Vegas Play of the Day: Frankie Edgar vs. Chad Mendes

By Case Keefer (contact)

Friday, Dec. 11, 2015 | 2 a.m.

We've reset the Play of the Day with fresh bankrolls and turned it into a yearly competition. Our three sports writers have re-started with $10,000 bankrolls to continue using on odds from the South Point.

Chad Mendes plus-110 vs. Frankie Edgar: $350 to win $385

For the most part, these two fighters are extremely similar. They’re both great wrestlers who have differentiated themselves to reach the top of the 145-pound division with boxing.

Edgar is 34 years old and has fought in a handful of slugfests that will be remembered eternally by mixed martial arts fans. Mendes is 30 years old with only one fight that fits into the aforementioned criteria.

When the matchup looks this even, I’ll always lean to the younger fighter who’s logged less damage. But that’s not the only reason to back Mendes.

This is a chance for a buy-low opportunity on him after he turned in a subpar performance against Conor McGregor in July by gassing out at the end of the second round. It was forgivable after he hadn’t been training and took the bout on less than two week’s notice.

Mendes quite possibly would have beaten McGregor at full strength, and at least made it further in the fight. Then what would be the odds on Mendes vs. Edgar?

Not a drastic change, admittedly, but Mendes wouldn’t be offered at a plus price. The value is in the blue corner tonight at the Cosmopolitan.

Current Standings (as of July 1): Brewer (26-20, $10,925), Keefer (20-31-2, $5,951), Bern (16-26, 5,945)

Lifetime standings: 2014-15 Champion Bern (96-99-1), Keefer (103-114-4), Brewer (95-108-2)

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.