UFC 73: Sherk will be ready for Franca in July

by MMAmania.com on Mar 19, 2007 9:36 AM EDT in UFC News

Sherk will be ready for Franca in July
UFC Lightweight Champion Sean Sherk (31-2-1) has resumed training full-time and should be totally recovered from shoulder surgery well before his showdown with Hermes Franca (18-5) at UFC 73 in July, according to The Shreveport Times.

Here's a snip from the "Muscle Shark:"

"I'm far ahead of schedule. I started training full time about six weeks ago. I should be 100 percent in next month or two."

Prior to winning the vacant 155-pound belt against Kenny Florian (4-3) at UFC 64 in October 2006, Sherk injured his shoulder and, according to the article, also his bicep. He has yet to make his first title defense because of the rehabilitation, and by the time he does, he'll have been on the shelf for nearly nine months.

It's a long time, especially since the UFC just reinstated the division after years of inaction.

But, Sherk says that he will be ready, taking 12 weeks to eat, breath and sleep Franca to ensure that he retains what he's worked so hard at achieving.

Here's a snip:

"I don't like to lose, so I make sure they are no stones uncovered. It takes me a good 12 weeks to study for an opponent. I want to me more than ready when I step in the cage. I don't want an ounce of doubt in my mind."

The 33-year-old Minnesotan also mentions that he will continue to fight for the next four or five years.

Hopefully, he fights more than two times each year if that's the case — especially if he remains champ.

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Wait a minute, Sherk has a pretty decent record, he’s only ever lost to Matt Hughes via descision and GSP via TKO, i looked into his stats he would have been 19-0-1 when he fought Matt, but suffered back to back losses in the UFC even though he won 12 boughts in a row outside in between. Can somebody shed some light on how a particular organization or whatever becomes recognized as a legitimate MMA association?

by Jordan on Mar 19, 2007 11:47 AM EDT reply actions

I hope Franca wins this one. I like him as a person and a fighter, he’s a fellow Floridian, and so much more exciting than Sherk ( who has the dumbest nickname in MMA ).

Ok, I have to go back to jail now. My furlough is up, so see you guys Friday.

by MoreThanUFC on Mar 19, 2007 3:48 PM EDT reply actions

LOL @ MTU

so true… the DUMBEST nickname ever

by GasManShad on Mar 19, 2007 4:36 PM EDT reply actions

Franca sucks, he just closes his eyes puts his head down and swings, its very unskilled i hope he loses

by joe on Mar 20, 2007 5:40 AM EDT reply actions

ilike the photo even thou its not Hermes Franca its Diego Saraiva

by lwfan on Mar 22, 2007 1:04 PM EDT reply actions

You make fun of Sean’s nickname when his opponents real name is “Hermes” GIVE ME A FUCK’IN BREAK!!!

by SherkFan on Mar 29, 2007 10:10 AM EDT reply actions

Franca deserves this i love watching him fight and i can say i think he will take this one hes more aggresive and smarter than sherk i think that was florians mistake he wasnt aggressive enough…..dont mind my spelling im at work hurrying this shit up so i dont get fired lol

by Mark "Lights Out" Matheson on Mar 30, 2007 12:38 PM EDT reply actions

Should be a good fight. But I see Sherk overpowering and completely outmuscling Franca, I see Franca winning the first two rounds, then Sherk just battering him in the rest, just like BJ Penn vs Hughes II

by Gladiator/Titan/tbd on Apr 1, 2007 5:22 PM EDT reply actions

The only chance that “hermes” has a chance is if he catches Sherk a few times. He is wild and has no game plan. Sherk is very smart and he knows what he has to do to win. He wont get careless and get hit by a wild blow. (fisher got caught) I dont see this fight going into the third round at all. Franca cant stop the takedown, and Sherk will delivery many elbows and forearms to the face. After the mount position is taken by Sherk, its all over. I havent seen a lot of fights go past 4 – 5 good mount shots in a row. It will be a longer version of Brock Lesnar’s first MMA fight. Oh, they do train together. Cant wait.

by rufus on Jun 4, 2007 10:22 PM EDT reply actions