Jon Jones is a Massive Favorite Over Stipe Miocic
By Eddie Sanchez
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones was already considered a strong favorite to beat Stipe Miocic, but now the odds are even more heavily in his favor with one-month to go before their massive fight.
When betting lines for the UFC 309 main event were first released after the fight was confirmed last month, Jones (27-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) opened as a -410 favorite, with Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) listed as a +320 underdog via DraftKings on Sept. 16. However, those odds have shifted significantly in the past month, with Jones now a -550 favorite and Miocic at +410 on DraftKings.
The disparity is even greater at other leading sportsbooks. FanDuel lists Jones as a -620 favorite, with Miocic at +400, while BetMGM shows Jones at a massive -700 and Miocic at +500. The sharp increase in Jones’ odds suggests a strong public betting trend in his favor.
Miocic’s age and inactivity could be contributing factors. The 42-year-old former UFC heavyweight champion hasn’t fought since losing the title to Francis Ngannou by knockout in March 2021.
Jones, 37, has also had limited activity, fighting just once since February 2020. However, his return to the octagon in March 2023 saw him submit Ciryl Gane to win the heavyweight title, which was vacated by Ngannou. Jones is now coming off a torn pectoral injury that led to the postponement of his originally scheduled bout with Miocic last November at UFC 295.4o
