UFC 189: McGregor vs. Mendes

Robbie Lawler is a +140 underdog for his first welterweight title defense vs. Rory MacDonald.

Robbie Lawler is a +140 underdog for his first welterweight title defense vs. Rory MacDonald.

Published on Saturday, 7/11/15, at 6:20 p.m. Eastern.

Check out my complete UFC 189 preview at VegasInsider.com.

–Jeremy Stephens missed weight yesterday, tipping the scales at 149.5 pounds. He didn’t try to lose the extra weight, so he gives up 20 percent of his purse to his opponent, Dennis Bermudez.

–In my preview on VI, I passed on the co-main event. However, after seeing Robbie Lawler at the weigh-ins yesterday, I might have to take ‘Ruthless.’ I’ll probably do that if I hit a couple of my early underdogs.

MY PICKS:

–I got McGregor at -125 more than a week ago, but that price sailed long ago. If you can get McGregor inside the distance or by KO at -140 or less, that’s the way to go. And like I mentioned in the VI preview, the props for McGregor in Rounds 1 and/or 2 look attractive to me.

–My second-favorite play (behind McGregor at -125) is the ‘under’ for Matt Brown vs. Tim Means (2.5 rounds, -110). I think Brown wins by KO in the first round or early in the second.

–I like a small play on Mike Swick at -325. Likewise, small plays on Gunnar Nelson (+145) and  Jeremy Stephens (+180). I decided to add Stephens today.

–I’m also on ‘under’ 2.5 rounds for McGregor-Mendes but I got it at -110. Some books are up to -140 for the ‘under,’ however, so you might want to pass on that one.

LINKS:

Good breakdown of Lawler vs. MacDonald over at Bloody Elbow.

–Yahoo’s Kevin Iole on McGregor vs. Mendes.

–You can check out the post-fight presser over at my man Jason Floyd’s website (The MMA Report).

–UFC 200 has been scheduled for July 2 of next year in Las Vegas at the new arena currently under construction.

–Brittney Palmer was absent from the UFC 189 weigh-ins. This is probably why.

–UFC Octagon girl Vanessa Hanson did make it to UFC 189 and is pictured below…

vanessa-hanson

(L-R) UFC Octagon Girls Vanessa Hanson, Chrissy Blair, Kahili Blundell, and Carly Baker were at this UFC 189 pool party on Thursday.

(L-R) UFC Octagon Girls Vanessa Hanson, Chrissy Blair, Kahili Blundell, and Carly Baker were at this UFC 189 pool party on Thursday.

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