UFC 137 Fight Card: Updated Main Card Betting Odds and Predictions

The UFC goes to Mandalay Bay for their Oct. 29 show, and it features two welterweight match ups that will have the MMA world watching very closely.

"The Champion vs. The Killer" will be the headline event, and it features UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre going up against "The Natural Born Killer" Carlos Condit. St. Pierre's nine-fight win streak has placed him among the best pound-for-pound fighters, and he has looked flawless in getting there.

Condit brings a four-fight win streak into the Octagon with a 27-5 record with 26 of those victories coming by knockout or submission.

In the co-main event, former UFC welterweight and lightweight champion B.J. Penn takes on former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz. Diaz was given the fight after being pulled out of the main event due to missing two pre-fight press conferences. Some fans are more interested in this fight than the main event.

Other main card bouts include Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo, Hatsu Hioki vs. George Roop and Mirko Cro Cop vs. Roy Nelson.

These are the odds and my predictions for the event.

Mirko "Cro Cop" Flipovic vs. Roy Nelson

In a bout where both fighters need a victory, Mirko "Cro Cop" takes on Roy Nelson, and both are currently riding two-fight losing streaks.

This might come down to who has the better chin, and fans don't have to look no further than both fighters' last couple fights to know who does.

Nelson survived a stand-up assault from both Junior dos Santos and Frank Mir. Cro Cop was stopped by both, including a follow-up knockout loss to Brendan Schaub. Nelson arguably has one of the best chins in the UFC while Cro Cop might have one of the worst.

Aside from not having a great chin, Cro Cop doesn't even seem to want to fight anymore. His desire to win almost seems nonexistent at times. He will probably say he wants to prove his critics wrong, but it's hard to see it happening.

Roy Nelson defeats Cro Cop by KO in Round 1

Hatsu Hioki vs. George Roop

This featherweight fight might be a showcase bout for Hatsu Hioki, but George Roop is nobody to sleep on. He recently upset Josh Grispi to get a TKO victory in the third round of their bout. It wasn't too long ago that Grispi was being considered the next title challenger for UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo.

Hioki brings an extensive 24-4 record into his Octagon debut, and this includes victories over Marlon Sandro, Ronnie Mann, Jeff Curran and two wins over former title challenger Mark Hominick.

Aside from holding a victory over Grispi, Roop also has a highlight reel headkick KO over the Korean Zombie, Chan Sung Jung.

It is going to take that type of out-of-nowhere finish for Roop to get the victory, and it's tough to see it happening against Hioki, who many consider to be a top five featherweight.

Hatsu Hioki defeats George Roop by submission in Round 2.

Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione

Odds: Cheick Kongo EVEN, Matt Mitrione -130

Kongo will make his first appearance in the cage since having the comeback of his life in a fight with Pat Barry from earlier this year to take on Mitrione.

At 5-0, Mitrione is vastly inexperienced in comparison to Kongo, and it should show in the fight. While Mitrione has shown considerable improvement over his five UFC fights, his competition level hasn't been as high as Kongo's.

At 33, it's hard to see Mitrione making gigantic leaps in the division, but his inexperience does account for something, and that's seeing him improve every time he fights. His stand up has looked better and better in his last couple fights, but it's the takedowns and clinch against the cage that will be the key to Kongo's success in this fight.

Kongo will probably engage in a fight that doesn't showcase the stand-up skills of each fighter, and that makes for a letdown of a fight but one he can win without having to take the types of chances he did in his last fight.

Cheick Kongo defeats Matt Mitrione by unanimous decision.

BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz

Odds: B.J. Penn -130, Nick Diaz EVEN

In a battle of two of the most fearless fighters, former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion B.J. Penn takes on former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz.

After being pulled out of his title fight versus Georges St. Pierre, Diaz got a fight with Penn, and it gives MMA fans a very fun fight that should be very interesting to watch.

Penn is one of the most well-rounded fighters in the sport, and this is where the problem will come into play for Diaz, who likes to engage his opponents where they are strongest. Wherever Diaz chooses to take this fight, he is going to be challenged, and he won't have any way out of it if he finds himself in trouble.

Both like to box and rarely strike with anything other than their hands. This is where most of this fight is going to play out, and it's going to come down to whose skin holds up better to the punches. Both have the chins to withstand each other's power, but Diaz's skin cuts easy, and Penn should be able to bust him up even if the exchanges are relatively equal.

BJ Penn defeats Nick Diaz by TKO (Cut Stoppage) in Round 3.

Georges St. Pierre vs. Carlos Condit

Odds: Georges St. Pierre -450, Carlos Condit +300

St. Pierre will look to defend his championship for the seventh time when he takes on Condit in the main event of UFC 137.

After Diaz was pulled out of the fight, Condit stepped in and made this an equally as anticipated bout. Some would even call it a better fight, and they are right.

While there won't be as much pre-fight hype around the fight, it could actually turn out to be the tougher of the two for the champion. While Diaz usually falls short against dominant wrestlers, Condit brings a different game off his back, and it's one that could present many challenges for the dominant champion, especially late.

As much as fans want to see St. Pierre get a finish, this is probably the last opponent he will be able to finish in a division filled with durable fighters. His best chance is to catch Condit off guard early and possibly get a submission, but Condit has shown he can get through the toughest of situations to keep the fight going.

Expect to see Condit have trouble early but really push the pace in the last two rounds to lose a competitive decision that has many fans calling for a rematch. GSP will use his wrestling to win the first three rounds with Condit possibly winning the last two. The judges will be a key to who wins this fight. Condit will be the more active of the two, but it will be GSP who controls where the fight takes place.

Georges St. Pierre defeats Carlos Condit by unanimous decision.