UFC 189 staff picks: We just can't agree on McGregor-Mendes, Lawler-MacDonald

If you’re having a hard time predicting a winner for Saturday’s heavily anticipated UFC 189 main event and co-main event, you’re hardly alone.

You won’t find much of a consensus in our staff picks for Saturday’s pay-per-view blockbuster, which takes place at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden and concludes and serves as the crown jewel of the UFC’s stacked International Fight Week.

Of course, much of the spotlight has shone on headliners Conor McGregor (17-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC) and Chad Mendes (17-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC), who fight for the interim featherweight title. Although McGregor is a 2-1 favorite at the sportsbooks, five of our MMAjunkie writers and radio hosts are favoring the underdog Mendes.

In the co-headliner, it’s the challenger, not the champion, who got the 5-4 nod with Rory MacDonald (18-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) the choice over welterweight titleholder Robbie Lawler (25-10 MMA, 10-4 UFC).

Things were a bit more lopsided with featherweight Dennis Bermudez (14-4 MMA, 7-2 UFC), who’s the 8-1 pick over Jeremy Stephens (23-11 MMA, 10-10 UFC), as well as bantamweight Thomas Almeida (19-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), who’s the 9-0 choice over Brad Pickett (24-10 MMA, 4-5 UFC)

Additionally, in welterweight action, underdog Gunnar Nelson (13-3-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) was the 5-4 pick over Brandon Thatch (11-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC).

Check out all the picks above. Additionally, leave your main-card picks below. As usual, MMAjunkie reader “IAMMA” is organizing the MMAjunkie Member Picks, where “sadowolf,” “xone01? and “Fiasco” are our leaders.

For more on UFC 189, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.