loading...
League Logo
CBB
League Logo
CBB
League Logo
NBA
League Logo
MLB
League Logo
NHL
All
    loading...

    UFC 285 odds, betting trends: Jon Jones, despite three-year layoff, taking heavy action to beat Ciryl Gane for heavyweight title Saturday

    Jon Jones looks to win the heavyweight title in his first bout at that weight Saturday night vs. Ciryl Gane at UFC 285.
    Hero Image

    Is Jon Jones the best mixed martial arts fighter in history? Many around the sport believe the answer is yes, as Jones technically has never been beaten, and he looks to add the UFC heavyweight title to his Hall of Fame resume Saturday when he returns to the Octagon for the first time in more than three years to face Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in Las Vegas.

    At BetMGM, Jones opened months ago as a +130 underdog but is now -175 thanks to tanking 89% of the money to win and 73% of the bets. Jones hasn't been an underdog since closing at +135 against Stephan Bonnar way back at UFC 94 in January 2009. Jones won by unanimous decision. This is the shortest Jones has been as a favorite since he was -195 vs. Daniel Cormier at UFC 182.

    The 35-year-old Jones is 26-1 in his MMA career with one no-decision. "Bones" didn't get beaten in that one loss – he was disqualified in The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale for an illegal elbow against Matt Hamill. Considering Hamill finished his career a mediocre 13-8, it's fair to assume Jones would have won that fight.

    The no contest came after a Jones victory against Cormier at UFC 214 (they also fought at UFC 182), but it was overturned to an NC due to a failed Jones drug test -- not his first issue of that sort. Jones hasn't fought since February 2020 because of some legal troubles, also a recurring issue in his career. His 18-fight unbeaten streak in UFC competition is the longest in company history.

    Jones ruled the light heavyweight division since first taking the belt via a third-round TKO of Mauricio Rua at UFC 128 until his last bout, a unanimous decision win over Dominick Reyes at UFC 247. His victory over Rua made him the youngest champion in UFC history.

    The 6-foot-4 Jones had never made a secret of his desire to move up to heavyweight and relinquished the light heavyweight belt not long after the Reyes victory. This will be the first bout at heavyweight for Jones, but he really was a heavyweight the whole time, generally walking around in everyday life at around 230 pounds. The light heavyweight limit is 205.

    With a victory, Jones would become just the eighth fighter in UFC history to win undisputed titles in two weight classes. He already has defeated seven fighters who once held an undisputed UFC belt, the most of any active fighter in the organization.

    The Frenchman Gane (11-1) opened at -160 but is now +145. He won the interim heavyweight belt with a unanimous decision win over Derrick Lewis at UFC 265, but lost a unification bout to Francis Ngannou in January 2022. In his most recent appearance, Gane knocked out Tai Tuivasa last September. This is Gane's first time as an underdog in the UFC.

    Ngannou hasn't fought since winning the belt as he and the UFC couldn't agree on a contract extension, so he's no longer with the organization and the title is vacant.

    So which 2023 Fantasy baseball busts, breakouts, and sleepers should you target or fade in your drafts? Visit SportsLine's Fantasy baseball cheat sheets now to get rankings for every single position, all from the model that called Joey Votto's disappointing season, and find out. 

    Matt SeveranceSeverance Pays

    Share This Story