[CNorris]

Sherk not stripped; Penn-Stevenson for interim title
By Kevin Iole

Friday, Nov 2, 2007 2:24 pm EDT
Sean Sherk is going to remain the UFC's lightweight champion, but B.J. Penn and Joe Stevenson will fight for a lightweight belt at UFC 80 in January in Newcastle, England, UFC president Dana White said Friday.

White said he's not going to strip Sherk of his lightweight championship because he is fed up with the California Athletic Commission's handling of Sherk's steroids case.

Sherk tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone following his successful title defense on July 7 at UFC 73 in Sacramento, Calif., over Hermes Franca. The California Athletic Commission fined Sherk $2,500 and suspended him for a year.

Sherk, though, denied taking steroids and appealed. His hearing was to have been on Wednesday, but it was postponed until Nov. 13 when members of the California commission realized they had not received the 17-page brief attorney Howard Jacobs had submitted on Sherk's behalf.

White had vowed to strip Sherk of the title, but said Friday that he no longer plans to do so.

"The way this whole thing has been handled has been a mess," White said.

He said Penn and Stevenson, who said he learned on Tuesday that he and his wife will have another son, will fight for the interim title as the main event of UFC 80 in Newcastle, England, likely on Jan. 19.

The winner of that bout would then presumably face Sherk once Sherk's status is defined by the commission.

White said heavyweights Gabriel Gonzaga and Fabricio Werdum would meet in the co-main on UFC 80.

[Sir Savage]

Good news. Sherky remains the official champ, and will whoop the paper champ's ass once he gets back.

[CNorris]

Originally Posted by Sir Savage

Good news. Sherky remains the official champ, and will whoop the paper champ's ass once he gets back.

I agree its good news and I hope he stomps Penn. I have to root against fighters nuthugged all over Sherdog and cheer for my hometown fighters.

[CNorris]

Sounds like the CSAC is one giant cluster ****.

"If the commission deems Sherk's sample contained banned substances, Jacobs will argue it could have resulted from the many supplements the Minneapolis-based fighter ingested leading up to the fight.

Seven tests totaling $3,000 were conducted on supplements Sherk took before his bout against Hermes Franca (Pictures). One such product was the Xyience-branded "Xyience Xtreme Joint Formula." Five capsules were analyzed according to a report supplied by Don H. Catlin, M.D., president and CEO of Anti-Doping Research, Inc.

"No anabolic steroids were detected in four of the capsules," Catlin wrote. "In one capsule 1-androstendione was identified."
As for the one capsule of "Xyience Xtreme Joint Formula" in which 1-androstendione was identified, the company said it has halted all shipments of the product until it can conduct independent testing by a certified lab.

"While we are confident that Xyience products do not contain anabolic agents or any illegal substances," said Susan Wierzbicki, Director of Quality Assurance, Xyience, "we are taking this report very seriously."

Asked if he intended to blame Sherk's positive steroid test on the Xyience product, Jacobs answered, "Not specifically, no."

Jacobs explained that it was only his intention to show over-the-counter supplements can be contaminated.

In this case, the supplement company is a major advertiser for Ultimate Fighting Championship events and just announced a three-year extension with the MMA promoter on Oct. 13; it also sponsored Sherk before the two parted ways over money issues.

In addition to the alleged testing irregularities and potential supplement contamination, Sherk also submitted himself to a polygraph test.

"It's not the central part of the case, but I think it's important given that it's not, in my view, a strict liability standard," Jacobs said. "You have to weigh the evidence. You have one test that's their urine test and you have a polygraph on the other side. If they have to prove he used a drug or administered a drug, the fact that he was found to be truthful when he said he didn't use it should be relevant."

The commission is slated to rule on the admissibility of a polygraph examination within a week.

Having just completed his process with the commission, Baroni said he will watch closely as Sherk's drama plays out.

