We knew this fight was coming … we just weren’t sure when.
Until now.
UFC Lightweight Champion Sean Sherk (31-2-1) will finally defend his title for the first time since winning it nine months ago against Hermes Franca (18-5) at UFC 73 on July 7, according to the latest speculation at MMAWeekly.com.
Sherk has been on the mend since winning the 155-pound belt at UFC 64 in October 2006. He suffered a rotator cuff injury during the five-round unanimous decision victory over Kenny Florian that required surgery.
After taking out Spencer Fisher at UFC Fight Night 8 earlier this year, Franca got on his knees during the post-fight interview and implored UFC President Dana White to give him a shot at Sherk.
And, it looks like it worked.
Sherk and Franca could not be more opposite, making for a rather odd match up.
Franca is a scrappy, exciting and unpredictable submission ace who is riding a red hot eight-fight win streak. And, every single one of those fights Franca somehow ended early.
Sherk is a methodical, deliberate and a rather boring wrestler-type who is content to take a fight immediately to the ground and work for a submission or ground-and-pound stoppage.
He’s a strong, mountain of a man who has only lost to two of the best 170-pound fighters in the world — Matt Hughes and Georges St. Pierre.
On the surface, I don’t see anyway that Franca can win this fight.
But, he’s earned it and will no doubt come prepared.
Franca is incredibly hard not to root for.
February 27th, 2007
25 Comments »
sean sherk is very boring i hope hermes pulls an upset
nice article.
i couldnt have put it better.
everyone will root for hermes, but how the hell can he win?
I see Hermes winning by a flurry of strikes fallowed by a sneaky submission, and early in the round too
I don’t really know who would win this one, nor do i care.
I think the fact that Hermes has more Meat on him than Ken-Flo will help him to not get manhandled. The problem is going to be whether or not Hermes can slap a submission of the living mountain of muscles that is Sherks Arms and Neck. Its the Monson effect, his muscles wont allow you to slap an arm bar or sink a rear naked choke. I think Hermes unorthodox style could allow him to catch a couple big punches/kicks and possibly land a Gui tine. If thats how u spell it, but i think arm bars and to a lesser extent rear naked choke will be tough to slap on b/c of Sherks size. Hermes arms are really short too, which adds to it. Personally i think his best shot will be one of his “flailing” punches when Sherk is pressing his takedowns.
Sherk’s biggest weakness might be that he’s a “bleeder”. I might be mistaken, but i feel like everyone of his fights i watch he bleeds. He gets cut open easier than Auturo Gatti.
I’m not a fan of either guy, but anybody but Sherk. This division is so exciting, yet you have a guarenteed sleeper agent as the titleholder.
I think Sherk needs to take it to the ground because Franca has heavy, heavy hands(thanks Joe Rogan for the quote) and could end the fight with a flurry of strikes like he did with Spencer Fisher
I think Franca needs to work the sprawl and brawl. Sherk looked confused and dejected everytime GSP stuffed his takedowns. Franca is no GSP, but I think the sprawl is his best chance to win if he can keep it on the feet. I’ll be rooting for Franca, but I don’t think he’ll pull it off.
confused against gsp who is a lot taller and bigger and a more precise striker than hermes..Sherks got decent hands too, I dont see Hermes winning this fight anywhere personally, Sherk is a monster and allthough his ground and pound might be boring to a lot of people, it gets the job done and will allow him to keep his belt that he has definately earned
Call it boring but it’s effective. He sticks to what he does best. Had Hughes stuck to Wrestling instead of trying to be Chuck he might still have his belt. I don’t see Hermes winning at all. I can’t see too many people beating Sherk right now. He’s a 155 pound Matt Hughes with better hands
Sherk isn’t the most exciting guy, but he is a guy that I can respect. He’s a classic comeback storey… I don’t think those wild looping punches will land. Sherk will study his fights, and be ready. I find his fights great, b/c I am a Sherk fan, and it’s a great fight to watch when your guy is on top pounding the crap out of someone.
Wow…what’s with the Sherk bashing?
He is a good fighter in my opinion and for the most part dominates everyone he faces…Sure it’s your typical wrestler but who cares…just cause it doesn’t excite you doesn’t mean he is a bad fighter…obviously he does hold the belt..The guys has only lost to GSP and Hughes out of 34 fights…and they are the two best welterweights in the world right now…. For all you cheering for Hermes your going to sit back and watch his ass get handed to him…
PS. I was really only reading the first couple comments…I didn’t read the whole thread…
Wrestlers are overall not very exciting to watch, ESPECIALY at that weight class. 155 is for FAST and exciting fighting, not a Lil Hulk repeatedly slamming a scrawny dude. But I dont see anyone putting up much of a fight for Sherk. I’d like to see Sherk win a handfull of fights at 155, then step back up into 170 territory and try to avenge his losses (although, Im not sure he can..)
Sean Sherk is a very talented wrestler, but he hasn’t been that impressive in his last three fights. I would still give the match to sherk, but he better put on a show this time.
God I hope Franca wins. He so exciting to watch fight, always putting it on the line. Sean’s tough but normally his most exciting fights is when he lost!! Also its effective in a ring but not on the streets (lay and pray not ground and pound) getrawbc. Everyone is allowed their own opinion but damn to just sticking to what you do best. Thats how we got a boring heavyweight champ now, that they gotta pull some gimmick to get people to tune in and watch fight. Go out there and fight.
all i want is bj to take that belt very few can compete with him at that level i am a big fan of melvin and joe daddy at 155 cant wait to watch that fight
sherk would win this one hands down, like it was said earlier gsp and hughes are the only one’s who beat sherk and there huge for welter weights. Sherk also beat karo twice, no small feat! I think the only light weight who would have a good chance to beat sherk would be bj penn.
sherk will hold that belt for a while, on second thought…the only way i can see him lose it is by ref stoppage due to sever bleeding…i luv that little guy, but he’s a bleeder. hit him with a pillow and the guy will bleed to death.
sorry shark…
go sherk,altough i dont like his fighting style because it is so boring i do not like franca.he beat my man fisher.
People are ridiculous just because Sherk didnt finish Florian, he’s just like matt Hughes but I’d say more explosive and better striking
I think Sherk will probably win (and then get injured lol). Hes totally fucked if he has to fight BJ though.
SS is very aggressive, fast, and powerful and fights his game and no one else’s. That is the sport, they can’t stop him they can’t take his belt. He will hold the belt for a long time and who cares if some think he is boring. He dominates his opponent and that is all that matters. SS will not lose this one for sure.
Wow, I agree….Too much sherk bashing. I train at the Minnesota Martial arts acadamy and watch sherk train. The guy could be a pro boxer if he wasent so short. He is constantly improving his Jiu Jitsu game (yes, he tosses the gi on and works tec too) Great at Thai boxing and JKD. He is a great fighter, and fun to watch. Big slams, fast take downs, good boxing skills. Why is it that when liddell fights and has his oppenet turn there back on him and he doesnt choke them you dont trash on him? Sherk is a smart fighter, he has a take down that Koscheck wishes he had (and he is quoted saying that) Boxing skills that are great, he is just so short that when he he fights he is so close to the other fighter he is close enough to take them down, so why not??? In his career, he has never even had a submission scare, he is too good at them him self. I cant see anyone beating him at LW.