UFC World Lightweight Championship Featurign "The Prodigy" BJ Penn vs. Sean "The Muscle Shark" Sherk; Tito Ortiz To Battle Lyoto Machida And Wanderlei Silva To Face Keith Jardine In Special Features


UFC 84 Tickets


The war of words between UFC Lightweight Champion “The Prodigy” BJ Penn and former champion Sean “The Muscle Shark” Sherk is about to end and the fighting is set to begin.  On May 24 both men will step into the UFC Octagon™ to determine, once and for all, the undisputed king of the 155-pound division.  Also, in back-to-back light heavyweight superfights, “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz will face undefeated Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida and “The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva will battle Keith “The Dean of Mean” Jardine.  The Ultimate Fighting Championship organization presents UFC 84: ILL WILL live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday, May 24.'


UFC 84: ILL WILL will be available live on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, Bell ExpressVu, Shaw Communications and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.95 for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts (where available).


“BJ Penn is a gifted athlete with great speed, flexibility and fantastic striking, and Sean Sherk is the best wrestler and likely the strongest fighter in the lightweight division,” said Dana White, UFC president.  “Both believe they are the rightful 155-pound champion and they’ve publicly traded insults about it as Penn has called Sherk a cheater and Sherk has stated he owns the belt.  This should be a battle for the ages.”


One of the most talented fighters ever to step in the Octagon, UFC Lightweight Penn (13-4-1) became a two-time UFC champion and the new lightweight champion January 19 at UFC 80 by submitting Joe Stevenson in the second round.  With a blend of stellar ground work, knockout power and a warrior’s heart, Penn not only has amazed fans throughout his career, but has fought his way back to the top of the 155-pound division.  He now looks to prove that he is the true lightweight champion and defeat the former champion Sherk who, in July 2007, lost his title after testing positive for a banned substance.


“I respect Sean Sherk a lot as a fighter, I think he is a great athlete,” said Penn.  “But how can he call himself the champion when he cheated; is he for real?  I know I am the real lightweight champion and on May 24 Sean Sherk is going to know it too.”


Sherk (35-2-1), fighting out of Oak Grove, Minn., holds an incredible record with only two losses.  The first came at the hands of Matt Hughes for the UFC World Welterweight title.  Sherk went on to win 12 straight fights before losing by TKO in the second round to Georges St-Pierre.  Sherk is an excellent wrestler and is one of the pound-for-pound strongest competitors in the sport.  At UFC 64 in October 2006, he defeated Kenny Florian in a battle for the vacant UFC lightweight title to become champion in the newly restored weight division.


“I can’t wait to fight BJ Penn and get my belt back,” said Sherk.  “The guy is talking a lot of trash about me and I just can’t wait for May 24.  You know, to be the champion you have to beat the champion.  I still think of myself as the real champion and I can’t wait for UFC 84 so I can bring my belt back home to Minnesota.”


Ortiz (16-4-1) fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif., is known for his strength and tenacity as a submission fighter.  He returned to the UFC last April to take on rising star Forrest Griffin, winning by split decision in one of the best three-round fights ever to take place in the Octagon.  Ortiz made a swift comeback, defeating Griffin and then facing Ken Shamrock in back-to-back fights.  He attempted to regain his title at UFC 66 in 2006 but fell short against then-champion Chuck Liddell.  Ortiz has since fought Rashad Evans at UFC 73 and fought the undefeated TUF (The Ultimate Fighter) alumnus to a draw.  He now looks to steal the thunder from yet another undefeated fighter, Machida, at UFC 84.


“This guy Machida isn’t worth talking about,” said Ortiz.  “I’m not wasting my time talking about him so I’m going back to my three months of training.  I’m going to crush him and move on.”


Unbeaten in 12 professional fights, Brazil’s Machida is one of the most accurate and technical strikers in the game today.  Owner of wins over Penn, Rich Franklin and Stephan Bonnar, Machida entered the UFC Octagon for the first time in February 2007 and has since scored victories over Sam Hoger, David Heath, Kazuhiro Nakamura and most recently “Sokodjou”at UFC 79.  On May 24, he will attempt to keep his perfect record intact against Ortiz and put himself in top contention for the 205-pound title.


“I am honored to fight Tito Ortiz.  He’s a veteran and one of the biggest names in the sport,” said Machida.  “I can’t wait to fight him.  I’m really motivated and have already started my training.  There is no way I’m going to let this go to a decision.  I’m going to finish him in this fight.”


Jardine (13-4-1) scored the most significant win of his career, a decision over Chuck Liddell, last September at UFC 76.  In doing so, he secured his reputation as one of the top light heavyweights on the planet.  “The Dean of Mean” has the power and explosiveness to derail any fighter’s game plan and displayed that skill when he stopped Griffin in one round at UFC 66.  He combines power and strength with exceptional wrestling and kickboxing, a skill set that makes him a likely contender for the belt.  Jardine knows Silva is a 205-pound disaster waiting to happen, but intends to cement a title shot via a swift victory over “The Axe Murderer” at UFC 84.


“I’m excited about securing my place in MMA history by beating another icon in the sport,” said Jardine.  “I have much respect for Wanderlei.  He’s one of the greatest fighters ever and I look forward to beating him at UFC 84.”


Silva (31-8-1), known as “The Axe Murderer,” began his career almost 11 years ago in his native Brazil.  He is viewed as one of the most feared fighters in the world and made a thrilling return to the UFC last December at UFC 79, engaging in a three-round war with Liddell.  His three-round, back-and-forth war with “The Iceman” is testament to his fierce striking and superior conditioning.  Previously, Silva held the PRIDE organization’s middleweight championship title and through his years of fighting has defeated the likes of current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton Jackson (twice), Dan Henderson, Kazushi Sakuraba (three times), Ricardo Arona, Hidehiko Yoshida and Kazuyuki Fujita.  Now, matched against Jardine, Silva is ready to get back in the Octagon at UFC 84 and take out the top-ranked light heavyweight.


“I think this is a good fight for me.  He likes to fight standup and he is a tough guy – he beat Chuck,” said Silva.  “I know my last fight was a good fight but I am training even more for Jardine.  I want to prove to myself and my fans that I am the same Wanderlei Silva who has devastated fighters over the last few years.”


UFC 84 Tickets


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