Scoring a second-round knockout against a brash and talented fighter like Conor McGregor should be enough to win Chad Mendes a Performance of the Night bonus. McGregor is the real deal, but it's easy to forget how dangerous Mendes can be.
After all, the only man to ever beat him is the man he's replacing in the UFC 189 main event, Jose Aldo. Mendes' skill set will be a nightmare for McGregor. The 30-year-old from Hanford, CA is an explosive athlete with heavy hands and a world-class wrestler.
If you were trying to find a style that could give McGregor problems, Mendes' combination of athleticism and skills would be perfect. The only potential drawback is Mendes' height. He's only 5'6", and he'll be giving up a three-inch height and reach advantage.
However, he does have excellent head movement and speed. Mendes will use both to close the distance, take McGregor down and finish him via ground and pound in the second round. If you were worried about the main event losing some steam without Aldo, take a look at the pre-fight press conference highlights.
The energy is still there:
Thomas Almeida Will Annihilate Brad Pickett
The second POTN bonus should be a close one between Cody Garbrandt—who should stop Henry Briones— and Tim Means. Yes, I'm picking the Dirty Bird to submit "The Immortal" Matt Brown. However, rising superstar Thomas Almeida is likely to put on the most impressive striking clinic of the evening.
Brad Pickett is a tough veteran, but he's 36 years old and set to face a 23-year-old whirlwind who will grow into the sport's next superstar. At 19-0, with finishes in 95 percent of his fights, Almeida is already a force to be reckoned with—and he's only getting better.
Bleacher Report's Scott Harris summed up Almeida's rise and the predicted outcome of this fight perfectly:
If you did not know about Thomas Almeida before, you will know about him this Saturday around 11 p.m. The heavy-hitting, do-it-all Chute Boxe prodigy is coming for Brad Pickett's soul, and he will have it.
Almeida is too fast and his striking game is too diversified for Pickett. Get ready for a systematic destruction to open up the main card.
Fight of the Night - Means vs. Brown
Brown is a FOTN magnet, but he usually wins the epic battles in which he competes. On Saturday, Means' new-found confidence, striking prowess and submission skills will be the undoing of The Immortal.
Brown has a tendency to be wild with his striking—especially once he's been hit or going in for the stoppage himself. Against a crafty and skilled fighter like Means, that'll put him in a tough situation.
Expect Means to mix in takedowns and straight punches to counter Brown's power shots. Stopping Brown with strikes has proved near impossible, but if Means secures a choke on the ground, his long limbs will lead to Brown's voluntary or technical submission.
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