UFC 84 Line-Ups and Predictions

UFC 84 is airing tonight on Pay Per View. There's certainly some intriguing matchups. All the fights are listed below with my predictions. Comments, as always, are welcome.


BJ Penn Vs. Sean Sherk

Name:
BJ Penn
Height:
5' 9" (175 cm)
Weight:
155 (70 kg)
Record:
13-4-1
"The Prodigy"

Name:
Sean Sherk
Height:
5' 6" (168 cm)
Weight:
155 (70 kg)
Record:
35-2-1
"Muscle Shark"


This is a great matchup between two of the best lightweights out there. With all of the steroid allegations surrounding Sean Sherk, I don't know if he'll be able to overcome all the scrutiny and win back his title against Penn, who seems to be hitting his stride. I'm for Penn in this one.



Wanderlei Silva Vs. Keith Jardine

Name:
Wanderlei Silva
Height:
5' 11" (180 cm)
Weight:
205 (93 kg)
Record:
31-8-1
"The Axe Murderer"

Name:
Keith Jardine
Height:
6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight:
205 (93 kg)
Record:
13-4-1
"The Dean of Mean"

This is one heck of a bout, between a guy who cannot afford to lose in Wanderlei Silva, and a guy that has something to prove in Jardine. There's a lot of talk about Jardine being next in line for a title shot if he wins, however I think that is not quite the case. Either way, I look for Silva to come out aggressive because his back is against the wall, and pull out a win over Jardine. Jardine may shock the world with another win, but I don't see it happening.



Wilson Gouveia Vs. Goran Reljic

Name:
Wilson Gouveia
Height:
6' 1" (185 cm)
Weight:
205 (93 kg)
Record:
10-4-0

Name:
Goran Reljic
Height:
6' 3" (191 cm)
Weight:
205 (93 kg)
Record:
7-0-0


This is certainly a lesser known fight on the card, but I think Gouveia handles this one with relative ease. I like the way he uses his leg kicks, and though Reljic hails from Croatia, and has been training with former Pride star Mirko Cro Cop, I think Gouveia's experience makes this an easy pick.




Tito Ortiz Vs. Lyoto Machida

Name:
Tito Ortiz
Height:
6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight:
204 (93 kg)
Record:
16-5-1
"Huntington Beach Bad Boy"

Name:
Lyoto Machida
Height:
6' 1" (185 cm)
Weight:
205 (93 kg)
Record:
12-0-0


This quite possibly will be the best matchup of the night, with Tito's emotion and Machida's samurai mentality clashing. This has been said to be Ortiz's last fight with the UFC and if so, you can expect it to be a very emotional one. Ortiz has always been one for big entrances, so why would his exit be any different? However, there is a reason why Machida is undefeated, and he has shown that he is not intimidated whatsoever by Ortiz. His defense is just as good as anyone's in the UFC, and is comparable to someone like BJ Penn (defense-wise). I like the underdog Machida to take this one, but don't be surprised if Tito ground and pounds Machida to go out with a bang.




Thiago Silva Vs. Antonio Mendes

Name:
Thiago Silva
Height:
6' 1" (185 cm)
Weight:
205 (93 kg)
Record:
11-0-0

Name:
Antonio Mendes
Height:
6' 3" (191 cm)
Weight:
205 (93 kg)
Record:
14-2-0
"Samuray"



It's okay UFC matchmaker Joe Silva. We all have our off days. I'm just joking with you of course, but this really should be an easy win for Silva. I am going on the record as saying that in less than one year's time, barring any major upsets, Thiago Silva will be the UFC Light Heavyweight champion. I think this man is very underrated, and his skills are top notch. This should be an easy K.O. or submission win for the future star.


Ivan Salaverry Vs. Rousimar Palhares

Name:
Ivan Salaverry
Height:
6' 0" (183 cm)
Weight:
185 (84 kg)
Record:
12-5-1

Name:
Rousimar Palhares
Height:
5' 8" (173 cm)
Weight:
185 (84 kg)
Record:
16-1-0
"Toquinho"

This is definitely an undercard fight. Both guys are lesser known than others on this card, however Ivan Salaverry has been known to face decent competition in the past, and his defense is top notch. I like Salaverry in this, but there must be some reason for the 16-1 record for Palhares, right?


Rameau Sokoudjou Vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura

Name:
Rameau Sokoudjou
Height:
6' 0" (183 cm)
Weight:
205 (93 kg)
Record:
4-2-0
"The African Assassin"

Name:
Kazuhiro Nakamura
Height:
5' 10" (178 cm)
Weight:
205 (93 kg)
Record:
11-7-0
"Kaz"

This is a matchup of newer UFC guys in Nakamura and Sokoudjou. I expect "The African Assassin" to take this one, as Nakamura has only shown one thing since being in the UFC...comedy.


Rich Clementi Vs. Terry Etim

Name:
Rich Clementi
Height:
5' 9" (175 cm)
Weight:
155 (70 kg)
Record:
39-12-1
"No Love"

Name:
Terry Etim
Height:
6' 1" (185 cm)
Weight:
155 (70 kg)
Record:
10-1-0

This one should go Clementi's way, as he's shown a mean streak as of late, but Etim has done well thus far in the UFC and may make this fight his own. I say Clementi in a decision.


Jon Koppenhaver Vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida

Name:
Jon Koppenhaver
Height:
5' 11" (180 cm)
Weight:
170 (77 kg)
Record:
6-1-0

Name:
Yoshiyuki Yoshida
Height:
5' 11" (180 cm)
Weight:
170 (77 kg)
Record:
9-2-0
"Zenko"

I think Koppenhaver should win this fight against Yoshida. Koppenhaver rebounded off his loss on TUF with an exciting win on the season's finale over fellow TUF cast member Jared "J-Roc" Rollins. If Koppenhaver wins, he could build momentum in an evergrowing welterweight division.



Jason Tan Vs. Dong Hyun Kim

Name:
Jason Tan
Height:
5' 10" (178 cm)
Weight:
170 (77 kg)
Record:
5-1-0

Name:
Dong Hyun Kim
Height:
6' 3" (191 cm)
Weight:
170 (77 kg)
Record:
9-0-1
"Stun Gun"

Jason Tan is no joke. He posted one heck of a fight with Marcus Davis in his debut with the UFC. He had Davis rocked for a second, but eventually got KO'd. This is Kim's first fight in the UFC, and he's looking to do what Tan couldn't do in his debut, win. Even so, I like Tan in this one.


Christian Wellisch Vs. Shane Carwin

Name:
Christian Wellisch
Height:
6' 3" (191 cm)
Weight:
237 (108 kg)
Record:
9-2-0
"The Hungarian Nightmare"

Name:
Shane Carwin
Height:
6' 4" (193 cm)
Weight:
265 (120 kg)
Record:
8-0-0

If you took a look at the weigh-ins for this fight, you'd bet all your money on Shane Carwin to dominate this one. He looks in great shape, and may be a prototype of future Heavyweights to come. However, I like Wellisch in this only because of his experience. He's put up some decent highlights in the UFC, and this may add to his collection.