Former featherweight title challenger Chad Mendes (17-4, 7 KOs, 2 SUBs) will meet No. 12 Myles Jury (17-2, 8 KOs, 5 SUBs) at UFC Fight Night 133 on Saturday, July 14, 2018 at the CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho. The card airs live on FS1 starting 10 pm ET.
Chad Mendes will make his return from a PEDs suspension this Saturday, and the UFC is wasting no time throwing the former title challenger into the fire. Considering his status as a top contender before he popped hot, his fight with the underrated Myles Jury should tell us a lot about how he fits into a featherweight division that’s changed a lot since his last fight in 2015.
Will the time off have rejuvenated “Money”, who exited on a 1-3 slide? Will he be a vastly different fighter now that he’s supposedly “clean”, like a post-TRT Belfort? Myles Jury is the perfect guy to press these questions on him. The 29-year old is 8-2 inside the octagon, with his only losses coming at lightweight against two good fighters in Donald Cerrone and Charles Oliveira.
It’s an interesting scrap to bet on, considering how much time Mendes has been away. Let’s take a look at the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu and break down your best betting options.
UFC Odds at BookMaker.eu
Chad Mendes -260
Myles Jury +200
Over/under coming soon!
Striking Stats
Significant strikes landed p/m: Jury 2.66 / Mendes 2.7
Accuracy: Jury 40.52% / Medes 49.16%
Significant strikes absorbed p/m: Jury 1.34 / Mendes 2.16
Defense: Jury 73.4% / Mendes 68.5%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Jury 2.58 / Mendes 4.16
Takedown accuracy: Jury 55.17% / Mendes 54.55%
Takedowns defended: Jury 50% / Mendes 100%
Submission average: Jury 0.32 / Mendes 0.3
Matchup Preview
Mendes is a short, stocky fighter with enormous physical power. A longtime Team Alpha Male fighter, the 33-year old possesses the excellent wrestling typical of products from the Sacramento camp. His takedown average is impressive, and right up there with some of the best in the division. This is a former national champion wrestler, after all.
When forced to strike, Mendes has no choice but go close the distance so he can work his hands. That’s not to say he needs help in the striking department. In fact, he’s one of the best punchers that Alpha Male has produced, with a style predicated on lateral movement, off-beat rhythm and punishing body-head combinations.
However, Jury is most comfortable in the striking exchanges. He long, lanky fighter with a seven-inch reach advantage over Mendes, “Fury” loves to attack from distance, peppering opponents with jabs and kicks from the outside. Though not as decorated as Mendes, Jury’s grappling is also strong, as he’s successfully stifled strong wrestlers in the past - nobody on the level of Mendes, however.
Still, Jury has to be weary of going to the ground with a guy whose been wrestling since his early teens. His best bet is to keep Mendes at bay and pick him apart. That’s easier said than done, as Mendes is used to fighting taller guys.
UFC Odds Pick: Mendes to win at -260
We really have no idea how Mendes will look, and whether ring rust will be a factor. Before he got busted, he was only fighting the division’s top guys, and to this day his only losses have come against Jose Ado, Conor McGregor and Frankie Edgar. At 33, he’s not yet old and Team Alpha Male is a top-flight camp that should have him in pristine fight shape. At this price, we lean towards Mendes to utilize his wrestling and control this bout.
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker sportsbook! Real-time spreads, totals, props and money line are all available so start betting with BookMaker today. UFC Fight UFC Fight Night 133 takes place on Saturday, July 14, 2018 at the CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho. The card airs live on FS1 starting 10 pm ET.
