Chad Mendes Said of McGregor (above): “I’m going to mess this dude up.”
Conor McGreger has been installed as a slight favorite over Chad Mendes in the new UFC Fight of the Year. For months, fans and UFC officials have built up the grudge match between Ireland-born Conor McGregor and Brazil-born Jose Aldo. Two weeks before the fight, Aldo has pulled out of the fight with a rib injury, but the big fight is still on.
Replacing the 7-time defending champion Jose Aldo is a recent challenger of his: Chad Mendes. Mr. Mendes, known as “Money”, is a serious challenger for the mouthy Conor McGregor, though this fight does not have the luster the initial match-up did. Still, it’s an intriguing fight, as evidenced by the betting line the Las Vegas Strip sportsbooks have offered. Conor McGregor is a -150 favorite, while Chad Mendes is a +125 underdog. Those are close-to-even odds.
It’s my guess that the lines change significantly as the fight nears. The McGregor fans are likely to bet their guy significantly. If you plan on wagering on McGregor, then I suggest you wager quickly. If you plan on betting on Chad Mendes, then wait a while and bet against the wave of Irishmen. If you don’t have an opinion, but are interested in the match, here’s a quick preview and opinion.
UFC 189 Overview
Conor McGregor is a fighter fans either love, or they love to hate. Make no mistake: McGregor is the reason so many fans are passionate about this fight. Conor McGregor is the number-three ranked flyweight, but the fighter everyone wants to see fighting the champion.
Even at that, Conor McGregor is not the top-rated challenged, but Chad Mendes is. Mendes has a 17-2 record in the UFC. His two losses came against Jose Aldo, the 7-time champion.
Why Gamblers Should Bet on Mendes
Chad Mendes is a slight underdog (+125) in this fight, so you get a better payout for your money if you wager on Mendes. This is one of those fights where the favorite is favored because of his popularity and not because of the breakdown on black-and-white paper. No one has beaten him in the UFC except Jose Aldo, so he is legitimately the second-best fighter until proven otherwise.
Shifting Focus during Training
Chad Mendes has built-in advantages in this fight, intangibles which give him an additional edge. He has been able to train for Conor McGregor, knowing he was the only potential opponent he could face on July 11. Meanwhile, Conor McGregor has been training to fight Jose Aldo. That makes sense, because Jose Aldo was going to be the opponent of a lifetime for Conor McGregor. But that means he has not trained a bit to fight an opponent with Chad Mendes’s style–and Mendes has a completely different style than Jose Aldo.
Give Conor McGregor big credit for agreeing to fight US-born Chad Mendes, if Aldo pulled out of the match. That gave his potential opponent a huge advantage. Some say McGregor had to do it, because his legion of Irish fans were already committed to an expensive trip to Las Vegas and he did not want to disappoint them in the fight he would ascend to a title.
Wrestling Skills
The new challenge which Mendes poses is his wrestling ability. Conor McGregor is going to want to stand up and fight. If Chad Mendes gets the fight to the ground, then the advantage might well shift to him. Mendes is not shy about his odds, either. He told the MMA media, “I’m going to mess this dude up.”
Why Gamblers Should Bet on McGregor
Wager on Conor McGregor (-150) if you think he’s the better fighter. Whatever situational advantage Chad Mendes has, it won’t matter if Conor McGregor simply outclasses him. At the end of the day, two men enter the ring and one man emerges the winner. It isn’t going to matter who trained for whom, if one is better.
Those who thought McGregor would beat Jose Aldo should assume he’ll beat Chad Mendes. Aldo handled Mendes twice. While styles make fights, Conor McGregor is riding a crest of victory and brash confidence. Mendes has been beaten recently, and he is clearly the third man in the Featherweight Division in most people’s eyes.
Conor McGregor can knock an opponent out with his hands or his feet, and he’s been a devastating fighter in his short UFC career (5-0). The only thing more devastating than his in-ring performances have been his bluster outside the ring. Few can talk like the Irish contender, and it has won him a legion of fans and haters. Though people wanted to see the most exciting challenger against the champion, this is a compelling match. The formula shouldn’t change too much for those betting McGregor.
Also, the betting odds are not stacked against Conor McGregor supporters. Receiving a $100 for wagering $150 is still a nice payday, so Mendes provides enough of a challenge to make a wager on the Irishman worthwhile.
