Sherk v. Penn Odds & Predictions
Written May 19, 2008 by Jack Jones
UFC 84 gets underway on May 24th, 2008 from the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada and the main attraction is going to be the title fight between Sean Sherk and BJ Penn.
Latest Odds:
Fighters Overview:
BJ Penn
Penn stands at 12-4 on his career with a total of four knockouts and five submission victories. He turned pro back in 2001 after winning the World Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu championship. He got his first shot at the lightweight title in the octogan after fighting in only three events, losing to Jens Pulver. In his second chance at the title, Penn fell short once again by fighting to a draw with Caol Uno. He then moved up in weight and scored some big wins over Matt Hughes, Rodrigo Gracie, and Renzo Gracie. His 2006 return to the UFC saw him lose to Georges St. Pierre, then quickly get thrown in as Pierre’s substitute for a title match with Hughes. Hughes took care of business this time. Penn’s next fight would come at the end of the fifth season of the Ultimate Fighter, where he choked out Jens Pulver in their rematch. Penn then went on to win the lightweight title by choking out Joe Stevenson at UFC 80, which gave him the honor of being only the second fighter to win titles in two different divisions in the UFC, the other being Randy Couture.
Sean Sherk
Sherk has been around mixed martial arts for nine years and won his first 12 fights. He got his first title shot in 2003 when he was paired up against Matt Hughes for the welterweight title, but lost in a decision. After a brief retirement, Sherk came back in November of 2005 only to be knocked out by Georges St. Pierre. He then took care of Nick Diaz before moving back down to the lightweight division, a division he has dominated ever since. The problem came last July when Sherk test positive for steroids and after going through the necessary hearings, his one year ban was dropped down to six months, but he still lost his UFC title. This will be Sherks’ first fight since the suspension, which should hurt him and is why he’s a steep underdog in this one. After fighting just one time in the past 19 months you really have no idea how a fighter is going to come out. Sherk has also struggled against top tier opponents such as Hughes and St. Pierre, and one has to throw Penn in that category right now the way he has been tearing through the UFC.
Penn has done his part to motivate Sherk, by calling him a cheater and talking other trash to him. However, if a fighter needs something extra to motivate him then he’s in the wrong profession. You come into every fight balls to the wall or you might leave in a stretcher, so don’t buy into that garbage. Penn is the better fighter, is in fighting shape, and will come away as the winner at UFC 84.
Prediction: Penn -230
