PENN WANTS ST. PIERRE NOW !!

LAS VEGAS (AP) -B.J. Penn has his sights set on Georges St. Pierre.

After battering former title holder Sean Sherk over three rounds to retain his 155-pound ultimate fighting championship Saturday night, the Hawaiian mixed martial arts fighter asked fans if they wanted to see a rematch with the UFC welterweight champion.

St. Pierre won a split decision at 170 pounds when they met in March 2006.

The sellout crowd of 14,773 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena howled with delight at the idea.

Asked about the matchup at the post-fight news conference, UFC president Dana White said there is one more interesting fight for Penn in the 155-round ranks, presumably the winner of an August bout between Kenny Florian and Roger Huerta. The winner of that fight is supposed to get a shot at the title.

But White said he would not dismiss a Penn-St. Pierre rematch, prompting Penn to clap his hands. St. Pierre, meanwhile, has to get past No. 1 welterweight contender Jon Fitch.

Penn made no secret that neither Florian nor Huerta get him interested.

``We'll watch them go do their thing, but it's obvious what the fans want,'' Penn said.

Penn hurt St. Pierre in the first round of their first fight, cutting him and doing damage. But Montreal-based St. Pierre rallied in the second and third rounds. Penn says he went from the fight to a nightclub, while St. Pierre went to a hospital.