According to UFCbetting.com UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones (21-1) has opened as a favorite over number one contender and power puncher Anthony “Rumble” Johnson (19-4). Given Jones’ body of work, that’s not really a surprise.
OPENING ODDS: Jon Jones (-315) vs. Anthony Johnson (+245)
A date and venue for the bout has not been announced yet, but a lot of people see this being far from an easy fight for Jones and point to Johnson’s recent first round destruction of Alexander Gustafsson as proof.
In September 2013 the lanky Swede gave Jones all he could handle, took him five full rounds and gave him a tougher fight than anyone Jones had faced before or since. Yet, Anthony “Rumble” Johnson sliced through Gustafsson like a hot knife through warm butter with a quick first round TKO.
Here’s the main reason why Johnson could be the better bet against Jones though. His power and his defensive wrestling. Thirteen of Rumble’s 19 wins have been by knockout. And he’s faced high level wrestlers like Phil Davis before and Davis was unable to get anything going against Johnson at all.
The one area Jones could surprise Johnson is with his submission game. Jones has subdued power strikers like Rampage Jackson, Vitor Belfort and Lyoto Machida in the past with his dangerous submission game — and all of Johnson’s losses have been by submission (except one TKO caused by an eye poke).
However, Johnson is currently riding a nine-fight win streak and seems to have more power than ever at his new light heavyweight home. Jones is the betting favorite, but if you’re looking to cash in on a good dog… take Johnson.
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