B.J. Penn Talks Steroids and Sean Sherk Fight

B.J. Penn will fight Sean Sherk for the UFC lightweight title. (MMAweekly.com Photo)

Despite repeatedly calling him a "cheater", UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn (11-4-1) says he doesn't have a personal problem with former champion Sean Sherk (32-2-1), who was suspended from competition in July, following a positive test for the performance-enhancing drug nandrolone.

"For me, honestly, it’s not personal at all," he tells MMAweekly.com. "The man was cheating. I called him a cheater; then he got all personal. So I think all the personal stuff is on him. He said this is the first time a fight’s personal and this and that and whatever. I couldn’t care less. I’m just going to go kick his ass."

Sherk went to extraordinary means to prove his innocence, taking blood tests and passing lie-detector exams but the California State Athletic Commission turned a deaf ear to his evidence, and it seems Penn has as well.

Now that Sherk's 6-month suspension has passed, he and Penn are scheduled to fight May 24 - and both fighters are claiming to be the "real" champion.

"How can you sit around saying you’re the champ, say the other guy’s the fake champ, and you got busted for (steroids)?" Penn continues. "We knew he was doing ’roids the whole time, and all this stuff, and about it’s nothing personal, he went and made it all personal. I was calling a spade, a spade."

Still, Penn admits he'll be facing a tough challenge when he defends his belt for the first time. "Sean’s a great fighter," he says. "He’s done a lot of great things in the past. I’ll never dispute that, and it will be a great win, whether he’s on steroids or not. It’s a great win to beat Sean Sherk. It’s going to be sweet beating Sean Sherk on May 24."

To hear Sherk's side of the story, check out this interview on Bodog Nation.

Bet on MMA in the Bodog Sportsbook.

All lines subject to change.