Former UFC Fighter Sherman Pendergarst Passes Away at 45

Former UFC heavyweight Sherman Pendergarst has lost his long time battle with cancer and has passed away at the age of 45.

A member of Team Pat Miletich for many years, Pendergarst was a mainstay in the Midwest fight scene and had his lone appearance in the Octagon back at UFC 65 in 2006.

Over the years, Pendergarst faced some of the stiffest competition while working in regional promotions and took on names like Shane Carwin, Joey Beltran and Houston Alexander.

Despite an ongoing ordeal with cancer, Pendergarst still got back in the cage as recently as Feb 2012 in a bout in Fargo, North Dakota.

“One of my best friends and long time training partners just passed due to a long fight with cancer,” wrote former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia.

Pendergarst was a teammate at Miletich Fighting Systems (MFS) for many years where he worked with some of the top fighters in the sport, including former training partner and friend Mike Ciesnolevicz who had this to say about his fallen friend.

“Fighting in UFC, Bellator and every where in between. I knew Sherman from the east coast long before our MFS days. I picked him up at the airport his first day in Iowa. We spent many years battling in the toughest room on the planet. I was there for his UFC debut and cornered him in a few other fights,” Ciesnolevicz wrote on Facebook.

“Sherman was a huge part of MFS over the years. He showed up to practice everyday and put in work. He had a dream and went for it. I’m glad he got to live it at MFS.”

Pendergarst’s career record in MMA was 11-18 overall.

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