Rory favored vs. Lawler; Koscheck to face Silva on short notice

Published on Sunday, 3/8/15, at 4:45 p.m. Eastern. 

5Dimes opened the challenger Rory MacDonald as a -140 favorite vs. welterweight champ Robbie Lawler on Friday. These 170-pounders will meet for the second time in the co-main event at UFC 189 on July 11.

As of Sunday afternoon, MacDonald had grown into a more expensive ‘chalk’ at -175, leaving Lawler at +135 on the comeback (risk $100 to win $135).

Lawler captured a split-decision win over MacDonald at UFC 167, hooking up his gambling supporters as a +300 underdog.

Another new number that came out Friday was Daniel Cormier as an enormous favorite against Ryan Bader in the main event at UFC Fight Night 68 on June 6 in New Orleans. As of Sunday, 5Dimes had Cormier as a -600 ‘chalk’ with Bader as the +400 underdog.

In surprising news, Josh Koscheck will step in on three weeks notice to replace the injured Ben Saunders against Erick Silva in the co-main event for UFC Fight Night 162. The 37-year old Koshceck got choked out by Jake Ellenberger last weekend in his first fight in 16 months. It was Koscheck’s fourth consecutive loss. Silva is looking for back-to-back victories for the first time in his UFC career.

You can follow the UFC 189 line moves below…