UFC 98: Does The "Shark" Have The "Answer"?

Hey guys and gals! It's been a while since I have written an article so I am sorry for the long delay. Without further a due, UFC 98 is coming up this weekend so let me get right into the action.

UFC 98 has an anticipated fight between Sean "The Muscle Shark" Sherk vs Frank "The Answer" Edgar. Now this is going to be a an interesting fight to analyze and watch.

Sean Sherk is a dominant fighter in the lightweight division. His tenacity, wrestling ability, power, and a relentless cardiovascular engine brings a threat to any fighter. Sherk has the ability to take down his opponent and deliver ground and pound that makes it difficult to defend.

His stocky and compact build creates a problem for a fighter to attempt a submission. Sherk has had great success (a 37-3 record) against top UFC fighters such as Kenny Florian, Tyson Griffin, and Nick Diaz. He dominated those matches with take down ground and pound, and avoided all submission attempts.

Sherk is most effective by setting up with kicks and punches and then drive for the take down. He can almost imitate Tito Ortiz in his earlier days where Tito took down his opponents, moved them to the cage, and exploded with brutal ground and pound.

He should do the same with Edgar as Tito did in his prime. If he stays true to this form, he has a good chance to defeat Frank Edgar with a unanimous decision.

What the Muscle Shark should not do is try to play a stand up game like he did with BJ Penn. While Sean has great power in his punches, missing the target left him bewildered and BJ Penn took over with relentless punches and the TKO win.

Frank "The Answer" Edgar is another outstanding UFC fighter who has shown great skills in stand up, take downs, and also a relentless cardio tank. He is similar to Sean Sherk with out the big muscles.

Edgar has an outstanding wrestling pedigree and has learned to combine his wrestling ability with jiu jitsu, boxing, and Muay Thai which makes him a well rounded and a dangerous competitor in the lightweight division.

Edgar showed his incredible takedown skills against Tyson Griffin and Spencer Fischer, avoiding punishment from them and unleashing his own ground and pound. Edgar has a smart game plan in each of his fights. He does not play into his opponents mind games by trying to "duke it out" for 3 rounds. He sets up punches and kicks to deliver the take down. Once he has the opponent down, he works to pass guard, gain dominant position, and then either goes for a submission or answers with punches to the face.

This keeps Edgar ahead on points as well as frustrate his opponents into losing their mojo. In this sense, Edgar has "answered" any questions from critics. He showed great poise and ring expertise against Hermes Franca. Franca is a veteran but Edgar was able to control the match with punches, take downs, passing Franca's guard, and dominated all 3 rounds.

For Edgar to defeat Sherk in UFC 98, he has to fight smart and fight fast. This means work his boxing like BJ Penn, attacks Sherk's legs with low kicks (to avoid the take down), and when the opportunity arises, drive hard for the take down and pass the guard immediately.

Then work on punches, knees, and overall control of Sherk's movements. This will lead Edgar with a unanimous win.

Edgar's only major concern would be Sherk's power. His fight with Gray Maynard should be a good reminder for Edgar of someone similar to Sherk. Maynard took control of their fight and dominated with constant take downs.

Edgar needs to be aware of this factor and essentially "stuff" Sherk's take down attempts and fire back with hands and feet to distort the Muscle Sherk. Otherwise UFC 98 will be a repeat of UFC Fight Night for Edgar.

Both Sherk and Edgar are fantastic wrestlers so the bottom line is who will, if they choose to, enforce the first take down. Will Sherk's age of 35 put him in a slight disadvantage? Human beings can only take so much punishment.

Even former UFC lightheavy weight champions Randy Couture and Chuck Liddel cannot keep up with the younger fighters. It's a reality of the game.

Will Edgar have the answer to Sherk's bite? Will the Shark answer Edgar's calling? We'll have to see on May 23 at UFC 98.