The UFC’s muddied lightweight picture is slowly coming into focus.
The one-year suspension of champion Sean Sherk for alleged steroid use following his July 7 title defense to Hermes Franca at UFC 73 in Sacramento, Calif., has stalled plans to have the Minnesotan wrestler face number-one contender B.J. Penn at Nov. 17’s UFC 78 in Newark, N.J.
And while it appeared that Penn has been patiently awaiting a new opponent for Nov. in the interim, the popular Hawaiian’s camp has confirmed their leader is now preparing for a Dec. 29 match-up at UFC 79 in Las Vegas, Nev.
Sherk faces the California State Athletic Commission on Oct. 31 to appeal his case, but if he cannot shake the suspension and is stripped of his title by Zuffa LLC, Penn (11-4-1) could face UFC 74 standout Joe Stevenson (28-7).
“I was told I was definitely fighting in December or January,” said Stevenson Thursday. “I think there’s a strong possibility I’ll face B.J. Penn.”
Stevenson, 25, charged to the head of the contender’s pack Aug. 25 with an authoritative victory over The Armory’s Kurt Pellegrino (10-3). The former King of the Cage welterweight champion suffered a hairline fracture nose break for his unanimous decision efforts, but is already back to full-speed training at Xtreme Couture MMA in Las Vegas, Nev.
28-year-old Penn staked his claim for the UFC lightweight title June 23, easily dispatching former rival Jens Pulver with a second round submission at “The Ultimate Fighter 5” finale in Las Vegas. Penn previously held the promotion’s welterweight accolade, which he took from Pulver’s former teammate Matt Hughes at UFC 46 in Jan. 2004. Penn was relieved of the title amidst a contract dispute with Zuffa, and later returned to the UFC fold in March 2006.
The one-year suspension of champion Sean Sherk for alleged steroid use following his July 7 title defense to Hermes Franca at UFC 73 in Sacramento, Calif., has stalled plans to have the Minnesotan wrestler face number-one contender B.J. Penn at Nov. 17’s UFC 78 in Newark, N.J.
And while it appeared that Penn has been patiently awaiting a new opponent for Nov. in the interim, the popular Hawaiian’s camp has confirmed their leader is now preparing for a Dec. 29 match-up at UFC 79 in Las Vegas, Nev.
Sherk faces the California State Athletic Commission on Oct. 31 to appeal his case, but if he cannot shake the suspension and is stripped of his title by Zuffa LLC, Penn (11-4-1) could face UFC 74 standout Joe Stevenson (28-7).
“I was told I was definitely fighting in December or January,” said Stevenson Thursday. “I think there’s a strong possibility I’ll face B.J. Penn.”
Stevenson, 25, charged to the head of the contender’s pack Aug. 25 with an authoritative victory over The Armory’s Kurt Pellegrino (10-3). The former King of the Cage welterweight champion suffered a hairline fracture nose break for his unanimous decision efforts, but is already back to full-speed training at Xtreme Couture MMA in Las Vegas, Nev.
28-year-old Penn staked his claim for the UFC lightweight title June 23, easily dispatching former rival Jens Pulver with a second round submission at “The Ultimate Fighter 5” finale in Las Vegas. Penn previously held the promotion’s welterweight accolade, which he took from Pulver’s former teammate Matt Hughes at UFC 46 in Jan. 2004. Penn was relieved of the title amidst a contract dispute with Zuffa, and later returned to the UFC fold in March 2006.
