UFC 84 Preview: BJ Penn vs. Sean Sherk in Lightweight Title Match

Arguably the two best lightweights in the world will face off at UFC 84 on May 24th. Sean Sherk will challenge BJ Penn for the UFC Lightweight Title (155 lbs) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The two have been sparring publicly since BJ Penn won the vacated lightweight title. Sherk was stripped of the title after testing positive for Nandrolone, a steroid, which he denied taking. In an interview with MMA Weekly, Penn said "The man was cheating. I called him a cheater; then he got all personal."

Sean "the Muscle Shark" Sherk (35-2-1) is a powerful wrestler with an excellent chin. While Sherk's stand up is solid, his bread and butter is the ground game.

Sean has been wrestling since he was seven years old and it shows in his strength and technique. He also has good submission skills. Sherk's only losses came against Matt Hughes and Georges St. Pierre.

BJ Penn's nickname isn't "the Prodigy" for nothing. His 13-4-1 MMA record is not as sterling as Sherk's, but he has battled some of the best fighters from the 155 and 170 pound range like Takanori Gomi, Jens Pulver and Matt Hughes.

 Just to give a little perspective into how skilled BJ Penn really is, he pushed Lyoto "the Dragon" Machida (12-0) to the distance. Fighting 50 pounds above his current weight class, Penn went 3 rounds with Machida, earning a decision loss. Machida faces Tito Ortiz at UFC 84.

BJ Penn's skills have not been in question, but his commitment and fitness have. Sean Sherk does not receive such critiques. Sherk is a machine. He trains as hard as anyone in the sport and does not show up unprepared. The longer this fight goes, the more it favors Sean Sherk.

Penn has excellent striking but Sherk counters with an iron chin, demonstrated in his last fight against Hermes Franca. Sherk ate numerous flush knees to the head as he attempted take-downs on Franca. Sherk will look to push the pace on Penn and test his cardio.

 Sherk will attempt to maul and smother Penn on the ground, in order to wear him out for an easy finish in the later rounds. BJ Penn's jiu-jitsu, however, is world class and he is extremely dangerous from the guard. Penn will come out with a burst to punish Sherk and finish him quickly.

Expect these two to come into the octagon completely prepared. Sean Sherk wants to regain his title, which he believes was wrongfully taken from him. BJ Penn wants to embarrass, in his words, a cheater. They do not like each other and that bitterness will boil over for an intense battle.

 It will be Penn's jiu-jitsu versus Sherk's wrestling, Penn's striking against Sherk's iron jaw, and Sherk's fitness against Penn's. This event will showcase the elite speed and skill these two fighters possess. It ought to be a fantastic finish to a card filled with interesting fights.