Challengers McGregor, MacDonald Betting Favorites at UFC 189

Challengers McGregor, MacDonald Betting Favorites at UFC 189

The UFC Middleweight title will be on the line when champion Jose Aldo enters the octagon at UFC 189 to take on challenger Conor McGregor as a surprising +110 moneyline underdog in UFC betting at the online sportsbooks.

The emergence of McGregor as a -140 favorite has been dramatic. The Irishman had previously been pegged as a +110 underdog, according to online sportsbooks available through BettingSports.com, but has seen the odds swing quickly in his favor following reports that Aldo recently suffered a rib injury while training for the fight.

But even against a fully healthy Aldo, the 26 year-old Irishman represents a formidable opponent. The No. 3 contender in the UFC's Middleweight class has won 13 straight contests, including nine by first-round KO or TKO, to improve his career record to 17-2 and earn International Fighter of the Year honors at last year's World MMA Awards.

Aldo sports an equally impressive record, emerging victorious in each of his last 18 bouts, including seven successful defenses of the UFC middleweight crown.

Unlike McGregor, Aldo's recent fights have tended to go the distance, with the 28 year-old Brazilian earning the decision in five of his last seven contests, including a unanimous decision over challenger Chad Mendes as a heavy -260 betting favorite in his most recent bout at UFC 179, which later earned Fight of the Year honors.

While Aldo's camp has made it clear that he will be ready and able to face McGregor at UFC 189 on Saturday July 11 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Mendes is ready to step in, should the champ be unfit to fight, and would battle McGregor for the Interim Middleweight title.

In addition to the showdown between Aldo and McGregor, Ruthless Robbie Lawler will be putting his UFC Welterweight title on the line at UFC 189 when he takes on No. 2 contender Rory MacDonald as a surprisingly long +145 underdogs in UFC online betting.

UFC 189 marks the second meeting between the two fighters with Lawler earning a split decision over the Canadian MacDonald at UFC 167, back in November 2013.

Lawler has since fought on four occasions, losing a title shot to Johny Hendricks by unanimous decision at UFC 171 before eventually taking the belt from Hendricks as a +180 underdog, with a split decision in a thrilling fight at UFC 181.

MacDonald has fought three times since first facing Lawler. The British Columbia native didn't disappoint as a heavy -550 betting favorite in his last tangle in the octagon, scoring a third-round TKO on punches over Tarec Saffiedine to improve his professional record to 18-2, and 9-2 since making his UFC debut in January 2010.