UFC 137 Preview and Picks
UFC 137 takes place this weekend in Vegas and before it even starts there is a certain amount of disappointment. Georges St. Pierre was forced out of his title fight this weekend with a knee injury. Carlos Condit will reportedly get his shot at GSP somewhere down the line.
The UFC 137 Fight card is still littered with quality bouts – every one of which is broken down below with updated odds and picks.
UFC 137: St. Pierre vs. Condit
Date/Time: October 29, 2011, 9pm ET/6pm PT
Location: Manadalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Main Card
Welterweight (170lbs)
BJ Penn (16-7-2): -135
Nick Diaz (25-7-0): +105
Two very well rounded fighters meet in the main event of the evening when BJ Penn takes on Nick Diaz. Both men are terrific boxers and both own Black Belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Penn is a legend but is a bit of a fading star that will have all sorts of trouble with the height and reach of Diaz. I like the unorthodox striking and rugged nature of Diaz’s style to prevail in this one. Diaz will reclaim his place in line at his shot at GSP.
Pick: Nick Diaz +105
Heavyweight (265lbs)
Cheick Kongo (15-7-2): +110
Matt Mitrione (5-0-0): -140
In what is the most intriguing fight of the evening, rising star Matt Mitrione will look to use his superior athleticism against the huge and powerful Cheick Kongo. Kongo has all the tools for success but Mitrione has one enormous advantage in this fight – speed. I think Mitrione`s vastly improved footwork will be too much for Kongo. Quickness will open things up for Mitrione’s powerful hands and emerging kicks. It will be a battle with Mitrione extending his unbeaten streak.
Pick: Matt Mitrione -140
Heavyweight (265lbs)
Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovic (27-9-2): +225
Roy Nelson (15-6-0): -300
This is perhaps the easiest fight of the night to call. Cro Cop has lost all of the luster that made him the most feared striker in MMA – he is slower, less powerful and can’t take a punch anymore. Nelson isn’t great but he is proficient enough in every aspect of MMA to get it done on Saturday.
Pick: Roy Nelson -300
Bantamweight (135lbs)
Scott Jorgensen (12-4-0): -450
Jeff Curran (33-13-1): +325
Jeff Curran returns to the Octagon after some time away to take on Scott Jorgensen, a fighter that has been close in the past but can`t seem to get over the hurdle. Curran brings experience decent boxing and a tremendous ability to fight off his back while Jorgensen has wrestling, insane conditioning, and tremendous ground control on his side. Expect Jorgensen to grind out a win in typical style and to put his name in the hat once again as a challenger to Dominick Cruz.
Pick: Scott Jorgensen -450
Featherweight (145lbs)
Hatsu Hioki (24-4-2): -350
George Roop (11-6-1): +250
Hioki is extremely well respected – a former Shooto and Sengoku champion. He makes his UFC debut against George Roop who is 2-3 in his last five fights. We have seen it before, over and over – Japanese fighters have a very difficult time in their UFC debuts – I think the same happens again. Roop will be wary of Hioki’s superb submission game (14 subs) and will use his height to keep this fight standing. Roop is exciting and unpredictable – I like the upset in this one! [ad-3573245]
Pick: George Roop +250
Preliminary Card
Lightweight (155lbs)
Bart Palaszewski (34-14-0): +250
Tyson Griffin (15-5-0): -350
Bart Palaszewski makes his UFC debut on Saturday and brings a good all around game with him. However, Palaszewski has shown in the past that he has trouble with high level grapplers. Enter Tyson Griffin who will not only outclass Palaszewski when the fight hit the mat but also in the standup as well. Griffin gets it done!
Pick: Tyson Griffin -350
Lightweight (155lbs)
Dennis Siver (19-7-0): +200
Donald Cerrone (15-3-0): -260
Dennis Siver was supposed to face Sam Stout but now has the tough task of facing the very well rounded Donald Cerrone. Siver is a tremendous striker that has won four straight fights but Cerrone will have a distinct size and reach advantage in this one. Once this fight goes to the ground (and it will), Cerrone will dominate.
Pick: Donald Cerrone -260
Light Heavyweight (205lbs)
Eliot Marshall (9-2-0): +375
Brandon Vera (11-6-0): -550
The Ultimate Fighter alum Elliot Marshall will be fighting for his UFC career on Saturday when he takes on a fighter that once was a prodigy but hasn’t quite lived up to expectation – Brandon Vera. After 3 straight losses (1 was overturned with the positive drug test of Thiago Silva), Brandon Vera is due. He should get it done against the underwhelming Marshall.
Pick: Brandon Vera -550
Middleweight (185lbs)
Clifford Starks (7-0-0): -110
Dustin Jacoby (12-4-0): -120
Dustin Jacoby is riding a six fight win streak but in far lesser organizations – Clifford Starks is undefeated and has fought in decent organizations like Rage in the Cage and Shark Fights. . Look for the youth, aggression and energy and 6 inch height advantage of Jacoby to show up in this fight and to win the battle of the debuts.
Pick: Dustin Jacoby -120
Lightweight (155lbs)
Danny Downes (7-2-0): +180
Ramsey Nijem (4-2-0): -230
Ramsey Nijem, a TUF 13 contestant hits the Octagon with decent wrestling and boxing experience but with limited MMA experience. Danny Downes doesn`t have much more experience in the Octagon but he does have some rounds under his belt against some top tier MMA talent – Chris Horodecki and Jeremy Stephens). Downes is simply the better fighter and brings more experience – that`s good enough for me!
Pick: Danny Downes +180
Middleweight (185lbs)
Francis Carmont (16-7-0): -120
Chris Camozzi (15-4-0):-110
Chris Camozzi is simply one of the more overrated fighters in the UFC – he was cut and brought back for some reason. On Saturday he takes on French fighter and GSP training partner Francis Carmont. Carmont destroyed a very tough Jason Day in his last fight – I expect the same will ring true with Camozzi.
Pick: Francis Carmont -120
