Training Sean Sherk for B.J. Penn

by Kid Nate on Apr 28, 2008 4:55 PM EDT in News

Gracie Barra professor Marcio Feitosa posted on their team web site about his recent trip to Minnesota where he rolled with Sean Sherk:

I went up there mainly to train with Shean Sherk for his upcoming fight with BJ Penn. Shean and I met 5 years ago when I went to the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy for a BJJ Seminar, he did not participate on the seminar but we had a chance to talk and he was very cool. From watching his fights on the UFC i knew Shean was a great fighter, but seen the guy training and to roll with him tottaly blew me away. On our daily training sessions Shean shared with me his insights about techniques and phisical training, we mainly did lots of drills and nogi Jiu-Jitsu sparring, i had a blast. Shean is in such a great shape for the fight, that i am sure he will come up with an explosive performance.

The question I don't think any training partner can answer is how well will Sherk resist submission attempts after being stunned by punches to the face while standing and on the ground. That's what undid Hughes, Pulver and Stevenson against B.J. Penn. I'd also kill to know what Sherk's game plan is beyond the obvious "survive two rounds and then go for the laynpray for the last three." If he tries to play defense in the first 2 rounds he'll get eaten alive but if he goes on the attack he could easily fall prey to a counter and wear himself out going for takedowns he won't get.

It really seems like B.J. is in control of his own destiny here -- if he comes in in superb condition, as he has appeared to against Pulver and Stevenson, he can foil Sherk's plan just by being at the top of his game for 3 rounds, not 5. Sherk couldn't make up a 3 round deficit against B.J.

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Re: Training Sean Sherk for B.J. Penn

Hi. I'm Men's Warehouse owner George Zimmer. Sean Sherk will have full mount on BJ Penn at some point in the fight. I guarantee it.

by godzillad on Apr 28, 2008 6:41 PM EDT 0 recs

Re: Training Sean Sherk for B.J. Penn

Wow - cool. I've always wanted to see BJ knock somebody out from his back while mounted. That's gonna be awesome! :-)

-- Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ

by jemaleddin on Apr 28, 2008 7:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

Re: Training Sean Sherk for B.J. Penn

I too want to talk about how impressed I am with Shawn Shark. I think than Sian is one of the best fighters in MMA, and ever since Shawan and I met, we have been very close - like brothers in the Shork family.

I'm a guy who knows Seon Swork very well, and I approve this message.

-- Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ

by jemaleddin on Apr 28, 2008 7:51 PM EDT 0 recs

Re: Training Sean Sherk for B.J. Penn

Hahaha. That is exactly what I was thinking. I am guessing/hoping the article is a translation. Regardless, they were training partner not pen pals.

(the poster formerly known as holden636)

by TheFightJournal on Apr 28, 2008 9:12 PM EDT up 0 recs

Re: Training Sean Sherk for B.J. Penn

Are we to believe then that unlike the rest of the world using the latin alphabet, the Brazillians change the spelling of proper names? Or that this guy has never seen Sean's name in print? You'd at least think he'd have read about how Sherk was a dirty cheater by now. :-)

-- Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ

by jemaleddin on Apr 29, 2008 7:22 AM EDT up 0 recs

Re: Training Sean Sherk for B.J. Penn

hey, waitaminute!

You don't train BJJ! I can't believe anything you say. You almost had me there....

by aej on Apr 28, 2008 8:01 PM EDT 0 recs

Re: Training Sean Sherk for B.J. Penn

Shhhh - don't tell anybody. Most people here can't read italics.

-- Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ

by jemaleddin on Apr 28, 2008 9:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

Re: Training Sean Sherk for B.J. Penn

Once again, I am going to have to stick up for Sherk. Has anyone ever seen Sherk get knocked out? If he took those knees from Hermes Franca, I don't think BJ's punches are going to put him to sleep. Joe Stevenson does not really supply overwhelming evidence of what BJ is going to do to Sherk. Joe has an extremely suspect chin. In most of Joe's fights in the UFC he has been rocked. He was almost KO'd by Luke Cummo and Yves Edwards.

Regardless, I think it is safe to assume Sherk is going to go for the takedown pretty quickly. And, contrary to popular belief, he is going to get BJ on his back sooner or later. Once on the ground, Sherk will undoubtedly spent 99% of the time defending against sub attempts but this will tire BJ out. Then, Sherk will grind out the "w".

As I've said before, I am a much bigger fan of Bj Penn than I am of Sean Sherk but apparently I am the only one who has not drunken the BJ > Sherk kool-aid.

(the poster formerly known as holden636)

by TheFightJournal on Apr 28, 2008 9:22 PM EDT 0 recs

Re: Training Sean Sherk for B.J. Penn

And once again (go see my reply in "Quote of the Day"), I'm calling bullshit of your defense. :-)

We saw the GSP fight where he wasn't knocked out, but he was destroyed by strikes. Close enough for my book.

And as discussed at great length, GSP's striking is good, but not great: he's much better at GnP than he is on the feet. BJ is a deceptively good striker. He's clearly the best striker Sherk will have ever faced in his long career of fighting cans.

I don't know who has been arguing that Sherk can't get BJ on his back (stop listening to BJ - he's screwing with Sean!). The problem is that BJ may be one of the best BJJ fighters in MMA. Wins over 2 Gracies and submissions of Hughes, Gomi and Ludwig make that pretty clear. Sherk isn't ready for a BJJ guy on BJ's level. (Black belt in 3 years? First foreigner to win the gold at Mundials? DAMN!)

And jeez, look at their records: Sherk has a ton of fights - you just haven't heard of any of those guys - the ones you have heard of account for his two losses. BJ has almost exclusively faced the best fighters in MMA. The only non-"name" fighter on the list is Paul Creighton.

Finally: Sherk doesn't have any offensive weapons on BJ's level. Standing with BJ is stupid, and taking him to the ground is suicide. He could grind out a win by running away and praying for BJ's cardio to wear out, but BJ has been taking his training seriously lately: Sherk won't have as much advantage as he would have years ago.

I may have drunk the koolaid, but I think you've been taking stupid pills, friend. :-)

-- Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ

by jemaleddin on Apr 29, 2008 7:18 AM EDT up 0 recs

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