I’ve got family in town this week so it’s been impossible to get up a full preview post but tonight’s card looks like a pretty good one on paper so I thought I would at least throw up some quick predictions before the event. If you want a full-blooded preview of the card, check out BloodyElbow’s UFC 84 Staff Predictions.
BJ Penn vs. Sean Sherk (Lightweight Championship Match)
I have been waiting for someone to come along and smash Sean Serk for a long time and I cannot think of a better equipped fighter to do that than BJ Penn, “The Prodigy”. I’ll just admit right now I don’t like Sherk’s style of lay-and-pray fighting that he pulled against Florian and especially Franca. I do love BJ’s fighting style where he is constantly looking to finish the fight from every position; whether he is standing, in the midst of being taken down, on his back (for the split-second that he might stay there), on top, or has your back. BJ looks more motivated and in-shape than ever lately and I just don’t see how a guy who took Llyoto Machida to a tight decision or draw could lose to Sherk! Winner: BJ Penn
Wanderlei Silva vs. Keith Jardine
I love Wanderlei and miss the days of PRIDE where he couldn’t lose. After taking Lidell to a decision last year, once again he is facing a powerful striker with a longer reach than him. Jardine is no push-over and a very tough guy. At the same time, he has been knocked out before so if Wanderlei lands, we know it’s possible. That said, and as much as I would love for Wandy to win this one, I think the odds are that Jardine takes it. Winner: Keith Jardine
Tito Ortiz vs. Lyoto Machida
Tito is a good fighter still but he seems to have given up a lot of his explosiveness to health problems. Machida is a tricky guy to fight as we’ve all seen, with his ability to evade then attack. I wish Tito luck in whatever organization he fights for next. And I think it is a huge mistake by the UFC to let one of the guys who is most associated with their brand walk away and give someone like EliteXC a boost. Nevertheless… Winner: Llyoto Machida
Rameau Sokoudjou vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura
Sokoudjou needs to deliver a crazy knockout in this fight and get over with the UFC fans, just like he did with the PRIDE ones. He’s not slaying a top-five giant in this fight like those others but nevertheless, UFC fans love the brutal knockout and will reward him for it. Nakamura is the perpetual guy that’s pretty good at a lot of things but never great at one thing, except maybe taking damage and staying conscious. Winner: Rameau Sokoudjou
And a couple more for fun:
Thiago Silva vs. Antonio Mendes - Winner: Thiago Silva
Rich Clementi vs. Terry Etim - Winner: Rich Clementi
Wilson Gouveia vs. Goran Reljic - Winner: Wilson Gouveia
I am pretty pumped about the headlining fights for this event. I think they will be pretty exciting to watch. See you guys after the show!
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