Wrestling and Sean Sherk used to be synonymous. Then UFC 84 occurred.

During Sherk's title fight against B.J. Penn, Sherk decided to stand and trade with Penn. Many were confused by that decision considering Sherk's natural wrestling talent. While Sherk's punches looked crisp and fast, Penn was able to utilize his longer jab to win the fight.

Sherk followed that kick boxing performance with another against Tyson Griffin at UFC 90. Once again there was general befuddlement since both fighters were top wrestlers. However this time Sherk prevailed, winning a three round decision. From that point it had become clear that Sean Sherk had transitioned to a stand up fighter.

We witnessed the new Sherk again at UFC 98. Unfortunately for Sherk he lost the bout against Frankie Edgar. Sherk was so disgusted with himself he left the MGM Grand Arena. Of course with Sherk's history, and failed steroid test at UFC 73, suspicion immediately began to fly. In the end it was much ado about nothing.

Why such a dramatic tactical transition from an older fighter? Did he just want to knock an opponent out or was it that he wanted to become a more well rounded fighter? Perhaps, but maybe it has to deal with finances rather than fighting.

Let's examine Sherk's last five fights over the past three years.

• UFC 98: Defeat against Frankie Edgar- $??,???
  
• UFC 90: Victory over Tyson Griffin- $65,000 fight of the night bonus no information on base salary.
  
• UFC 84: Defeat against B.J. Penn - $35,000
  
• UFC 73: Victory over Hermes Franca- $28,000 (14,000 to show, 14,000 to win).
  
• UFC 64: Victory over Kenny Florian- $22,000 (11,000 to show, 11,000 to win).
  

We can assume that for Sherk's UFC 90 base salary he made over $35,000 (that was the amount Sherk was awarded at UFC 84 in a loss). We don't know what Sherk was paid for winning the fight but the trend in the UFC is to double the money that a fighter is paid to show. Thus we can assume Sherk made somewhere in the range of $100,000-135,000 total for UFC 90. So over a three-year period Sherk has earned $185,000-220,000. That means that over a three-year period a respective total of 54-61% of Sherk's total fighting revenue came from a single event UFC 90.

Now we must also considered the $20,000 Sherk spent on legal costs in his steroid case and the $2,500 he was fined. Couple that with lost revenue in sponsorships and the subsequent time off due to a suspension and it is easy to see how a father of two may need to strive for additional revenue sources.

Since that watershed event we have seen Sean Sherk change from wrestler to kick boxer. In that time we have also seen his salary balloon, in part due to the UFC's bonus system. Perhaps the two facts are interconnected?

Perhaps Sean Sherk is fighting for the Fight of the Night bonus on top of his normal purse. After all even if Sherk loses a fight but is still awarded the bonus then he comes out ahead financially.

Thus I believe it is safe to conclude that Sherk's transformation is a financial transformation not a tactical one.