The betting odds for the impending Jon Jones vs. Chael Sonnen bout are in and the light heavyweight UFC champion is an clear favorite.
According to oddsmakers Bovada, Jones opens as a -650 favorite. Sonnen, meanwhile, opens as a significant underdog at +425.
Jones is not unaccustomed to being the overwhelming favorite even in his title bouts. At UFC 152 in September, Jones entered that contest as a -925 favorite to Vitor Belfort’s +625 underdog odds. It should be noted, however, that Belfort entered that bout as a late replacement and hadn’t fought at light heavyweight since 2005.
Jones was a more modest favorite in his UFC 140 title defense against Lyoto Machida in December of 2011. He entered that bout as a -375 to Lyoto Machida’s +275. Against Mauricio Rua in March of 2011, Jones was a -155 favorite to Shogun’s +125.
Jones vs. Sonnen odds are, however, nearly identical to odds for Jones vs. Rashad Evans from April of 2012. Jones was a -625 favorite to Evans’ +425.
Jones has only been an underdog twice in his UFC career. Notably, those were his first two UFC bouts. He was at +285 before his August 2008 fight with Andre Gusmao and +155 against Stephan Bonnar in January of 2009.