The local newspapers in the hometowns of both BJ Penn and Sean Sherk had coverage of their fighters today. First, Penn’s writeup in the Honolulu Advertiser:

For the record, BJ Penn doesn’t want to kill Sean Sherk on Saturday.

He’ll settle for a knockout or choke-out.

Penn is scheduled to defend his lightweight (155 pounds) world championship against Sherk in the main event of the UFC 84 “Ill Will” mixed martial arts card Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The card is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. (Hawai’i time) and will be available in Hawai’i through Oceanic pay-per-view.

In the television commercials promoting Saturday’s event, there is a video clip of Penn stating: “Sean Sherk, you’re dead!”

“It’s nothing personal — that’s just something to hype it up,” said Penn, who is from Hilo. “But this is definitely the two top guys in the weight division right now and I want to beat him.”

and a few thousand miles away, Minnesotan Sean Sherk gets his own coverage:

Minnesota’s own Sean “The Muscleshark” Sherk is set to defend his title Saturday against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist B.J. Penn.

Penn, nicknamed “The Prodigy,” won the interim UFC lightweight belt, a title created after Sherk tested positive for steroids and had to serve out a suspension.

If Sherk needed any motivation for the fight, he need only read Penn’s recent remarks:

It’s incorrect, of course, since Penn is the lightweight champ. Tough to defend a title you don’t have…

Penn not out to kill at ‘Ill Will’ @ Honolulu Advertiser

Sherk set to defend title @ Minneapolis City Pages

and an excellent profile of Sherk in the same paper from a year ago:

The Ballad of the Muscle Shark @ Minneapolis City Pages