UFC Vegas 84 Predictions, Odds and Preview

We have identified the best UFC Vegas 84 predictions for Saturday’s fight card. The UFC is back. After a holiday break, the UFC are hosting their first event of 2024 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The main event will feature a rematch from last October. Magomed Ankalaev (#3 LHW) is back in action and will fight Johnny Walker (#7 LHW). Their first fight was ruled a no contest (illegal knee).

I’m also excited to watch Matheus Nicolau (#5 FW) vs. Manel Kape (#6 FW) in the co-main event.

The UFC Vegas 84 weigh-ins were just completed and Kape missed weight by 3.5 pounds. There’s no word yet on whether the Nicolau vs. Kape fight will happen. If Nicolau agrees to fight, Kape will end up forfeiting a percentage of his purse. I hope the fight happens, as I have Kape to win on Saturday.

We’ll look to kick off the New Year with profit on my UFC Vegas 84 predictions.

UFC Vegas 84 Preview

We’ll briefly preview the MMA event before getting into my UFC Vegas 84 predictions.

When: Saturday, January 13th 2024

Where: UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada

Time: 4:00 PM ET (Prelims) / 7:00 PM ET (Main Card)

Watch: ESPN / ESPN+ (USA) / Sportsnet (Canada)

Apart from the four ranked fighters in the main event and co-main event, there’s one other ranked fighter on the card and that’s Ricky Simon (#13 BW). Veteran Jim Miller is also in action on Saturday night.

For those in Canada, the UFC is returning to Sportsnet this year instead of TSN. Sportsnet has exclusive rights to broadcast the UFC in English Canada. It’s a multi-year deal. Sportsnet+ will also air the fights.

We have several MMA experts releasing UFC Vegas 84 predictions for Saturday’s fight card.

Expert UFC Vegas 84 Predictions

Are you looking for expert UFC Vegas 84 predictions to start the New Year with some profits?

Ankalaev is a big favorite in the main event. There are several big favorites on the fight card, including Waldo Cortes-Acosta against Andrei Arlovski and Jean Silva against Westin Wilson.

Over half of the fights on the card have a round total of over/under 1.5 rounds, which means we should expect plenty of stoppage victories this weekend. This will excite fans after a lengthy UFC break.

There’s not a single women’s fight on the card. Let’s jump into my UFC Vegas 84 predictions.

Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker Prediction

• Fight Odds: Ankalaev (-550) vs. Walker (+400)

Ankalaev (17-1-1-1) was dominating Walker (21-7) in the first fight before landing an illegal knee. He was on his way to a finish. Ankalaev started slowly, but that’s due to Walker’s reach advantage (82” vs. 75”).

Walker has power (16 TKO/KO wins), but Ankalaev has never been knocked out. Walker averages 3.87 SLpM and 2.64 SApM, while Ankalaev averages 3.56 SLpM and 2.20 SApM. Ankalaev averages 1.07 takedowns per 15 minutes (31% accuracy) and Walker only has 57% takedown defense.

This is a five-round fight, so it won’t be going the distance. Ankalaev has the edge, but Walker is capable of silencing opponents with his power. Sign-up to Sports Hub to access my UFC Vegas 84 predictions.

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Matheus Nicolau vs. Manel Kape Prediction

• Fight Odds: Nicolau (+230) vs. Kape (-270)

This is another rematch. Nicolau (19-3-1) won a controversial split decision against Kape (19-6) in the first fight back in 2021. Nicolau is 3-1 since then, but he’s coming off a loss against Brandon Royval (KO).

Kape is 4-0 since the loss to Nicolau and has knocked out two of those opponents. Nicolau averages 3.66 SLpM, 3.14 SApM and 1.48 takedowns per 15 minutes. Kape averages 5.12 SLpM and 4.51 SApM. Kape is going to want to keep this fight standing, as he’s an active striker that hits hard.

Nicolau only has three career losses, but they’ve all been by TKO/KO. Kape has 11 TKO/KO wins and he has never been knocked out. Who will win? Login to Sports Hub for all of my UFC Vegas 84 predictions.

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Jim Miller vs. Gabriel Benitez Prediction

• Fight Odds: Miller (-150) vs. Benitez (+130)

Miller (36-17-0-1) is coming off a 0:23 KO win against Jesse Butler last June. Miller is on a 4-1 run in his last five fights. Benitez (23-10) is 2-4 since 2019 and he hasn’t fought since August 2022.

Benitez averages 4.79 SLpM and 4.05 SApM. He’s a dangerous striker with power. His last three wins are by TKO/KO. Miller averages 2.86 SLpM, 3.08 SApM and 1.56 takedowns per 15 minutes. Miller is durable and hasn’t lost by stoppage since 2018 against Charles Oliveria, but he’ll need to be cautious still.

