“Satisfying! Very satisfying,” described Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked lightweight and UFC Lightweight Champion “Prodigy” B.J. Penn (13-4-1) after defeating fifth-ranked “Muscle Shark” Sean Sherk (32-2-1) by TKO after the third round at UFC 84 in Las Vegas Saturday.
Veteran referee Mario Yamasaki determined that Sherk was unable to continue after a Penn flurry at the cage that left Sherk on the mat at the end of the third round.
The three five-minute rounds were fought entirely standing up, resembling a boxing match.
Penn worked a slicker boxing style set-up with a long, snapping jab. Sherk threw left and right hooks in a stiff, technical style.
Penn established his jab in the first round as Sherk pressured.
Sherk clinched to muffle “The Prodigy’s” reach advantage; but, Penn landed an uppercut to break the clinch.
Sherk attempted to counter with his own jab, but threw it short as Penn followed down the pipe with his left. Sherk clinched again; but, Penn threw him off.
Sherk began round two with a cut under his right eye from Penn’s relentless jabbing. He shrugged his shoulders before the bell, disappointed with his first-round performance.
But, the Minnesotan took the fight to Penn in the second round. Penn clinched inside Sherk’s left/right hook combo and hammered knees to “The Muscle Shark’s” body.
Again, Penn clinched; but, Sherk overwhelmed him with a flurry. Penn pushed out of the clinch.
Unable to solve Penn’s boxing riddle, Sherk began to test his leg kick; but, Penn answered with a left hook.
Penn had all the answers Saturday night.
Read More About Penn Works Over Sherk, Axe Murder Is Back at UFC 84…
