Coach: Chad Mendes will finish Conor McGregor in second
Fabio Prado: “He will get the takedown, lock his hips and throw his hands. When McGregor tries to get back up, Chad will catch him.”
Chad Mendes recently joked that he would finish Conor McGregor in three minutes in response to McGregor’s claim he would finish him in the first four minutes. Mendes’ jiu-jitsu coach recently spoke about the fight to MMAFighting and his prediction isn’t as bold, but is still picking his guy to win by finish:
“Money” will replace injured champion Jose Aldo and face “The Notorious” for the interim title on July 11, and his jiu-jitsu coach Fabio “Pateta” Prado guarantees Mendes is ready despite taking the fight on two weeks’ notice.
“He will grab this opportunity and go for it. Everything will be alright,” Prado told MMAFighting.com. “It’s on short notice, but his heart and experience will make the difference. Alpha Male doesn’t turn down fights and that’s why we have credit with the UFC. Chad is always training, dreaming about this.”
McGregor’s critics say he hasn’t been tested by a wrestler before earning a shot at the UFC gold, and they can expect Mendes to go for takedowns at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
“It’s a good match-up,” “Pateta” said. “Everybody says Chad will get the takedowns, and he will. It’s like Jose Aldo throwing those low kicks. Everybody knows they are doing this, but they can’t stop it. He will get the takedown, lock his hips and throw his hands. When McGregor tries to get back up, Chad will catch him.”