UFC 137 Predictions - The Main Card

Written by Jake Thompson
Friday, 28 October 2011 17:27

It’s time to preview the betting odds and make some predictions on the UFC 137 fight card.

We’ve been winning plenty of money lately on the sport of mixed martial arts, and we hope the massive hot streak continues with our UFC 137 predictions.  The entire UFC 137 fight card is listed below with the respective betting odds for each scrap, and all of the lines we used in the article are from 5Dimes Sportsbook.  Make sure to place your own UFC 137 betting predictions with them because they are giving away a stellar 50% cash bonus to new customers that use the link we provided to get started.

UFC 137 Odds & Fight Card:

B.J. Penn -135

Nick Diaz +115

Matt Mitrione -140

Cheick Kongo +120

Roy Nelson -275

Mirko Filipovic +235

Scott Jorgensen -430

Jeff Curran +345

Hatsu Hioki -335

George Roop +275

Donald Cerrone -245

Dennis Siver +205

Tyson Griffin -320

Bart Palaszewski +260

Brandon Vera -370

Eliot Marshall +310

Ramsey Nijem -210

Danny Downes +175

Chris Camozzi -135

Francis Carmont +115

Dustin Jacoby -125

Clifford Starks +105

UFC 137 Predictions:

B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz

This is one of the toughest fights I’ve ever had to call because of how closely each guy’s skills match up against the others.  Penn (16-7-2) is an excellent boxer with an iron chin who possesses an elite-level submission game.  His only real weakness has been wrestlers with dominant top control.  Diaz (25-7) is an excellent boxer with an iron chin who possesses an elite-level submission game.  His only real weakness has been wrestlers with dominant top control.  I do think that Penn has a slight edge in technical boxing, and I also believe he can take the fight to the mat if he chooses too.  I don’t see either fighter getting finished and will go with Penn to win a decision in a highly entertaining fight.

Cheick Konho vs. Matt Mitrione

Mitrione (5-0) possesses good boxing, a granite chin, and athleticism that few heavyweights can match.  Unfortunately for him, Kongo (16-6-2) is a K-1 striker with a granite chin of his own, and the underdog here also has an edge in wrestling in my opinion.  Kongo could be in trouble if the fight stays standing since his striking defense has holes, but I think he’ll use his wrestling to take down Mitrione.  From there I predict a steady stream of punches until the referee has no choice but to call the fight to stop the scrappy Mitrione from taking damage.  1st round TKO for Mr. Kongo, although I’ll personally be rooting for Mitrione since I like the guy.

Roy Nelson vs. Mirko Filipovic

“Cro Cop” Filipovic (27-9-2) has been tentative in recent fights, seemingly afraid to engage for fear of being knocked out.  His problems seem more mental than physical and it will be interesting to see how he does at UFC 137 in what Filipovic says is likely to be his last fight.  He says he’s finally healthy, but I’ve also heard that before all of his recent losses.  “Cro Cop” has plenty of power to go along with solid takedown and submission defense, but he might be biting off more than he can chew here.  Nelson (15-6) has knockout power of his own to go along with a granite chin and a smothering top game.  Look for “Big Country” Nelson to get the takedown in the first round before coercing the tap via submission out of his aging foe.

Hatsu Hioki vs. George Roop

Hioki (24-4-2) will be making his UFC debut after dominating overseas, and he brings an excellent wrestling and submission attack into the octagon.  Roop (12-7-1) is a scrappy fighter with developing power, but he’s also tall and lanky which makes taking him down easier.  Roop has been submitted in 4 of his 7 losses and I think he’ll constantly be in trouble here.  The underdog has a shot to connect with a flask knockout of some sort, but my UFC 137 predictions will call for him to get submitted in the 2nd round with an armbar.

Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran

Jorgensen (12-4) has excellent wrestling, strong submission defense, and tons of power in his punches.  The Twisted Genetiks product is usually much stronger than his opponent, and he’ll be taking on a guy in Curran (33-13-1) who is a submission ace that hasn’t fared well against wrestlers previously.  Jorgensen does throw big power shots that put him off balance, and that is really Curran’s only chance to even up the wrestling disparity.  That being said, Jorgensen is just too tough and he should be able to cruise to a unanimous decision victory if he fights intelligently.