk made his UFC debut at "UFC 30", where he defeated Tiki Ghosn. After going 5-0-1 outside the UFC, he was brought back to fight Jutaro Nakao at "UFC 36", a fight which Sherk won via unanimous decision. On September 27, 2002, at "UFC 39", Sherk defeated Benji Radach when the fight was stopped due to a cut Radach had received.

Sherk was then chosen to fight Matt Hughes for the UFC Welterweight Championship on April 25, 2003. Sherk lost the fight via unanimous decision after going five five-minute rounds. Sherk won two of the overall five rounds, becoming the first fighter to ever fight a full five round fight with then-champion Matt Hughes. [cite video|title=|medium=DVD|publisher=Ultimate Fighting Championship|location=Las Vegas, Nevada|year2=2003]

PRIDE (2004)

Following his loss to 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". Sherk defeated Ryuki Ueyama via unanimous decision, in what was his only outing in the company.

Return to the UFC and steroid allegations (2005–present)

Sherk was invited back to the UFC in 2005 for a fight with Georges St. Pierre. Sherk lost by TKO, but was given another fight in the UFC at "UFC 59", where he defeated Nick Diaz via unanimous decision.cite video|title=|medium=DVD|publisher=Ultimate Fighting Championship|location=Las Vegas, Nevada|year2=2006] During the post-fight interview, Sherk stated his intention to drop down in weight to the lightweight division. In October 2006, at "UFC 64", Sherk defeated Kenny Florian via unanimous decision to win the UFC Lightweight Championship.cite video|title=|medium=DVD|publisher=Ultimate Fighting Championship|location=Las Vegas, Nevada|year2=2007] With this win, Sherk became the first UFC Lightweight Champion since Jens Pulver vacated the title in 2002. Sherk fought the bout with a torn rotator cuff and was forced to rehabilitate afterwards. [cite web|date=February 18, 2007|url= http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=3455&zoneid=13|title=Kevin Randleman at a crossroads|publisher=MMAWeekly.com|accessmonthday=August 9|accessyear=2008] In July 2007, Sherk successfully defended his title against Hermes Franca at "UFC 73". [cite video|title=|medium=DVD|publisher=Ultimate Fighting Championship|location=Las Vegas, Nevada|year2=2007] After the fight, the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) announced that Sherk had tested positive for Nandrolone, a banned steroid, in a urine test the day prior to the fight. After testing positive for twelve ng/ml of Nandrolone, Sherk was fined $2,500 and suspended from competing in California for one year. [cite web|first=Jeff|last=Gross|date=July 19, 2007|url= http://sherdog.com/news/news/ufc-155-lb-champion-challenger-positive-for-steroids-8333|title=UFC 155 lb. Champion, Challenger Positive for Steroids|publisher=Sherdog|accessmonthday=August 9|accessyear=2008] Sherk's suspension was reduced to six months after appealing his allegations on December 4, 2007, making him eligible to fight in early January 2008. [cite web|date=December 4, 2007|url= http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=5201&zoneid=13|title=UFC Champ, Sean Sherk's Suspension Reduced|publisher=MMA Weekly|accessmonthday=August 9|accessyear=2008] Sherk claimed errors were made in lab testing procedures. He claimed that failure of the lab to properly test the vials used in the earlier, positive tests for any remaining steroid content may have resulted in his sample becoming contaminated.cite web|first=Ben|last=Zeidler|date=December 20, 2007|url= http://www.mmamadness.com/insight.html?newsitem_id=193|title=One-on-one with Sean Sherk|publisher=MMA Madness|accessmonthday=August 9|accessyear=2008] However, Quest Diagnostics and the CSAC denied any errors were made.

Following the CSAC's decision to uphold the results of the positive steroid test, the UFC officially stripped Sherk of his Lightweight Championship. [cite web|date=December 9, 2007|url= http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=10289|title=Sherk Stripped of UFC Belt|publisher=Sherdog|accessmonthday=January 20|accessyear=2008] At "UFC 80", B.J. Penn defeated Joe Stevenson to win the vacant title. [cite video|title=|medium=DVD|publisher=Ultimate Fighting Championship|location=Las Vegas, Nevada|year2=2008] After the fight, UFC president Dana White announced that Penn's first title defense would be against Sherk, who was reinstated by UFC in April 2008. [cite web|first=Matt|last=Wilkins|date=January 20, 2008|url= http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=5500&zoneid=13|title=Dana White Confirms Penn vs. Sherk and More|publisher=MMA Weekly|accessmonthday=January 20|accessyear=2008] Sherk and Penn fought at "UFC 84" on May 24, 2008. Penn defeated Sherk by TKO after Sherk was unable to continue at the end of the third round. [cite web|url= http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=eventdetail.fightCard&eid=1105|title=UFC 84: Ill Will results|publisher=Ultimate Fighting Championship|accessmonthday=August 9|accessyear=2008]

Personal life

* Sherk and his wife have two sons, Kyler and Tegan.
* 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.cite web
url=http://www.mmaacombatzone.com/mmaa_people_staff.php?pg=staff
title=Minnesota Martial Arts Academy Staff
] Other fighters include Brock Lesnar, Brock Larson, Nick Thompson, Logan Clark, Jacob Volkmann, Kaitlin Young, Nat McIntyre and Saul Mitchellcite web
url=http://www.mmaacombatzone.com/mmaa_people_fighters.php?pg=fighters&active=yes&fighter=yes
title=Minnesota Martial Arts Academy Fighters
]

Mixed martial arts record

Championships and accomplishments

*Ultimate Fighting Championship
**UFC Lightweight Championship (1 time)

References

External links

* [http://www.seansherk.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=fighter.Detail&pid=144 Official UFC.com profile]
* [http://www.myspace.com/seansherk Official MySpage page]
*sherdog|id=277|name=Sean Sherk

Persondata
NAME = Sherk, Sean
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Professional mixed martial artist
DATE OF BIRTH = August 5 1973
PLACE OF BIRTH = St. Francis, Minnesota
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =