UFC 137 Penn vs Diaz Live Odds, Favorites, Free Picks, Tips and Expert Predictions – UFC 137 Free Bets from UFC Vegas Handicapping Expert Eric Moore from the National Sports Advisors: Check out the UFC 137 Betting Tips, Vegas Odds, Free Bets and Handicapping preview from expert UFC handicapper/tipster Eric Moore below. If you are interested in betting on our UFC 137 Penn vs Diaz Odds and Predictions and want betting lines, than simply skip to the latest UFC Betting odds from Bodog.
UFC 137 Odds and Free Picks – Lightweight Bout
Featherweight Bout Hatsu Hioki vs. George Roop
Hatsu Hioki (24-4-2) will be making his UFC debut with momentum having won nine out of his last ten fights. He has spent the majority of his career in Japan fighting with Shooto and Sengoku. Hioki is a guy that likes to get in tight and grapple evident by finishing half of his wins by submission. He has held two belts in promotions outside of the UFC and is looking to come in and immediately make a splash in the featherweight division.
As a member of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueria vs. Team Mir George Roop (12-7-1) was able to win his first two bouts before succumbing to a submission to Phillipe Nover. The biggest problem for Roop has been consistency as he hasn’t been able to string together back-to-back wins since 2008. After winning in dramatic fashion with a head kick knockout against Chan Sung Jung he was stopped just 1:28 into the first round by Mark Hominick. Roop has an unorthodox standup game and utilizes his reach well to keep opponents at bay.
This fight is going to be determined by distance. For Hioki (-320) he needs to be able to close it to score takedowns and work his submission game. Conversely Roop (+240) will look to establish his jab to keep Hioki at a safe distance to strike. Another factor in this fight is that Japanese fighters have notoriously had trouble coming over to the states and adjusting to the American style of boxing. Roop is going to establish himself in the standup and wait patiently for his shots all while always being wary of the takedown. Roop takes this fight as an underdog and moves himself up the featherweight ladder.
Prediction – George Roop by way of TKO
UFC 137 Odds and Free Picks – Lightweight Bout
Heavyweight Bout Mirko Cro Cop vs. “Big Country” Roy Nelson
Once being among the most feared strikers in MMA Mirko Cro Cop (27-9-2, 1NC) has shown signs of fading. Cro Cop has lost his last two fights by knockout and has shown he is always susceptible to the takedown. His last win came in June of last year against Pat Barry which he took by rear-naked choke. When Cro Cop is at his best he stalks his opponents by slowly walking them down and landing devastating kicks as he approaches. Lately he has been to go on the defensive and that’s where he runs into trouble.
After winning The Ultimate Fighter Season 10 “Big Country” Roy Nelson (16-5) has had to contend with some very tough competition. Nelson has lost two in a row one against former heavyweight champion Frank Mir and the other against the current contender for the belt Junior Dos Santos. The biggest asset to Nelson is his grappling which he uses to grind his opponents to the mat and land vicious ground and pound. He has also shown the ability to evolve and has put together a serviceable standup that is backed by his one punch power.
On the feet this bout is dangerous for both fighters but on the mat Nelson (-300) will have a clear advantage. Expect to see Nelson trade punches with Cro Cop (+220) and have success doing so. This fight will only go as long as Nelson decides to stay standing. Once Nelson gets Cro Cop to the ground things will end relatively quickly given Nelson’s huge weight advantage and experience on the ground. Nelson takes this bout to end a two fight slide.
Prediciton – “Big Country” Roy Nelson by way of TKO
UFC 137 Odds and Free Picks – Lightweight Bout
Heavyweight Bout Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione
Cheick Kongo (16-6-2) is among one of the most active fighters in the UFC competing fourteen times since 2006. His latest win was over Pat Barry where he scored a miracle knockout in the first after being badly hurt multiple times. Kongo has some of the heaviest hands in the division and is currently the only man to take current heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez to a judge’s decision.
Starting his MMA career in 2009 Matt Mitrione (5-0) is still relatively new to the sport. A former NFL football player he began on Season 10 of The Ultimate Fighter where he was defeated in the quarterfinals by James McSweeney. Since then he has won five in a row and four by knockout. Mitrione is a very well rounded fighter who can stand up and knock people out or use his wrestling to grind out his opponents.
This will be the biggest test in Mitrione’s (-140) young career. Kongo (+110) poses a huge threat on the feet as he has shown he is dangerous at any time with his hands. It is important for Mitrione that he chooses his punches carefully and doesn’t run into a haymaker by Kongo. Mitrione will come into this fight with a good game plan of mixing up striking and putting Kongo on his back. With the biggest fight of his career right in front of him Mitrione answers with a statement win.
Prediction – Matt Mitrione by way of unanimous decision
UFC 137 Odds and Free Picks – Lightweight Bout
Welterweight Bout “The Prodigy” BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz
“The Prodigy” BJ Penn (16-7-2) is among the best ever to step into the octagon. He is only one of two people to ever hold belts in two different weight classes; he won the lightweight and welterweight, and has the best natural talent ever seen. Penn recently lost his lightweight belt to Frankie Edgar and unsuccessfully fought him again to get it back. These losses prompted him to move back up to 170 where he won his first UFC title.
Making his return to the UFC after being absent for almost five years Nick Diaz (25-7, 1NC) is looking to get in the title hunt. Leaving Strikeforce and his welterweight title behind Diaz has been thrown into the mix of an already stacked 170 pound division. Winner of his last ten Diaz is a very unorthodox striker that uses constant pressure to keep his opponents on their heels. He is able to walk in on opponents because he has such a highly evolved ground game he isn’t scared to get taken down by anyone.
Even thought Diaz (-110) has been tearing through all of the non-UFC talent out there this will be his biggest test yet. He will have the ground skills to hang with Penn (-120) on the mat if the fight goes down. The most interesting aspect of this bout will be the very different styles of standup that each fighter uses. Penn is one of the most refined and precise strikers in all of MMA where Diaz acts like a bully always moving forward and throwing punch. This is a fight that can go either way; it all depends who comes in with their A-game. Look for Diaz to be constantly pushing the pace, staying in Penn’s face and wear Penn down.
Prediction – Nick Diaz by way of unanimous decision
UFC-MMA Betting Odds from BoDog Sportsbook
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