UFC 137 Fight Card: Previews and Predictions for Every Fight

UFC 137 St-Pierre vs. Condit is sitting two weeks out on the calendar and will take place from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in the fight capital of the world Las Vegas, Nevada. 

This October 29th fight card features welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre defending hs title against number one contender "The Natural Born Killer" Carlos Condit. The co-main event will feature a contender match in the same division as "The prodigy" BJ Penn will face former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz as he makes his return to the UFC.

Also on the main card there will be a featherweight contender match between Japanese star Hatsu Hioki and George Roop, as well as two big heavyweight tilts featuring legend Mirko Filipovic vs. Roy "Big Country" Nelson and Matt "Meat" Mitrione vs. French striker Cheick Kongo.

Seven preliminary fights round out the event card:

Denis Siver vs. Donald Cerrone  - LW

Tyson Griffin vs. Bart Palaszewski - FW

Brad Tavares vs. Dustin Jacoby - MW

Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran - BW

Brandon Vera vs. Eliot Marshall - LHW

Ramsey Nijem vs. Danny Downes - LW

Chris Camozzi vs. Francis Carmont - MW

Here is a brief preview and prediction for each and every fight: 

Chris Camozzi vs Francis Carmont

Chris Camozzi is getting his second crack at the UFC, with his fight against Francis Carmont at UFC 137. Camozzi was released after his loss to Kyle Noke in February, but has been given a second life in the bigs and will be looking to use his well rounded game to test the pace with Carmont.

Camozzi is 15-4 in his career with four knockouts and five submission wins, and will be looking to use his Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills to end the fight wherever it goes.

Carmont is a French Vale Tudo fighter who is known for training with Georges St-Pierre at Tristar Vale Tudo. Carmont is coming off a 1st-round knockout of Jason Day in a small Canadian event, and will be taking a large step up to the UFC. Carmont is a solid 16-7 in his career but has not fought the calibre of opponents that Camozzi has.

Prediction: Both of these fighters are fighting for their lives in the UFC and both want to make a big impression. This could be a very exciting clash that could explode and end all in one exchange. I think Camozzi is a bit over-rated and I also think that Carmont is flying under the radar good, so look for him to take this one in a knockout.

Carmont via 2nd RD KO

Ramsey Nijem vs Danny Downes

Ramsey Nijem is making his return to lightweight and his real debut in the UFC at in his fight with veteran Danny Downes. Nijem was a well known character in TUF Season 13 and he was knocked out by the bigger Tony Ferguson in the first round of his last fight.

Nijem does have a solid wrestling and boxing style, but it remains to be seen if his skill is really good enough to compete in any division in the UFC. He is 4-2 and fairly inexperienced, and a win would certainly prove him a legitimate fighter.

At 10-2, Danny Downes is slightly more experienced than Nijem, but a closer look at his resume tells you he is not a big lock for a victory in this upcoming fight. He has quick losses in his toughest fights to date, a third round submission loss to Chris Horodecki in the WEC and a a decision loss to Jeremy Stephens in the UFC. He does have a win over Zhang Tiequan of China, and his top game will be the key to victory for him.

Prediction: Downes is just a bit more experienced, and I do believe that Nijem is over-rated as a fighter who can compete in the UFC. I see Downes beating him by dominating him on the feet and from the top position.

Downes via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Brandon Vera vs Eliot Marshall

There was a time when one wondered if Brandon Vera would fight in the UFC again, but here he is on the UFC 137 card.

His last loss was his third in a row before it was overturned when Thiago Silva failed drug test. Vera is the picture of unfulfilled promise but he still possesses some solid Muay Thai. He is 11-5 with seven knockouts with his last win coming in 2009.

Eliot Marshall is another TUF alum fighter who is hanging on by a thread in the promotion and this is already his second time around. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter is coming off a first round knockout loss to Luiz Cane in his return to the UFC in March. Surely another loss would spell the end again for Marshall in the UFC.

Prediction: All things being equal with these two hard luck fighters, don't you think that Vera is due for something positive to happen to him in his career? I hope so and I see him using his straight Muay Thai to get the job done on points.

Vera via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran

Scott Jorgensen has been in the contender conversation of the lighter divisions for a few years now, but he has always come up just short in the big fight as evidenced by loss to Dominick Cruz.

At 29-years of age and with a 16-4 record in MMA, the time is now for Jorgensen to take that next step into the consciousness of fans around the world. He has a fast paced, wrestling and top game, and he needs to scramble quickly and often to get the upper hand in this one.

Jeff Curran is a very experienced, tough boxer and mixed martial artist who has also had a tough go himself in his fights against the best in the world. Curran is 33-13.

