Sherman Pendergarst


Sherman Maurice Pendergarst was an American professional mixed martial arts fighter. He competed in the UFC, Bellator, Adrenaline MMA, King of the Cage and YAMMA Pit Fighting.

Background

Pendergarst was born in Baltimore, Maryland and was raised in Virginia along with four other siblings. He attended and graduated from Randolph-Macon Academy where he excelled in football and wrestling and then attended Old Dominion University where he competed in collegiate wrestling. After college he worked as a mortgage broker but soon began practicing martial arts and boxing before moving to Bettendorf, Iowa to train with the Miletich Fighting Systems.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Pendergast made his professional mixed martial arts debut on April 2, 2005, winning by submission in the first round. He would then go on to win his next fight also by submission in the first round before being handed his first professional loss in his next bout at the hands of future Bellator and WEC veteran Eric Schambari, via decision. In his next bout a month later, he was again defeated via decision, this time by future UFC veteran, Carmelo Marrero.
Pendergarst then went on to win his next three fights before facing UFC veteran, the late Justin Eilers who defeated Pendergarst via knockout, the first knockout loss of Pendergarst's career. However, he would continue to pick up wins in small US organizations and compiled a record of 8-3 before being signed by the UFC.

UFC

Pendergarst faced Dutch professional kickboxer Antoni Hardonk at UFC 65 on November 18, 2006 in Sacramento, California. Pendergarst lost the bout due to a powerful leg kick from the K-1 kickboxing veteran 3:15 into the fight.

Post-UFC

After losing his UFC bout, Pendergarst won his next bout via rear-naked choke submission before losing four of his next five fights, the fifth being a knockout loss at the hands of future UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion, Shane Carwin. His next win would be two fights later in 2008 where he won via rear-naked choke submission. However, this would be the last win of his career as he dropped nine of his final ten career fights, although at the hands of fighters such as Houston Alexander, Tim Hague, Abe Wagner, Joey Beltran, and Razak Al-Hassan. Pendergarst's last bout was ruled a no-contest on February 18, 2012, after he was hit with an accidental groin strike.

Personal life

On July 20, 2012, Pendergarst died at the age of 45 from colon cancer. He fought the last professional bout of his career one year after his diagnosis, providing a testimony to the reputation he had earned in MMA as a very tough fighter.

Mixed martial arts record