"I would like to see him get vindicated," Baroni said of the lightweight. "That would almost be like me winning. I know I didn't do it and I believe he didn't do it." "

Read the whole thing at Few Answers, Many Questions Following Hearing

[ersatz]

Sherk will be stripped of the title if CSAC finds him guilty. As for the contamination while it stated they found 1-androstendione, they didn't list in what amount. It's probably a minute amount that wouldn't cause a false positive.

Penn is probably the most talented fighter in the LW div but his conditioning sucks. If he were to improve upon that he would likely dominate. But as it stands I would see Sherk getting the decision.

And I guess there's some Minnesota nut-huggers here. Nothing wrong with that though and I like Nick Thompson and his Almost Nobody Beats Me motto.

[vika808]

Penn Baby

[Alexander]

Penn will do Sherk worse than GSP did Sherk. Sorry Savage. If the fight happens I think we should bet again, assuming you're willing to bet on your boy.

[CNorris]

Originally Posted by Alexander

Penn will do Sherk worse than GSP did Sherk. Sorry Savage. If the fight happens I think we should bet again, assuming you're willing to bet on your boy.

You could not possibly be more wrong. Penn is so much smaller and weaker than GSP. There is no possible way be will put a beating on Sherk. Penn better submit Sherk in the first round or he will lose. We all know BJ can only fight one or two rounds.

[jas123]

I don't know. Is Sherk better than Hughes at his weight class? BJ will light Sherk up on his feet and has pretty damn good takedown defense (see the Hughes II fight). Even if Sean gets him down, he's not safe by any means. BJ's just dangerous as hell and Sherk won't finish him. His cardio (in theory) should be better at 155. Penn does seem somewhat mentally weak or lacking focus. Sherk will have to push the pace to try and wear BJ out to grind a decision. I'd still pick Penn.

[Alexander]

Originally Posted by CNorris

You could not possibly be more wrong. Penn is so much smaller and weaker than GSP. There is no possible way be will put a beating on Sherk. Penn better submit Sherk in the first round or he will lose. We all know BJ can only fight one or two rounds.

Watch your ****in mouth

[Alexander]

Just messin with ya Norris. Figured I would give you a little taste of your own medicine, abrasiveness elixir. I don't know though, Penn pretty much manhandled Hughes, so did GSP though. Couture trained with Penn and says it is unbelievable how strong he is and that he had a lot of trouble taking him down and could not keep him down. Penn doesn't look like much, he's a freak of nature.

[vika808]

Originally Posted by Alexander

Just messin with ya Norris. Figured I would give you a little taste of your own medicine, abrasiveness elixir. I don't know though, Penn pretty much manhandled Hughes, so did GSP though. Couture trained with Penn and says it is unbelievable how strong he is and that he had a lot of trouble taking him down and could not keep him down. Penn doesn't look like much, he's a freak of nature.

Agreed. penn i think now will be able to go 5 rounds, now he got his own personal trainer for cardio and diets he is fine, penn is umm lets see his nick name a prodigy!!! he will take sherk out no problem.

[Reaper329]

I love Joe Daddy, but he stands little chance against Penn at 155. As a matter of fact, I dont think Sherk will be able to ahndle Penn @ 155 either

[Sir Savage]

I think if Sherk survives the first two rounds (and he can, he just has to make sure he doesn't do stupid things like getting caught in a guillotine during a takedown because Penn can finish those), then he takes the decision or TKO.

There's no way Penn can match Sherk's intensity. That is pretty much a given.

The question is- can Sherk avoid potentially very costly mistakes during the first couple of rounds? If he can (and I think he will), then he takes it. If not, Penn is the first to submit him.

I will accept your challenge, Alex, when the time draws near!

[pistonpump]

Penn all the way! I gotta root for the homestate...If he comes in the way he did against Jens, he'll give Sherk problems and probably school him.

[CNorris]

This conversation is a little pre mature. Penn has to get through Joe Daddy first!

[Reaper329]

that wont take long. I love Joe, but he wont make it out of the first round