Sean Sherk's weight

[JesseM]

A buddy and me were arguing the other day while watching ufc:73. He says there is no way in hell that Sean Sherk weighs the 155lbs he's listed at for the fight, saying that he'd guess that Sherk is actually fighting at 175. I told him that it's definatley possible that he could actually have that physique at 155lbs being as he is only 5'6. Now I understand he's gonna weigh a bit more for the actual fight, but not 20lbs. I looked at him and asked "When do they weigh in?" He says the day before the fight. So I go "you're telling me Sherk added 20lbs in one day?" Kinda ****ed him up with that one. "I'm not gonna argue with you anymore since you don't know what the hell you're talking about" is what he responds with. What do you guys think? I think my buddy is being thrown off by the fact that his bodyfat is so low, and the fact that he is only 5'6 makes him look much more built than he actually is. Or am I wrong and this dude actually some how puts on 20lbs in one day while still looking incredibly cut?

[IZich]

That's not surprising. Fighters (and wrestlers too) go through nearly anything to make weight, and have many ways to regain their energy and mass in a short period of time. A 10+ lb increase in one day at a professional level doesn't make me raise an eyebrow.

[Anthony]

He fights around 175, give or take.

[JesseM]

10lbs maybe but not 20. I just don't think it's that wild to think Sherk could have that physique in the 155-165 range.

[JesseM]

He fights around 175, give or take.

So even if he weighed in at the 155 reported, he's added 20lbs in one day?? I didn't think that was possible.

[Gunshow]

yeah i would say he fights between 170 and 175.

They drop 20 lbs in a day or 2 why can't they put it all back on? It's all water anyways... Once they rehydrate and eat all they can they go right back to their normal weight.

[Gunshow]

A guy i know couldn't walk to his weigh in becuase he was so dehydrated... two friends had to carry him on their shoulders. Thats how intense these guys are.

[Death]

20LBS in a day is very possible.

[Anthony]

So even if he weighed in at the 155 reported, he's added 20lbs in one day??

Yes. Most fighters dehydrate just before weigh and then rehydrate afterwards. Almost NO fighter will be fighting at their "listed" weight. Sean just happens to be VERY good at it.

[JesseM]

Yes. Most fighters dehydrate just before weigh and then rehydrate afterwards. Almost NO fighter will be fighting at their "listed" weight. Sean just happens to be VERY good at it.

Damn. Guess I was wrong. I understood that fighter dehydrate before weigh in, but I guess I thought that 20lbs would show different. I mean he's got very low body fat in the fight, how the day before could he of been 20lbs lighter?

[IZich]

You keep thinking that fat is the only evidence of weight. You would be entirely incorrect. Fat is one of the lightest and least dense substances in the human body. Water weighs much much more.

[JesseM]

With water weight would there also be bloat?

[Anthony]

Jesse, pay close attention.

Sean walks around at 180-185 when he's not competing. As he gets closer to competition, he will diet slowly so that he's around 175-180. Then he will DEHYDRATE about 20 pounds to weigh in at 155.

After weigh in, he simply replaces the water he lost.

It's not like he's walking around at 155 and then binges to get heavier. The 155 is a very temporary weight for him.

[JesseM]

Guess I didn't see the whole picture clearly. I didn't realize one could dehydrate that much weight and then regain it back that quickly and still look that well defined. I was wrong. I bet he must of looked pretty awesome at weigh in.

[Shane]

Your buddy was right. Sherk stated in an interview for CBSsportsline that he gets back up to 175 by fight time. You can read it on his website even. I've seen a video interview before where I think he said he comes in between 175 and 180 but I can't find the damn thing anywhere on the net now. Sherk knew he could never be the top dog fighting in the weight class he should be in (170).

Lots of guys cut like 5-10 lbs for the weigh-in but a few cut like 20 lbs to give themselves an advantage. One of my phys ed. teachers in high school was a former Olympic wrestler. Going by what he said it's possible for some people to cut even more than 20 lbs. Hell, I knew at least one wrestler in high school that cut 20 lbs for a weigh-in once so it's not hard to believe Sherk, having done it for so long, has it down.

Personally, I think it's a pretty chicken s**t thing for fighters to do. It goes against the whole point of weight classes. They should move the weigh-ins to about an hour before the fight.

