Sean Sherk v. Hermes Franca, UFC 72

[Noob]

An expected July 7 UFC 72 event, which currently features a championship bout between UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and rising contender Nate Marquardt, is also going to feature a title match between UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk (31-2-1 MMA, 5-2 UFC) and top contender Hermes Franca (16-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC), according to MMAWeekly.com. Sherk, who’s been recovering from shoulder surgery since beating Kenny Florian for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 64, is perhaps one of the most underrated fighters in the UFC — if not all of MMA. His only two career losses have come to current UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre and former champ Matt Hughes.
Sherk actually needed the rotator-cuff surgery prior to his fight with Florian, but knowing he was given somewhat of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fight for a title, he delayed the procedure until after the fight. Although bloodied, he picked up a unanimous-decision victory over Florian and has been eyeing a first title defense sometime this summer.
It appears July 7 will be that date.
Sherk will face one of the hottest MMA fighters anywhere in the world. After going 0-3 in MMA action during 2005, Franca has posted eight consecutive victories from 2006-’07, including UFC wins over Joe Jordan, Jamie Varner and Spencer Fisher.
After that win over Fisher at UFC Fight Night 8 in January, Franca dropped to his knees and begged UFC president Dana White for a title shot — one he later said he would grant.
It appears White has made good on the promise.
With so many new acquisitions and an influx of UFC events scheduled this year, the title pictures in nearly every division have become hot news — except the lightweight division. There’s no doubting that Sherk is perhaps the most unknown of all the UFC champions and struggling to find much in the way of the limelight.
However, I attribute that more to his lack of activity than any sort of deficiency with his personality or fighting style (though some fans complain about his wrestling-centered strategies). Should he get a couple wins under his belt — and that’s no easy task, considering Franca — Sherk will surely become the superstar he deserves to be.

[The Iceman]

Now this is a fight I actually want to see!!!! I hope Sherk tears Franca apart!!

[The Sundance Kid]

I don't see this fight going more than 5 mins.


Sherk by GNP

[liddell316]

I hope Franca wins but it's hard to bet against a guy who's only ever lost to the two best WW's in the game.

I think Sherk is too powerful for Franca to be able to pull an armbar or submission on him, so he'd have to put it to him on the feet. I can't see this going any way put Sherk using his superior wrestling and controlling Franca for the whole fight.

[jukon]

I hope to see the UFC instate at 145lbs division, cuz these guys really do battle and battle hard. Sherk is a monster at 155, only person I see beating him is BJ Penn.

[The Sundance Kid]

Originally Posted by jukon

I hope to see the UFC instate at 145lbs division, cuz these guys really do battle and battle hard. Sherk is a monster at 155, only person I see beating him is BJ Penn.

The WEC has Zuffa's 145lb weightclass, If anything I want them to make there LW division 160, and then make a150lb division.

[AJL416AZ]

i dont see how Hermes can win, Sherk is too hard to sub, and his hands always stay glued to his chin

[The Sundance Kid]

Originally Posted by AJL416AZ

i dont see how Hermes can win, Sherk is too hard to sub, and his hands always stay glued to his chin

Franca's only chance in my opinion is to Knock Sherk out, and i don't see that happening, Hermes is very sloppy on the feet and takes wild looping power shots that Sherk will see from a mile away. After all Sherk has only been TKO'd once in his career, and that was from GSP, and his only other loss coming from Hughes, I don't see how anyone can pick against Sherk in this one.

[Warchief]

I like franca but i dont think he has a chance againts sean sherk...that sherk guy is a beast.

[Soul_Edge]

I like Sherk by GnP in the second or third. Franca is a tough dude but Sherk overwhelms him with his size and strength advantage. I am excited to see Sherk fight again.