Firas Zahabi Breaks Down Conor McGregor vs. Chad Mendes

UFC 189 is now just days away, as the blockbuster event is set for this Saturday (July 11, 2015) night live on pay-per-view (PPV) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Highly-touted head coach of Tristar Gym in Montreal, Firas Zahabi has his hands full with this card as his student Rory MacDonald will challenge for the welterweight title in the co-main event, but Zahabi recently caught up with MMAJunkie to breakdown the main event.

The main event features a featherweight interim title matchup between the brash, and outspoken “Notorious” Conor McGregor and multi-time title challenger Chad “Money” Mendes. Zahabi noted that McGregor has steamrolled everyone put in front of him thus far, but the Irishmen has never really faced anyone at the level of Mendes.

It’s no secret that McGregor’s strong point is his unpredictable, and powerful striking. The Tristar coach breaks down a few of the “Notorious” one’s knockout strikes as well as discussing McGregor’s massive reach advantage over Mendes.

Zahabi stated that McGregor has an insane variety of strikes and fans should expect him to throw a plethora of different kicks as well as look to counter strike.

Despite the reach advantage, Zahabi explains multiple ways in which “Money” can get inside and land some shots on McGregor or shoot for a takedown. Zahabi also noted Mendes’ knockout power, but said that the Team Alpha Male product should look to smash McGregor’s legs with brutal leg kicks.

At the end of the day, the head coach said that this should be one of the best fights of the year, a fight in which Mendes could answer many questions about the phenom who is Conor McGregor.

Who are you taking in this one?