UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor betting preview

The main event for UFC 189 was shaken up last month when featherweight champion José Aldo was forced to pull out of his fight with challenger Conor McGregor due to a rib injury. The UFC slid Chad Mendes into Aldo’s place and put an interim title on the line. It may not be the bout everyone wanted, but that’s why we have betting. Here’s a look at the main events for UFC 189 Saturday.

Chad Mendes (+150) vs. Conor McGregor (-180)
Mendes takes this fight on short notice but could that actually work to his advantage, with McGregor preparing for Aldo all that time? Mendes is a stellar wrestler and can neutralize McGregor’s superior striking – especially his kicks – if he can get the Irishman on his back. McGregor wants to keep this fight standing so he may be very cautious of Mendes’ takedowns and try to pick his spots rather than throwing his wild flurries.

However, if Mendes gets careless and tries to stand with McGregor or mistimes a takedown, walking right into that big boot, this one could be over quickly. Inside tip: Keep a close ear to the ground regarding McGregor’s weight cut before Saturday. He was walking around heavy this week and if he has to drastically shed pounds before the weigh in, he may be gassed before he gets in the cage.

Robbie Lawler (+145) vs. Rory MacDonald (-175)
Rarely do you see the champion priced as an underdog but there’s no denying MacDonald’s skill set heading into UFC 189. The Canadian is disciplined and calculating when it comes to his attack, using his reach to keep opponents at bay while dictating the pace of the bout. He’s not going to stick his neck out there, especially since he was hit hard in his first go-around with Lawler – a split decision loss – at UFC 167 in November 2013.

The champs’ game plan will pretty much be the same: try to get inside on a bigger opponents and unleash his KO power. Lawler isn’t looking for takedowns or submissions, so this fight will be predominantly standup. MacDonald has tremendous cardio and will aim to win on points, while Lawler is better served attempting an early ending to this welterweight title matchup.