UFC 84 Ill Will Fight Picks

Posted on 20. May, 2008 by moneybags in MMA Betting Picks, UFC

UFC 84 has 3 great main event fights

Undercard picks will be covered in another post

BJ Penn vs Sean Sherk

The first main event fight is BJ “The Prodigy” Penn vs Sean “The Muscle Shark” Sherk.
Sean Sherk is returning after a long hiatus after the California State Athletic commission found that he tested positive for steroids. Sherk is going to have ring rust, but his conditioning program is one of the best in the entire game, so I expect him to be in this fight till the end. Speaking of cardio, Penn has had his cardio issues before, but really at the heavier weight class and not at 155. Recently Penn literally destroyed BigDaddy Joe Stevenson at UFC 80.

The oddsmaker have BJ favored so the public must be leaning that way big. Its not out of the question that Sherk could eek out a victory if he takes down and lays and prays the whole fight. Sherk is likely not knocking BJ out because ever since being in the UFC he’s never had a knockout and BJ has a tough chin. So cancel that idea out. The only way I see Sherk winning is via takedown, get up takedown, and BJ never gets off his gameplan. Hermes Franca almost caught Sherk in several guillotine chokes that Penn might have finished in the same fight.

MBP says:

Picking BJ Penn in this one because Sean Sherk’s biggest advantage is also BJ’s plus BJ can strike.

Current betting lines on this matchup

Wanderlei Silva vs Keith Jardine

Wanderlei used to own fighters in Pride and is one of the most popular fighters around the world. Keith Jardine on the other hand has had an excellent jump off the Ultimate Fighter show. Jardine is one of the scrappier light heavies in the division with a unique style that is tough for any opponent. Jardine beat Chuck Lidell and Lidell beat Silva via a smart game plan. If Jardine rips his leg kicks like he has done against several opponents than Silva could be in trouble as the later rounds come into play. If Silva gets on top one time then I think Silva is going to win the fight.

MBP says:

Jardine via decision

Current betting lines for this matchup

Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida vs Tito “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Ortiz

Machida is one of those fighters who just wins. Hes undefeated in the UFC and undefeated outside the UFC. Machida has really unique style as he follows a kind of karate way of fighting. However, that style has brought him wins over BJ Penn, Rich Franklin, and Stephan Bonner outside the UFC, when Franklin was at the top of his game.

Machida recently beat Sokoudjou quite easily in what most people thought was going to be a tough test for Machida. Ortiz on the other hand is on his last fight for his UFC contract. I haven’t respected Ortiz’ skills in about 5 years. He hasn’t been tested that badly except for his Forrest Griffin fight, where many people think Ortiz lost. I don’t however, I think Ortiz won the first two rounds and won the fight. People just thought round 3 might have been 10-8 for Griffin, but it wasn’t.

MBP says:

Going with the favorite here. Machida wins a UD.

Tags: UFC, ufc 84