MMAjunkie.com Staff on Aug 06, 2008 at 1:09 pm ET
Tyson GriffinFormer UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk (32-3-1 MMA, 6-3 UFC) and lightweight contender Tyson Griffin (12-1 MMA, 5-1) have agreed to meet at UFC 90, which takes place Oct. 25 at Allstate Arena just outside Chicago.
A source from Griffin's Xtreme Couture camp today told MMAjunkie.com (
www.mmajunkie.com) that a verbal agreement is in place and bout agreements have been distributed.
The fight will likely end up on the night's televised main card, which features a main event of UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silv vs. Patrick Cote.
Griffin could take a major step toward a title shot with a victory over Sherk. Griffin, a Gladiators Challenge and Strikeforce veteran (and the only fighter ever to defeat WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber), has posted four consecutive victories (all via decision) since suffering his first career loss -- to Frankie Edgar in February 2007. The victories have all come over quality opponents: Clay Guida, Thiago Tavares, Gleison Tibau and Marcus Aurelio.
Sherk, meanwhile, will return to the cage for the first time since his loss to UFC lightweight champ B.J. Penn in May. The title previously belonged to Sherk, but after failing a drug test after a successful title defense over Hermes Franca, he was suspended six months and stripped of the belt. He's maintained his innoncence (for alleged steroid use) throughout the now year-long ordeal.
I see this as a match going to a decision. Sherk should have no problem taking Griffin down but can he keep him there? I'm rooting for Tyson even though sherk may dry hump him for a decision.
