Sean Sherk

Sean Keith Sherk (born August 5, 1973) is an American retired mixed martial artist and former UFC Lightweight Champion. Sherk competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and was one of the first combatants to have been a championship competitor in multiple weight divisions (having also competed for the UFC Welterweight Championship). He was the second UFC Lightweight Champion in the organization's history after Jens Pulver vacated his title five years earlier. Sherk also spent time competing in the Japan-based organizations, PRIDE Fighting Championships and Pancrase; going undefeated in both promotions. He holds one of the longest undefeated streaks in mixed martial arts history, with only four career losses, all to fellow-UFC Champions. Sherk announced his official retirement from mixed martial arts competition in September 2013 having last fought three years prior.

Recognized for his role in the resurgence of the UFC Lightweight division, Sherk became the first UFC Lightweight Champion since the division was re-introduced by the UFC in 2006. He successfully defended the UFC Lightweight Championship against Hermes Franca at UFC 73, after winning the title in a Fight of the Night award winning performance against Kenny Florian at UFC 64. Sherk is noted to have taken part in some of the most important fights in the UFC's lightweight division, where he is considered to be one of the greatest lightweight competitors of his era.

Martial arts background Sherk was born on August 5, 1973, in St. Francis, Minnesota. Sherk began Wrestling and Weightlifting at age seven. After finding Greg Nelson's Minnesota Martial Arts Academy in 1994, Sherk began to practice Judo, Boxing, Shootfighting, and Muay Thai.

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.

Pride (2004) Following his loss to Hughes, Sherk fought three more times in 2003, winning all three bouts. but was given another fight in the UFC at UFC 59, Sherk demonstrated that he was able to stand and strike with the more documented striker in Nick Diaz as well as mixing his combination very well with his takedowns, he defeated Nick Diaz via unanimous decision. During the post-fight interview, Sherk stated his intention to drop down in weight to the lightweight division. With this win, Sherk became the first UFC Lightweight Champion since Jens Pulver vacated the title in 2002.

Steroid accusations

In July 2007, Sherk successfully defended his title against Hermes França at UFC 73. 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 12 ng/ml of Nandrolone, Sherk was fined $2,500 and suspended from competing in California for one year. 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. Sherk argued that errors were made in lab testing procedures. He asserted that the lab had failed to properly test the vials used in earlier, positive tests for any remaining steroid content, which may have resulted in his sample becoming contaminated. Quest Diagnostics and the CSAC denied any errors were made. At UFC 80, B.J. Penn defeated Joe Stevenson to win the vacant title. 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, and has tested clean ever since. Sherk and Penn fought at UFC 84 on May 24, 2008. Sherk lost by TKO in the third round after failing to answer the fourth round bell.

After UFC 84

Sherk fought Tyson Griffin at UFC 90: Silva vs Cote, in a fight with title contention implications. In a three-round war, Sherk won by unanimous decision, earning him a $65,000 Fight of the Night award. In the first round Sherk was putting the pressure on Griffin from the very beginning scoring take-downs and taking Griffins back. Throughout the second and third rounds Sherk took Griffin down once more and the rest remained an exciting striking battle between the two. Sherk demonstrated very crisp and technical striking that night.

Sherk next fought Frankie Edgar at UFC 98 losing via unanimous decision. Sherk again found himself in trouble with an athletic commission post fight, after he ran from the arena while still in his fight shorts and no shirt before supplying a post fight urinalysis. He was contacted by commission officer Keith Kizer and told to return to the arena immediately or face his license being revoked. Sherk returned within the hour and provided a urinalysis and tested clean, but was still suspended 45 days for the actions.

Injury plague hits

Sherk was scheduled to face Gleison Tibau at UFC 104, but was forced off the card with an injury. He was replaced by Josh Neer.

Sherk was scheduled to face Rafaello Oliveira on January 2, 2010 at UFC 108. However, due to an injury to Tyson Griffin, Sherk was promoted to the main card to fight Jim Miller. Sherk did not compete at UFC 108, pulling out due to injury. Sherk suffered a cut above his right eye requiring several stitches.

Sherk was expected to face Clay Guida on March 21, 2010 at UFC on Versus: Vera vs. Jones, but Sherk was forced off the card with yet another injury.

Return to the Octagon and Retirement

After a 16-month hiatus, Sherk returned on September 25, 2010 at UFC 119 and defeated Evan Dunham via split decision in a bout that earned Fight of the Night honors.

After rehabbing a litany of injuries over the past few years, Sherk indicated in October 2012 that he was still planning a return to the UFC and hoped to return sometime in early 2013.

On September 2, 2013, Sherk formally announced his retirement from MMA fighting.

