Imagining an MMA Hall of Fame: Borderline Candidates, Part 2

Todd MartinAug 06, 2014
Sean Sherk never suffered back-to-back losses in his 41-fight career. | Photo: Sherdog.com



Sean Sherk
“The Muscle Shark”
Dangerzone (1999); Midwest MMA Championship (1999); Ultimate Wrestling (1999, 2001); Extreme Challenge (1999, 2004, 2004); Reality Submission Fighting (2000, 2001, 2001); Submission Fighting Championships (2000); Ultimate Fighting Championship (2001, 2002, 2003, 2005-10); King of the Cage (2001); Pancrase (2001); TKO Major League MMA (2001); Extreme Combat (2002, 2003); Pride Fighting Championships (2004); You Think You’re Tough (2004); International Cage Combat (2004); Professional Fighting Association (2004); Cage Fighting Xtreme (2004); SportFight (2004); Battleline Productions (2005)
***
CASE FOR: Sherk had a deceptively exemplary career. Few fighters retire with a record as impressive as his 36-4-1, and he only lost to hall of fame-level opponents: Matt Hughes, Georges St. Pierre, B.J. Penn and Frankie Edgar. Plus, he captured the UFC lightweight title in 2006. CASE AGAINST: Sherk was stripped of his championship for failing a drug test. He also never captured the public’s imagination. Fellow fighters and hardcore fans know he was a very good, but he was not an important figure. VERDICT: Should he go in? No.

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