Ok, we all know the usual lines for this fight, and could probably repeat word-for-word what supporters on both sides will say. But interestingly enough, many of these "facts" are not nearly as proven as people would think. Taking into consideration the following "given" aspects of the fight, we will attempt to determine if they are fact or hearsay.
I will start with the one that annoys me the most:
"Sherk is a smaller version of Matt Hughes (who lost to Penn)."
Yes, they are both wrestlers, but that is where the comparison ends.
In general, Sherk has a completely different type of takedown shoot than Hughes. Hughes often goes in for a single leg shot, which he can use to pick people up and slam them, and is also the type of takedown BJ has the least trouble defending due to his freakish flexibility. Sherk goes for huge driving double leg takedowns, not lifting for a slam but driving straight through the opponent like a torpedo until he gets his takedown or hits the fence.
In terms of striking ability, Sherk has struck with -and sometimes outstruck- some fighters who are considered to be good on the feet, the six foot tall Nick Diaz, for example. Hughes has never really outstruck anyone, and even with a shorter reach than Hughes, Sherk was able to handle himself reasonably well on the feet against Georges St. Pierre in their fight. Although not known for KO power, Sherk has very solid boxing and mixes it into his takedowns very well.
When Hughes and Sherk fought, Sherk actually took 2/5 rounds against Hughes despite being outweighed by a fair margin, and is the only person to take the former champion all five rounds in his career.
"BJ has suspect cardio."
This is really the cornerstone of a lot of people picking Sherk to win. Frankly it's understandable given the reputations and hype from the UFC of both fighters. However, while BJ has been known to fade in fights at higher weights, he has gone all five championship rounds at 155 pounds twice, and both times looked as effective in the last as he did in the first. In fact, in his title bid against Caol Uno, he actually looked to be increasing his pace at the end of the fight.
Sherk is a cardio machine, as evidenced by the image of him hunting down Hermes Franca like the terminator until Franca was so tired he couldn't do anything but turtle up. I do think that he will have the cardio advantage over Penn and is capable of effectively wearing him out under the right conditions, but to suggest that Penn will suddenly be reduced to a quivering blob if the fight goes into the third round is ridiculous.
"BJ/Sherk has an iron chin"
Frankly, this is true of both men. Franca hit Sherk with some of the biggest knees I've ever seen in a fight, period
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