Sean Sherk vs. Hermes Franca
Saturday July 7, 2007 10:00PM EST
Sherk -240
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This Saturday at UFC 73: Stacked Sean “the Muscle Shark” Sherk (31-2-1) will try to defend his UFC lightweight title versus Hermes Franca (18-5). Five years ago Hermes Franca was considered to be the top pound for pound fighter in the world as he has incredible Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills that are out of this world. If you were into UFC betting you wouldn’t even look at Sean Sherk back then. If this MMA fight would have been maybe even 3 years ago Franca would have mopped the floor with Sherk and submitted him with little ease but this is 2007 and Sherk has become a much better fighter and I would say the top lightweight fighter in the world.

Sherk has fought and beat some of the best fighters in the world in the last couple of years and has stepped out and became an elite fighter. He has beaten some top mixed martial arts fighters like Nick Diaz and Karo Parisyan twice. He only has two loses which came from Georges St Pierre and Matt Hughes. His loss to Matt Hughes was a three round decision and he lost on strike to a much more powerful St Pierre.

Sherk is just ball of muscle and never stops in the ring. He is like an energizer bunny and is so powerful. Only devastating punchers can stop him. Franca does not have the power to knock him out and although he does have far superior ground skills Sherk is one of those fighters that are too strong to be put in a submission. The Muscle Shirt has really tiny arms so it is very hard for people to catch him in an arm bar. Sean Sherk’s T-Rex arms are an advantage to him because he cannot get caught in any submissions. Franca is all world in submissions but is not as well rounded fighter as Sherk is. Eight of his 31 wins have come but TKO, 10 by submission and 10 by judge's decision which meant that he has faced almost every situation in the UFC octagon or MMA ring.

Bottom Line: Sherk is at the top of his game in the UFC lightweight division right now and Franca, I feel is past his prime. If great ground practitioners like Kenny Florian, Nick Diaz, Manvel Gamburyan and Karo Parisyan could not submit Sherk I don’t think Franca can as well.

Five round decision to Sherk who will just bum rush Franca and press the action.

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