UFC 84: Ill Will Officially Announced

The Ultimate Fighting Championship have officially announced the card for UFC 84: Ill Will. Judging by what some of the fighters have been saying - the name “Ill Will” looks a good choice for the event.

UFC Lightweight Champion BJ "The Prodigy" Penn and former champion Sean "Muscle Shark" Sherk will have the chance to settle their score. On May 24, both men will step into the UFC Octagon to determine, once and for all, who is the undisputed king of the 155 pound division. Also, in back-to-back light heavyweight superfights, “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy”, Tito Ortiz, will take on undefeated Ryoto "Lyoto" Machida, and “The Axe Murderer”, Wanderlei Silva, will face “The Dean of Mean”, Keith Jardine. The Ultimate Fighting Championship organization presents UFC 84: Ill Will live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday, May 24, 2008.

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 – 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 to ever step in the Octagon, UFC Lightweight Champion BJ "The Prodigy" Penn became a two-division UFC champion on January 19th at UFC 80: Rapid Fire when he submitted Joe Stevenson in the second round to win the vacant lightweight crown. With a blend of stellar ground work, knockout power, and a warrior’s heart, Hawaii’s Penn has amazed fans throughout his career, winning the welterweight title in 2004, and then returning to the lightweight division he started out in and taking the belt there as well. Now he looks to prove, once and for all, that he is the true lightweight king by defeating former champion Sean Sherk, who, in July of last year, lost his title due to a positive test for a banned substance.

“I respect Sean Sherk a lot as a fighter, I think he is 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 24th Sean Sherk is going to know it too.”

Fighting out of Oak Grove, Minnesota, Sean Sherk has been on top of the sport for almost a decade.

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

A former UFC light heavyweight champion, Tito Ortiz is known for his strength, tenacity, and ground and pound attack. “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” plans on stealing the thunder from undefeated young gun Ryoto Machida at UFC 84: Ill Will.

“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.”

Brazil’s Ryoto Machida is one of the most technical and devastating strikers in the game today. Owner of wins over BJ Penn, Rich Franklin and Stephan Bonnar, Machida entered the UFC Octagon for the first time in February of 2007 and he has since scored wins over Sam Hoger, David Heath, Kazuhiro Nakamura and most recently Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at UFC 79: Nemesis. On May 24th, 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.”

Keith Jardine scored the most significant win of his career by decisioning Chuck Liddell last September at UFC 76: Knockout. Jardine has a skill set that makes him a strong contender for the belt, and he intends to cement a title shot via a swift victory over “The Axe Murderer” at UFC 84: Ill Will.

“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: Ill Will.”

A legendary warrior known as “The Axe Murderer”, Wanderlei Silva began his career almost 11 years ago in his native Brazil and has since cemented his legacy as one of the greatest light heavyweights in MMA history. Silva is ready to get back in the Octagon at UFC 84: Ill Will and take out top-ranked light heavyweight Keith Jardine.

“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.”