Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor is the UFC betting favorite to defeat Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 on Saturday, 12th November at Madison Square Garden in New York City. And since Alvarez’s title is the one that it’s at stake, chances are McGregor will leave the event with two championships he can not defend, instead of just one. Sure, Irish people tend to be paper-white – ironically, even the Black Irish – but that doesn’t mean they have to be paper champions as well, does it? Anyway, here are the odds for people who bet on UFC:
Eddie Alvarez – 1½ (-175) +135
Conor McGregor – 1½ (+155) -155
This will be Alvarez’s first defense after winning the title at UFC Fight Night 90 on July 7th of this year, in a TKO win over Rafael Dos Anjos. On the other hand, McGregor has not defended his championship since he won it from Jose Aldo at UFC 194 in December of last year. Huh. If I didn’t know any better – and I don’t – I would almost feel inclined to believe that the UFC is giving McGregor preferential treatment. This will be only the second time in the history of the promotion that champions in different divisions will compete for the same title.
Neither fighter puts much stock in UFC betting odds, though, and both have come up with their own predictions for the bout. “Mystic Mac” has said he will finish the match in the first round, while Alvarez says he will give McGregor an opportunity to make it past the first round, but not much longer. “I think we do it under the nine-minute mark,” the Silent Assassin told FOX Sports on Monday. “Big, big heavy shots, he goes down and then submission.” I have a prediction of my own. At lunch… you’re going to treat yourself to a vanilla ice cream… you’re going to eat it too fast… you’re going to get an ice cream headache… it’s going to hurt… real bad… for eight, nine seconds…
The two have also played up their strengths and weaknesses. Alvarez is proud of his toughness and doesn’t think Conor measures up to him in that department. “From what I’ve seen in the past and what he’s done in the past, (his heart) is very questionable and I’m not the only one who’s questioned it,” Alvarez said. While that is a subject for debate, but what’s a fact is that wrestling is not the Irishman’s métier. Which is why he has been doubling up on his grappling training in the gym.
McGregor, who is known for going through more weight changes than Christian Bale between roles, is 20-3-0. He is coming from a decision win in his long-awaited rematch with Nate Diaz at UFC 202 on August 20th, 2016. Meanwhile, Alvarez is 28-4-0, and as we mentioned above, his most recent fight was a lightweight championship match which he won. Say what you will about McGregor, but he put his money where his big mouth was against Diaz, and there’s no reason to believe the UFC betting odds are wrong about this one.