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posted May 19, 2008 at 13:42 in UFC / MMA Articles

The UFC betting warriors once again step into the Octagon on Saturday, May 24 when MMA's top-series invades the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

UFC 84 ILL WILL features not only a grudge match for the lightweight title between current champion B.J. "The Prodigy" Penn and Sean "Muscle Shark" Sherk as the headliner, as well, light heavyweight Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva will throw down with "The Dean of Mean" Keith Jardine and the Huntington Beach Bad Boy Tito Ortiz goes to war with up and coming star Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida.

It's arguably the best UFC wagering card in years, featuring a grudge match with a lightweight title on the line and two light heavyweight fights that's worthy of main event status on any venue that will determine who's next in line for a title shot against the winner of the Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Forrest Griffin championship fight at UFC 86 on July 5.

With that said, let's get to your UFC online betting selections for UFC 84's ''Big Three'' and tap out the books, starting with the 155-pound main event between Penn and Sherk, who are two bad little dudes that promises to make for an exciting fight.

Penn has excellent submissions, strong standup, extremely quick and nearly impossible to take down in the opening rounds. If the challenger survives until round 3, Penn will start to wear down.

Sherk is a relentless ground and pound fighter who will test Penn’s conditioning by trying to take the fight past round three of five.

Either Penn will put away Sherk early, as the favorite listed at -240 in the BetUS UFC odds, or Sherk will wear him down for a win by decision and bark as the puppy at +190.

Analysis: These are to very strong lightweights that's equally talented. In a fight like this, it's hard to turn down value on the lively dog.

UFC Free Picks: Sean "Muscle Shark" Sherk +190

On to the 205-pounders, beginning with the Silva-Jardine fight. Both guys own great striking skills with heavy hands. Silva has lost three of his last four fights, meanwhile, Jardine has won three of his last four.

Jardine has the reach advantage and will look to stay outside and execute the same game plan that Chuck Liddell, who Jardine beat at UFC 76, employed on Silva to get a win by unanimous decision with his reach at UFC 79.

A win for Jardine puts him ahead of Machida or Ortiz for a light heavyweight championship bout against Jackson or Griffin, even if Machida or Ortiz wins their fight impressively on the same night.

Silva will attack with intensity, inside leg kicks and explosive bombs. He's already a living legend in MMA but it's clear: Silva is the fighter who needs to win the most for a title shot, making him the hungrier man in a matchup that will be decided by who wants it most.

Don't expect this contest to last long, or bank on Jardine to pull off the upset at +145, because most likely this fight will be finished with a haymaker or brutal knee delivered by the favored Silva who's priced at -185.

Analysis: In what could be his final charge, Silva's determination and world-class talent earn him a victory and chance at one last title fight.

UFC Free Picks: Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva -185

If you bet on UFC action and follow the game, you're aware of the trash talk circulating around Ortiz not concentrating on training because of distractions from marketing his clothing line, photo shoots and partnership with his girlfriend porn star Jenna Jamison, and television appearances on the NBC hit show Celebrity Apprentice with Donald Trump.

Ortiz haters, and guys who can only fantasize about his hottie and couldn't get laid even if they were stuffed up a chickens ass, this guy is one of the MMA's most elite ground and pound fighters in the business. Ortiz will come out with guns blazing and shooting for the take down.

Machida is a karate master and wants to keep this fight standing. He has superior striking but there's still questions to be answered if he has to fight from his back. Machida has not fought a fighter with the same level of ground and pound or wrestling skills that Ortiz has.

If Machida can keep the fight standing, he'll win as the -220 chalk. If Ortiz gets the takedown, we'll see a brutal ground and pound onslaught delivered to Machida's skull, as puppy players cash with good value of +175 on Ortiz.

Analysis: This will be the last fight on Ortiz’s UFC contract and Dana White has already said he will not resign him. Ortiz and White do not get along and have been trading shots in the media for years now. Ortiz would love to finish his contract with a bang to make White look silly and to possibly force him to reconsider his contract decision.

UFC Free Picks: Huntington Beach Bad Boy Tito Ortiz +175