UFC 187: Main Card Betting Odds and Predictions

At UFC 187, two UFC championships will be up for grabs.

First, Chris Weidman will finally clash with Vitor Belfort in the middleweight division. The 185-pounders have had two scheduled bouts cancelled due to injuries, but they will meet inside the Octagon on Saturday to determine who is the best man in the division.

Then, in the main event, Anthony Johnson and Daniel Cormier will battle for the vacant light heavyweight belt. After a recent run-in with the law, Jon Jones was stripped of the 205-pound crown and pulled from his UFC 187 title defense against Johnson.

Even with the loss of Jones, UFC 187 is still a stacked event. Here are the latest betting odds for the main card contests, via Odds Shark, along with predictions for each matchup.

With back-to-back wins since losing in a rematch with 125-pound champion Demetrious Johnson, Joseph Benavidez is looking to get back into the title-shot conversation. A win over top-five contender John Moraga would do that.

Moraga has also won two in a row, submitting Justin Scoggins and Willie Gates. The wins showed Moraga's improvement on the ground, where he has fallen behind against elite competition in the flyweight division. In July 2013, Moraga earned a spot in a championship bout and suffered a submission loss to Johnson.

Although Moraga has looked better offensively on the canvas, his defensive wrestling and grappling are still concerns heading into this matchup. Benavidez should be able to weather the storm when standing and take control on the ground.

Prediction: Benavidez

Play: 2 percent bankroll on Benavidez

In his past five appearances, Travis Browne has only been beaten by interim champion Fabricio Werdum. It seems Browne is going to earn a title shot in a matter of time, but he'll need to beat Andrei Arlovski on Saturday in order for that chance to come anytime soon.

Arlovski's resurrection has been nothing short of surprising. However, running into the right contender, Antonio Silva, at the right time helped. Arlovski's knockout win over Bigfoot was impressive, but it came as Silva is seemingly declining in a hurry.

The younger and taller Browne should have a noticeable advantage in the stand-up, but anything can happen when heavyweight strikers clash. That's why I wouldn't risk any money on this matchup.

Prediction: Browne

Play: Pass

Originally scheduled to meet No. 2 contender Khabib Nurmagomedov, Donald Cerrone is one of the very best in the lightweight division. So it was to be expected that he'd be a big favorite against replacement adversary John Makdessi, who hasn't proved himself against ranked 155-pounders.

Makdessi picked up an impressive knockout win in his latest outing, but that came against Shane Campbell, not a lightweight contender. With losses in bouts against Dennis Hallman, Anthony Njokuani and Alan Patrick, Makdessi hasn't even been able to earn a meeting with a currently ranked lightweight until Nurmagomedov was pulled from UFC 187 due to injury.

Cerrone is at least as good a striker as Makdessi, and he has numerous submission wins compared to his opponent's zero victories on the ground. If he can get the Canadian to the ground, Cowboy should be able to stop this bout early.

Prediction: Cerrone

Play: 2 percent bankroll on Cerrone

Still undefeated in 12 MMA bouts, Weidman has his sights set on greatness. Injuries have prevented him from competing in the past 10 months, but that is not nearly as long as Belfort has been away from the Octagon.

Belfort last appeared 18 months ago, when he scored a knockout win over Dan Henderson. No longer able to utilize testosterone replacement therapy due to a Nevada State Athletic Commission ruling, Belfort may lose a step for reasons other than rust.

Even an active Belfort at the top of his game would have trouble with Weidman. The champion is going to take Belfort down at will, and may even be able to score a submission win over The Phenom after wearing the Brazilian down with ground-and-pound.

Prediction: Weidman

Play: 2 percent bankroll on Weidman

Unbeaten since the submission loss to Vitor Belfort that bounced him from the UFC in January 2012, Johnson has been on a roll. Rumble was set to have a chance to end Jones' record-breaking title reign, but now he'll have an even better chance to become undisputed champion.

That said, Cormier is still a favorite over Johnson. Cormier was the last to challenge Jones and went the distance, and he was undefeated in 15 MMA contests prior to his meeting with the former light heavyweight champion, who was on his way toward becoming the best ever.

Against any other 205-pound contender, I'd probably go with Johnson. However, Cormier is a really rough matchup for Rumble, given his elite wrestling background. I see Cormier eliminating Johnson's knockout power with takedowns and excellent control on the ground.

Prediction: Cormier

Play: 1 percent bankroll on Cormier