This will be Curran's debut in the UFC after years of fighting in the smaller shows, and I'm sure his emotions will be running wild when the bell rings. He will look to keep Jorgensen off with his boxing and point his way to a victory.

Prediction: Jorgensen will be too much and too hungry for the nervous veteran Curran, and Jorgensen will wrestle and ground and pound from top position. Curran will wonder what the hell happened in this one.

Jorgensen via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Brad Tavares vs. Dustin Jacoby

Brad Tavares won our hearts with an excellent win against Phil Baroni on New Years Day of this year, but a subsequent loss to Aaron Simpson in July has derailed his star just a bit.

Tavares' aggressive and progressing style gives him a chance in almost any fight. He is 7-1 with Simpson being his first taste of defeat—aside from his loss on TUF—but at 23 years old, there is plenty room for the tough Hawaiian to grow.

Dustin Jacoby is making his debut in the UFC after going 6-0 in the local shows of middle USA and he is going to have to be ready for this significant step up to Tavares. It's bright lights and big city in Las Vegas and Jacoby will earn the hard way.

Prediction: Tavares is looking to bounce back from his first real loss in the UFC and I believe he will be ready to impress in this one.

Tavares 2nd Round KO

Tyson Griffin vs. Bart Palaszewski

Tyson Griffin got an extremely important win in his featherweight return against Manny Gamburyan in June. He needs to get another solid win to solidify some real momentum in the division and his career.  The way he can mix things up with balance and leg kicks, along with his athleticism makes him a very tough opponent to finish or defeat.

Gamburyan was a top contender before he lost to Griffin, so another solid win could put the 15-5 Griffin in mind for a future title shot in 2012 or 2013.

It's not very often a fighter gets to make his debut in the UFC off a loss in another promotion, but here you have the oddity that is Bart Palaszewski. He last fought in December of 2010 and injuries have played a part in delaying his UFC debut.

Griffin is a very tough first fight, and Palaszewski will look to use his 16 submission to win as a blue print to victory.

Prediction: Griffin will far out class Palaszewski, and he will keep this fight standing the whole fight, picking apart Palaszewski with leg kicks and straight punches.

Griffin via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Dennis Siver vs. Donald Cerrone

Dennis Siver was originally set to face Sam Stout in this bout and I'm sure he was bracing mainly for a war standing up. He will now have to worry a bit more about the snap submission game as he will face "The Cowboy" Donald Cerrone in Stout's place.

Siver is a very dangerous striker with power in abundance and he will look to that power to batter Cerrone all night long. Siver is 19-7 in his career and is making a nice climb right now with four straight wins.

Cerrone is famous for jumping at a fight at the drop of a hat and when Stout had to withdraw, Cerrone was ready and eager for the challenge.

"The Cowboy" is 16-3 in his career and is coming off a first round knockout win over Charles Oliviera in August. This will be The Cowboy's fourth fight this year and he will look to mix in some striking before trying to take this one to the mat for a submission. The ground game is Cerrone's biggest advantage in this one and we'll see if he can get it there and dominate.

Prediction: Siver will be a handful in this fight and Cerrone will be unable to take him and keep him down. That will enable Siver to use his superior striking to outpoint Cerrone to a unanimous decision victory.

Siver via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27) 

Main Card : Hatsu Hioki vs. George Roop

If there is one fighter that I have been dying to see in the UFC above all others, it would be Hatsu Hioki. With apologies to Alistair Overeem Hioki, who is making his much awaited debut at UFC 137 against George Roop in a fight to see who is soon in line to challenge for the featherweight crown.

Hioki is 24-4 in his career with an amazing 14 submission wins, and all have come overseas in Japan and in Canada. Hioki is a submission specialist who surely wants to mix it up with Roop, eventually taking it down to the ground.

George Roop and his12-7, unorthodox style are a bit of an enigma in the division these days with a bad loss to Mark Hominick sandwiched in between two impressive knockout wins. One a head kick over The Korean Zombie Chan Sung Jung and the other a body punch over Josh Grispi in his last bout. Roop is lanky and rangy and has some ground game as well, it is an intriguing matchup to see who will stay in the top five contenders in the division.

Prediction: Japanese fighters usually have a lot of trouble adjusting and fighting well over here in the UFC. Hioki has been hyped up quite a bit in his career and he is not young, there is a reason he has not fought over here yet. Roop's range will pose a real problem and I also think he will out muscle Hioki, proving the Asian to be a bit overrated.

Roop unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Mirko Filipovic vs Roy Nelson

Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic is a fading legend in the vain of Wanderlei Silva, Matt Hughes and even Rich Franklin, and it is hard to predict whether there is really anything left in the tank for the once well-oiled Mirko.

