UFC 84’s “Ill Will” will take place Saturday May 24th, 2008 at 7 pm PST (10 pm EST) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Saturday’s fight card is staked with great MMA match-ups in all the different weight classes. UFC 84 also features some of the most prominent names in MMA today: Tito Ortiz, Wanderlei Silva, Lyoto Machida, Keith Jardin, Sean Sherk, and many more. My UFC 84 Betting Predictions will feature (what I consider) the two best light-heavyweight bouts on the card. BodogLife.com has the best MMA Betting Lines for UFC 84’s “Ill Will”.     

In the light-heavyweight class, the ever-controversial “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz, will face off against the promising/undefeated, Lyoto Machida. Machida is -200 a betting odds favorite against Ortiz (+160); However, Tito still has a lot left in the tank: he’s a good wrestler with a deadly “ground and pound” game, and is still a decent striker. I’d take the more experienced Ortiz (+160) against a talented but green, Karateka Machida (-200).

Tale of the Tape:

Age: 33                     29      

Ht:  6’2”                    6’1”  

Wt: 204lbs.               205lbs.

Rd: 16-5-1                12-0-0

Betting Odds: +160    -200

The most intriguing match-up of the night, features two absolutely great fighters. The “Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva will take on the “Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine. The experienced Brazilian (Silva) is looking to bounce back from two consecutive losses (Liddell in 2007 and Ortiz 2000). Meanwhile, the less experienced up-and-coming American (Jardine), is a well rounded fighter, who’s coming off an impressive (split decision) victory over Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell.

Keith looks forward to the opportunity of continuing the building of a legacy based on defeating the most prominent names in MMA.

Tale of the Tape:

Wanderlei Silva             Keith Jardine

Age: 31                       32

Ht: 5’11”                     6’ 2”

Wt: 205lbs.                 205 lbs.

Rd: 31-8-1                  Rd: 13-4-1

Betting Odds: -160       +130

Silva is a -160 betting favorite against Jardine (+130). I expect this fight to be spent mostly on their feet, as both fighters favor the stand-up game. Jardine is a very well rounded big man, with good striking ability, and powerful kicks. However, Silva is also a good striker with great technique. This is a tough one to pick, but I like Jardine (+130) on this one... just barely.  

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