Sean Sherk vs. Tyson Griffin
Tyson Griffin, one of UFC’s hottest young prospects at 155 pounds, will be looking to assert himself as a top contender to BJ Penn’s title in what is arguably UFC’s most stacked division when he comes up against powerhouse Sean “The Muscle Shark” Sherk. For his part, Sherk is hungry to restore some of the prestige he lost in his recent dismantling by BJ Penn.
Stylistically, this is an interesting matchup. Both men are powerful, explosive wrestlers who will be looking to take each other down and control the fight. Neither man has very dangerous standup, so I would definitely expect this to look a good bit like an amateur wrestling match. The question, then, is whether or not Griffin’s youth and energy will be enough to surmount Sherk’s power and experience. I think Sherk will prove a tall task for Griffin in that regard.
Another factor to consider is pure desire. Now, clearly, Griffin wants to win this fight just like any other fighter. Considering how young he is, though, and his dangerous skill set, Griffin has a bright future in this sport regardless of whether or not he makes it past Sherk. Sherk, on the other hand, has his back up against the wall. After a humbling defeat in his title challenge, Sherk’s future prospects at a title shot are thin on the ground at this point. Add in a loss to a young fighter, and it very well might drive a nail into the coffin of Sherk’s title hopes for good.
That said, I see Sherk grinding this one out to a much needed win, getting the best of the wrestling exchanges and controlling the fight from the top on his way to a hard-fought unanimous decision win.