He is 27-9 in his career and has a career highlight reel matched by few around him, but he is coming off of two bad losses, to Brendan Schaub and the other to Frank Mir. His striking is a shell of what it once was but it is always his only chance. Problem is, you have to be to take a punch to throw one, and Cro Cop is more and more prone to fall.

Roy "Big Country" Nelson has had to make some major changes in his career and training coming off his losses to Junior Dos Santos and Frank Mir. Nelson has had to adjust for cardio's sake, to prove to his boss that he is serious about getting big money fights in his career. 

He is 16-5 and is no doubt a talented all around fighter and he will look to knock Cro Cop down before getting top position for the finish. He should be able to rock Cro Cop from the top leading to a submission or even a TKO.

Prediction: Nelson will look to stomp the legend and show that his performance against Frank Mir was a fluke and he really is a top ten heavyweight in the UFC. He will toss and punch Mirko around in this one, leading to a ground finish by TKO.

Nelson via 2nd Round TKO 

Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione

Cheick Kongo fought himself back into the fans' hearts with is "Fight Of The Night" performance against Pat Barry in June.

Kongo is sometimes a maddening man to figure out, as he seems like he can accomplish so much more than he does against the baddest in the division. His striking is formidable but can be predictable due to his inability to bring more to his game. Kongo is 16 -6 and will look to use leg kicks and reach to hold Mitrione off.

Matt "Meat" Mitrione who you think is in over his head and then he ends up pulling out a victory as his undefeated 5-0 record shows. Mitrione is taking a big step up in Kongo, but nothing really surprises me with "Meat."  I wouldn't be surprised if he uses his boxing, takedowns, and ground control to grind out a win over a fighter who should clearly be better than Mitrione.

Mitrione couldn't possibly dominate Kongo and be amongst the Frank Mir's, Roy Nelson's and  Daniel Cormier's of the division, could he?

Prediction: Mitrione will be a real test for Kongo's heart because I think he will look to take him down and grind him out. He has shown a great ability to know what is coming in a fight, and I believe he will be one step ahead of the French striker all night.

Mitrione unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz

BJ Penn is in the midst of one last climb to the welterweight title that he wants so badly to go out with. Whether it's Georges St-Pierre holding it or not, the 16-7 mixed martial arts wizard wants another shot at it before he calls it a career.

Penn is now faced with brash, scrappy Nick Diaz in his path to the top, and he is going to need all his boxing, footwork and ground game savvy to get himself past Diaz. Penn is a step up in every facet of the game, except for conditioning, and that is one of the most important elements in a fight.

Diaz has made his usual grand entrance back into the UFC and he has picked a hell of a fight to get back in to the top of the mix of the best in the world, and get his title shot once again. Diaz comes in as the king fighter of the outside world, as no doubt he was the best fighter outside of the UFC leading up to his jump over from Strikeforce.

It's no secret the 25-7 Diaz is on an incredible roll in his career, but Penn is quite a step up from his last opponent, Paul Daley. Diaz will have to use his reach advantage to beat Penn to the punch, while pushing the pace on the former champion. Diaz has the pedigree to hang with Penn on the ground, but I think he will want to keep it standing up and box to victory.

Prediction: Penn is definitely a step up from any fighter Diaz has faced in his recent run and that will play out in this fight. Penn will be quicker, crisper and tougher, and he will out fight Diaz all over the cage to a decision.

Penn via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Georges St-Pierre vs Carlos Condit

Georges St-Pierre fears that he is facing his most dangerous opponent in Carlos Condit at UFC 137 in Las Vegas.

Does that mean that he and Firas Zahabi will have a stifling but safe game plan ready to repel any offense that could harm the champion?

You bet your ass, that's exactly what they are going to do, and Condit will be kept off track because of it. The 22-2 champion will look to extend his win streak to 10 by taking down Condit and smothering him any time he tries to let loose on GSP.

Condit is a man in the right place at the right time and he is a dangerous opponent indeed with a 27-5 record. He has unpredictably dangerous strikes with is hands, elbows and knees, and he can also clinch up and try to dominate with the leverage he holds in his limbs. Condit is a dangerous striker yes, but he is also very loose and wide at times and GSP will use that split second to shoot in and smother Condit's arsenal. 

Prediction: GSP will use his wrestling and timely, technical take downs to smother the young Condit from really throwing in rhythm all night. Once on the bottom he will get battered and beaten to defeat. Condit has one hope, and that is timing it perfectly and catching GSP with a knee or flying knee coming in. This could be Condit's strike to victory.

GSP via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)

Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA and correspondent for MMACanada.net.

Catch him on Facebook and Twitter at wakafightermma.