It’s the biggest fight of the year and we’re yet to know for certain if it’s going to happen. The Conor McGregor vs Jose Aldo Featherweight title fight has been promoted endlessly by the UFC since McGregor beat Dennis Siver in January. I’m personally going to be in attendance at UFC 189 after winning a prize package at DraftKings, so I have been checking the MMA news outlets daily to see if this fight will take place.
Even if Jose is unable to go a potential McGregor vs Mendes fight will also be extremely exciting, so the UFC has done a good job in keeping this UFC 189 card as a must see event, even with the possibility of losing the biggest fight.
Now, here are my thoughts on the odds and who I’m currently taking to win the fight.
Conor McGregor vs Jose Aldo
For everyone who says that McGregor jumped the line to the title shot the odds are proving your wrong. In my opinion the odds truly show what the public thinks of each fighters chances against one another and the fact that McGregor is the betting favourite heading into this fight says a lot. These are the current odds, with Aldo’s rib injury taken into account:
- Conor McGregor -145 @ BetOnline.ag
- Jose Aldo +130 @ 5Dimes.eu
Aldo started as the betting favourite when the fight was announced, but the public opinion has shifted towards McGregor and even before the Aldo injury Conor was a slight favourite. He’s now a bigger favourite, which I find to be quite astonishing.
My Pick
I think McGregor is a great talent and he deserved this title shot, but I don’t have him as the favourite heading into the fight. This is Jose Aldo we’re talking about. He’s on another level of every other fighter the Featherweight division has ever seen. He’s been the featherweight champion of WEC/UFC since November of 2009 and has beaten 10 challengers in that span. He’s not just going to give up his belt to McGregor.
And to everyone thinking that Aldo is going to make the walk just to cash in on his payday even if he’s injured I don’t share that belief. I think Aldo will be ready to fight and almost 100% healthy if he decides to step into that Octagon with McGregor. He has too much to lose by fighting hurt. Yes, he will get his payday, but he has a good chance of losing his belt and tarnishing his legacy as the best featherweight of all time.
I’m expecting a close to 100% Jose Aldo. Conor has run rampant through his opponents, but his best opponent was Dustin Poirier who was ranked #5 at the time. He still hasn’t fought anyone close to Aldo’s skill-set, so I’m not convinced he can elevate to that level. I’m a Conor fan, but I’m being realistic. At these odds you have to go with Aldo.
Play: Jose Aldo +130 @ 5Dimes.eu
Here’s an infographic that breaks down the fight a little more.
Thanks to SportsBettingOnline.net for the infographic.
Conor McGregor • jose aldo • UFC 189