One knock on Benitez is his cardio often fails him. That’s not a winning recipe against Miller. Miller would be wise to play it smart, take Benitez down (58% takedown defense) and look for a stoppage win.

I’m betting on Miller to win and he’s one of my best UFC Vegas 84 predictions this weekend.

Best Bet: Jim Miller ML (-150)

Ricky Simon vs. Mario Bautista Prediction

• Fight Odds: Simon (-185) vs. Bautista (+160)

Simon (20-4) is coming off a TKO loss against Yadong Song in the fifth round last April. Bautista (13-2) is on a five-fight win streak, with three of those wins coming by submission. These guys have seven losses combined and six of them were by stoppage. Will this fight also end by stoppage?

Simon averages 3.01 SLpM, 3.23 SApM and 5.84 TDs per 15 minutes. Bautista averages 5.32 SLpM and 4.20 SApM. He also averages 2.72 TDs per 15 minutes, but Simon has 75% takedown defense. Bautista has 56% takedown defense. Simon will look to utilize his wrestling to earn a win on Saturday.

Bautista has powerful leg kicks that could disrupt Simon, but Bautista doesn’t have a lot of power (3 wins by TKO/KO). Sign-up to Sports Hub to check out all of my UFC Vegas 84 predictions for this weekend.

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Phil Hawes vs. Brunno Ferreira Prediction

• Fight Odds: Hawes (+110) vs. Ferreira (-130)

Hawes (12-5) is 1-3 in his last four fights and all three losses were by TKO/KO. Ferreira (10-1) is coming off his first career loss against Nursulton Ruziboev (KO). Ferreira is nicknamed “The Hulk” for a reason.

Ferreira has seven TKO/KO wins. Hawes has been knocked out four times and has a weak chin. Hawes is the more well-rounded fighter, but his opponents know they only need to land one big shot to win.

Hawes averages 5.55 SLpM, 3.70 SApM and 2.28 takedowns per 15 minutes (36% accuracy). Ferreira averages 5.79 SLpM and 5.22 SApM. Hawes will have a 5” reach advantage. Hawes has power as well (eight TKO/KO wins). Get my UFC Vegas 84 predictions by logging into your Sports Hub account.

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Marcus McGhee vs. Gaston Bolanos Prediction

• Fight Odds: McGhee (-215) vs. Bolanos (+185)

McGhee (8-1) is 2-0 in the UFC, with both wins coming by stoppage. McGhee hasn’t gone the distance in his career. Bolanos (7-3) won his UFC debut against Aaron Phillips by decision last April.

This fight will likely remain upright. McGhee averages 3.42 SLpM and 1.81 SApM. Bolanos is averaging 4.20 SLpM and 1.13 SApM. McGhee is capable of landing a submission and Bolanos has lost twice by submission. Bolanos has power (six TKO/KO wins), but McGhee is the more technical fighter.

McGhee has never been knocked out either. I expect McGhee to control this fight. I’m betting on him to win by stoppage to get a better price. This is one of my best UFC Vegas 84 predictions for the prelims.

Best Bet: Marcus McGhee By TKO/KO (+190)

Matthew Semelsberger vs. Preston Parsons Prediction

• Fight Odds: Semelsberger (-110) vs. Parsons (-110)

Semelsberger (11-6) is 1-3 in his last four fights. Parsons (10-4) is 1-2 in the UFC, but his losses were against Daniel Rodriguez and Trevin Giles. Parsons is a submission specialist (nine submission wins). Semelsberger has been tapped once previously and has poor takedown defense (50%).

Semelsberger has the edge in striking, though. Login to access my UFC Vegas 84 predictions.

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UFC Vegas 84 Odds

Here are the UFC Vegas 84 odds for all of the fights on the card:

• Magomed Ankalaev (-550) vs. Walker (+400)
• Manel Kape (-270) vs. Matheus Nicolau (+230)
• Jim Miller (-150) vs. Gabriel Benitez (+130)
• Ricky Simon (-185) vs. Mario Bautista (+160)
• Phil Hawes (+110) vs. Brunno Ferreira (-130)
• Andrei Arlovski (+550) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta (-750)
• Matthew Semelsberger (-110) vs. Preston Parsons (-110)
• Marcus McGhee (-215) vs. Gaston Bolanos (+185)
• Farid Basharat (-280) vs. Taylor Lapilus (+240)
• Westin Wilson (+600) vs. Jean Silva (-900)
• Nikolas Motta (+285) vs. Tom Nolan (-350)
• Joshua Van (-255) vs. Felipe Bunes (+215)

There are multiple big favorites suitable for parlays to add to your UFC Vegas 84 predictions on Saturday.

How to Access UFC Vegas 84 Predictions

For those of you that are new to Sports Hub, you need to open an account to access all of my UFC Vegas 84 predictions for Saturday. My plays are all released already under my profile (SWJ Sports).

We also have other experts releasing UFC Vegas 84 predictions for this weekend.