[Chubrock]

Personally, I think it's a pretty chicken s**t thing for fighters to do. It goes against the whole point of weight classes. They should move the weigh-ins to about an hour before the fight.

I don't think it's chicken ****. It's called playing the game. If you know everybody is doing it, and it's within the rules...As far as instituting pre fight weigh-ins, Brazil has been doing this for several years now. At almost every large submission grappling tournament, weigh-ins take place right before you step on the mat, in your gi.

[Bob]

Yes. Most fighters dehydrate just before weigh and then rehydrate afterwards. Almost NO fighter will be fighting at their "listed" weight. Sean just happens to be VERY good at it.

what about Heavywieghts???
lol


just jerking your chain...

I don't think they allow this type of dehyration weight loss any more in High School or college. I think US HS'ers have to be within 5% of their weightclass at the beginning of the season... and within 2-3% the week of a competition. Universities are a little higher %... so even the 189lbers have to be less then 10 lbs from their weight class. >>> too many amateurs were dying...

But Sherk is a pro... No different then what race car drivers do... football players... bicycle racers... or like the sad situation with Jesse Marunde today... lots of pros flirt with danger and death... if that is the way you are making your living and putting flood on the table... Athletics is one of the shortest careers there is.. temptation is extremely high.

[nddillon]

I work with a guy who normally fights 22 pounds over his weigh in weight...but he is a middle weight...not a light weight

What happened to Marunde???

[Chubrock]

Noone knows for sure yet. Or at least a statement hasn't been released.

[Gunshow]

Jesse, pay close attention.

Sean walks around at 180-185 when he's not competing. As he gets closer to competition, he will diet slowly so that he's around 175-180. Then he will DEHYDRATE about 20 pounds to weigh in at 155.

After weigh in, he simply replaces the water he lost.

It's not like he's walking around at 155 and then binges to get heavier. The 155 is a very temporary weight for him.

Couldn't have said it better.

Guess I didn't see the whole picture clearly. I didn't realize one could dehydrate that much weight and then regain it back that quickly and still look that well defined. I was wrong. I bet he must of looked pretty awesome at weigh in.

Well if you think about it, the body is made up of mostly water, like 70% or something, so if 70% of your body is water thats gotta be a good chunk of your bw, making it very possible to lose, and regain 20 lbs of it very quickly.

[Shane]

I don't think it's chicken ****. It's called playing the game. If you know everybody is doing it, and it's within the rules...As far as instituting pre fight weigh-ins, Brazil has been doing this for several years now. At almost every large submission grappling tournament, weigh-ins take place right before you step on the mat, in your gi.

Everyone's not doing it though. There are quite a few guys that cut a few pounds but not many cut more than about 10 by anything I've ever seen. Cutting a few pounds to make weight is one thing but when you're going to enter a fight at 155# when your ring weight would barely even make the limit for the next weight class up (170#), that goes against the whole point of weight classes in the first place. We want to see the best fighters at varius weights, not who can alter their weight to the greatest degree in a 36 hour period. If we're gonna do that, then let's just get rid of the weight classes altogether. Sure, it's legal by the rules but it's a loophole that needs to be addressed. Crap, considering that the least he could've done was finish Hermes before the clock ran out. lol

[Chubrock]

Oh I agree that the loop hole should be addressed, but until it is, I say play the gray.

[Sidior]

Everyone's not doing it though. There are quite a few guys that cut a few pounds but not many cut more than about 10 by anything I've ever seen. Cutting a few pounds to make weight is one thing but when you're going to enter a fight at 155# when your ring weight would barely even make the limit for the next weight class up (170#), that goes against the whole point of weight classes in the first place. We want to see the best fighters at varius weights, not who can alter their weight to the greatest degree in a 36 hour period. If we're gonna do that, then let's just get rid of the weight classes altogether. Sure, it's legal by the rules but it's a loophole that needs to be addressed. Crap, considering that the least he could've done was finish Hermes before the clock ran out. lol

Not everyone can afford to train in the best facilities, is it cheating for the fighters that do? Some fighter also have way better conditioning than others, is it cheating for those fighters to take advantage of that in the ring?

[Bam Bam]

i will have to upload a pic of sherk with myself. I am 6ft and 200 so you will see he could definetly be 155 and i thought he was rather lean and not more than 170 when i saw him

[Cirino83]

^^ He is also very small.