On February 20, 2016, Sherk said that he would end his retirement to fight Royce Gracie in Bellator. He declined any indication of a UFC return.

Personal life Sherk and his wife Heather have two sons, Kyler and Tegan. He has also worked flipping houses in the Minnesota area.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship UFC Lightweight Championship (One time) One successful title defense Second most takedowns landed in a UFC title fight Fight of the Night (Three times) vs. Kenny Florian, Tyson Griffin, and Evan Dunham Most control time in a UFC fight UFC.com Awards 2008: Ranked #4 Fight of the Year 2010: Ranked #5 Fight of the Year

PRIDE Fighting Championship One of only two UFC Lightweight Champions to compete in PRIDE FC

Mixed martial arts record Win

Evan Dunham Decision (split) UFC 119

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Loss

Frankie Edgar Decision (unanimous) UFC 98

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Tyson Griffin Decision (unanimous) UFC 90

Rosemont, Illinois, United States Loss

B.J. Penn TKO (knee and punches) UFC 84

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Hermes França Decision (unanimous) UFC 73

Sacramento, California, United States Win

Kenny Florian Decision (unanimous) UFC 64

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Nick Diaz Decision (unanimous) UFC 59

Anaheim, California, United States Loss

Georges St-Pierre TKO (punches and elbows) UFC 56

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Joel Blanton Submission (rear-naked choke) BP: Pride and Glory

Georgia, United States Win

Lee King Submission (arm-triangle choke) Extreme Challenge 60

Medina, Minnesota, United States Win

Brodie Farber Submission (guillotine choke) SF 6: Battleground in Reno

Reno, Nevada, United States Win

Darin Brudigan Submission (arm-triangle choke) Cage Fighting Xtreme 2

Brainerd, Minnesota, United States Win

Gerald Strebendt TKO (punches) Extreme Challenge 58

Medina, Minnesota, United States Win

Eric Heinz Submission (neck crank) Pride and Fury

Worley, Idaho, United States Win

Jake Short Submission (rear-naked choke) ICC: Trials 2

Minnesota, United States Win

Kaleo Padilla Submission (neck crank) You Think You're Tough

Kona, Hawaii, United States Win

Ryuki Ueyama Decision (unanimous) Pride Bushido 2

Yokohama, Japan Win

Charles Diaz Submission (keylock) EP: XXXtreme Impact

Tijuana, Mexico Win

Mark Long TKO (submission to punches) Extreme Combat

Fridley, Minnesota, United States Win

John Alexander TKO (punches) Extreme Combat

Anoka, Minnesota, United States Loss

Matt Hughes Decision (unanimous) UFC 42

Miami, Florida, United States Win

John Alexander Submission (rear-naked choke) Extreme Combat 2

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Win

Benji Radach TKO (doctor stoppage) UFC 39

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Jutaro Nakao Decision (unanimous) UFC 36

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Claudionor Fontinelle Submission (rear-naked choke) UCC 6: Redemption

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Draw

Kiuma Kunioku Draw Pancrase - 2001 Neo-Blood Tournament Second Round

Tokyo, Japan Win

Curtis Brigham TKO (corner stoppage) UW: St. Paul

St. Paul, Minnesota, United States Win

Jason Purcell TKO (punches) UW: Ultimate Fight Minnesota

Bloomington, Minnesota, United States Win

Marty Armendarez TKO (punches) KOTC 8 - Bombs Away

Williams, California, United States Win

Manny Gamburyan Decision (unanimous) Reality Submission Fighting 3

Belleville, Illinois, United States Win

Tiki Ghosn TKO (shoulder injury) UFC 30

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Karo Parisyan TKO (corner stoppage) Reality Submission Fighting 2

Belleville, Illinois, United States Win

Ken Parham Decision (unanimous) Submission Fighting Championships

Collinsville, Illinois, United States Win

Karo Parisyan Decision (unanimous) Reality Submission Fighting 1

Belleville, Illinois, United States Win

Steve Gomm Decision (split) Extreme Challenge 28

Ogden, Utah, United States Win

Scott Bills Decision (unanimous) Extreme Challenge 28

Ogden, Utah, United States Win

Kurtis Jensen TKO (punches) Extreme Challenge: Trials

Mason City, Iowa, United States Win

Johnnie Holland Submission (keylock) Ultimate Wrestling

Bloomington, Minnesota, United States Win

Joe Paun Decision (unanimous) Midwest MMA Championship 1

Clinton, Iowa, United States Win

Dean Kugler Decision (unanimous) Midwest MMA Championship 1

Clinton, Iowa, United States Win

Roscoe Ostyn Decision (unanimous) Dangerzone: Mahnomen

Mahnomen, Minnesota, United States