UFC 98 Lightweight’s- The Muscle Sherk vs.The Answer Edgar

The lightweight division of the UFC has suddenly become packed with up-and-coming title contenders, but Sean Sherk has remained near the top of the division for a long time and figures to stay there for the foreseeable future.

Sherk is perhaps the strongest lightweight fighter the division has ever seen, and he combines that strength and explosiveness with an amazing top control wrestling game and improving hands that allow him to meet just about any challenge in the Octagon.

“The Muscle Shark” will take on a man eight years younger than him in Frankie “The Answer” Edgar this Saturday, May 23 in Las Vegas at UFC 98 in what could be a tough challenge for Sherk.

The BetOnline oddsmakers have Sherk listed as a -300 to +200 favorite over Edgar in a fight that has kind of flown under the radar thus far but still is an interesting matchup.

Edgar has only lost once in his career and boasts wins over top lightweights like Tyson Griffin and Spencer Fisher. But his lone loss came against Gray Maynard, Sherk’s closest match stylistically in the UFC.

Maynard lived up to his nickname and bullied Edgar around in his win and Sherk has the power and wrestling ability to do just that.

Edgar should be fine against Sherk on his feet, however, and his best bet is to lure Sherk into a boxing match in this one. Sherk has been conscious of trying to work on his boxing in recent fights as he tries to diversify his game for another lightweight title shot, but he could have some problems if he tries to stand and trade with Edgar.

The likely outcome of this important UFC 98 contest is that Sherk starts out boxing with Edgar to lull him to sleep before shooting in for a takedown and using his strength to control Edgar and unleash some punishment.

Edgar has some tricks up his sleeve in the jiu-jitsu game but struggling for position with Sherk will wear him out and leave him open to Sherk’s ground-and-pound attacks.

Sherk is getting up there in age but he still has more than enough size and skill to control this fight and move one step closer to another title shot in the near future, perhaps against the winner of BJ Penn and Kenny Florian’s upcoming fight.

The Pick: The Muscle Shark -300