Sean Sherk was once the best in the world, he stood head and shoulders above his peers with the coveted UFC lightweight title in 2006. Nicknamed “The Muscle Shark”, the moniker was a perfect fit for Sherk. His intense training regime led him to be 155 pounds of solid muscle which he utilized to great effect as he overpowered his opponents in the cage.

His run as the UFC’s lightweight champion ended abruptly however, in 2007 when he was embroiled in a steroid controversy that stripped him of his title.

“There was never bad blood with me and the UFC, the bad blood was between me and the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC). The UFC, on-hundred percent, supported me throughout my entire hearing…It was handled very amateurish for an athletic commission like California…to handle my case like it was complete garbage that was terrible." Sherk told MMA Fight Corner presented by FiveKnuckles.com.

"They treated me like a complete piece of sh*t and they just made up the rules as they went. I had plenty of evidence to show that I wasn’t taking any drugs and they really didn’t care. There was so much crap going on. Everyone wants to just point their fingers at me and say steroids, steroids, steroids.”

Sherk did lose his title in the cage afterward, but pointed out that due to the lack of professionalism associated with his case, the UFC didn’t return to California for the next two years. CSAC’s Executive Officer, Armando Garcia, was dropped by the commission due to many previous incidents involving athletes; one of which was the poor handling of Sherk’s case.

"Armando Garcia was fired shortly after my hearing because he was embezzling money from the commission and he was doing other stuff that I probably shouldn't mention," Sherk said. "There was so much stuff going on that know one knows about and everyone just wants to point the finger."

Now four years later, Sherk looks to put the past behind him and focus on another title run.

“I feel great. I mean I’m training five days a week probably and I’m actually in pretty decent shape right now, so all in all I’m feeling pretty good, you know. Injuries are injuries they aren’t going anywhere. You try to manage as much as possible.”

Sherk has been mending injuries since 2010 and expects to make his return inside the Octagon in the fall. Once healthy, Sherk is eager to test himself once again among the UFC’s best.

“I should be back in early fall," Sherk said. "I want another contender. Just want to keep fighting contenders and keep fighting guys that I feel like they have something to offer me, because anytime I fight somebody and I’ve been in the industry for so long, I’ve accomplished so much, anybody that I fight it’s going to be a big fight for them. It’s going to be a big win if they beat me. So I got to put my butt on the line and I want to fight another top contender. Someone whose got some momentum going so if I beat them it furthers my career as well. So it’s kind of a win-win for both of us you know."

Since 2007, Sherk has gone 2-2 over four fights, unable to compile wins together. The two men who defeated him during that run, BJ Penn and Frankie Edgar. So how would Sherk fair in a rematch with the two?

"I would love to fight BJ again I...