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."

But there have been other intriguing statements made by both fighters, and it is being promoted as "a grudge match" by the UFC.

It started last July, when Sherk tested positive for Nandrolone, which is a form of anabolic steroids. He was eventually suspended for six months, and stripped of the UFC lightweight championship. Penn defeated Joe Stevenson by choke submission in January to take the title.

Penn has not been afraid to express disdain at Sherk's failed drug test.

"I thought he was a coward for taking steroids, and I let him know it," Penn said. "I still stand by that. I think anybody who uses steroids is insecure or scared of something."

Sherk has maintained his innocence, and is reportedly considering legal action against the California athletic commission that conducted the test. He has also stated that he does not respect Penn for commenting on the situation.

Saturday will be Sherk's first bout since the steroids controversy started. Penn and Sherk have already passed pre-fight drug tests.

"Whatever," Penn said. "As soon as the fight starts, none of that matters. You just have to go in there and fight."

Both Penn and Sherk are considered warriors in the octagon. As an indication of the bout's magnitude, former world champions Tito Ortiz and Wanderlei Silva are fighting in separate bouts on the undercard.

Penn, who is nicknamed "The Prodigy" for his quick rise in the sport, is 12-4-1. He is a jiu-jitsu master, and one of only two fighters in UFC history to win world titles in two separate weight divisions (he held the welterweight belt in 2004).

Sherk, who is nicknamed "The Muscle Shark," is 32-2-1 with his only losses against world champions Matt Hughes and Georges St. Pierre. Penn is 1-1 against Hughes and 0-1 against St. Pierre.

Sherk is from Minnesota, and his strength is wrestling. He is listed at 5 feet 6, but may actually be shorter.

Penn, who is 5-9, said he recruited several "short, powerful guys" to train with him in Hilo in preparation for Saturday's bout.

"Sherk is explosive, and I know he's going to come out hard to try and do his thing," Penn said. "And I heard he's been training in muay thai (kickboxing), so he'll probably try and throw a lot of kicks to back me off."

But Penn is apparently focusing more on offense than defense.

"I can't think too much about what he's going to do," Penn said. "I have to try and impose my will. I want to go after him first, not the other way around."

Penn's game plan?

"I'm going to go right at him — try and knock him out or take him down," he said. "If I take him down, pass guard, then mount him or submit him."

Penn is 8-1-1 as a lightweight, including 2-0 since returning to the lightweight division last year.

"I like living like this," he said. "It feels great to be in shape all the time and not have to worry about cutting weight right before the fight."

Saturday will be Penn's sixth UFC world title bout, and he said he is more relaxed for this one than any of the previous five.

"When I was younger, I was obsessed with becoming a champion and winning belts," he said. "Now I realize what it takes and I'm just happy to get the opportunity. It's like I don't feel like a champion. I feel like a guy who's still coming up and I just want to go out there and have fun."

Still, there is talk of a future rematch between Penn and St. Pierre for the welterweight (170 pounds) world title.

"Everybody wants to know what I'm going to do next," Penn said. "But you know what? I have Sean Sherk right in front of me and I have to beat him first and foremost before I can even think about anything else. So right now, the only guy I'm concerned about is Sean Sherk."

Penn is the only mixed martial arts fighter from Hawai'i to win a UFC world championship, and he said his pride will be evident Saturday.

Penn and his cornermen will be wearing "Team Hawai'i" shirts Saturday, and he said the entrance song for his walk to the octagon will likely be "Hawai'i '78" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.

"I always feel like I'm representing Hawai'i," he said.