The last time these two fighters met five years ago, Alexander Gustafsson gave Jon Jones the fight of his life.
The two combatants are finally set for a rematch with the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship on the line in UFC 232. The 13-bout event on the UFC Fight Card will take place on Saturday, Dec. 29 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Jones is the prohibitive favorite to take down Gustafsson in the main event, while another anticipated matchup sees superstar Cris Cyborg in the Octagon against Amanda Nunes for the Women’s Featherweight Championship.
There is no current light heavyweight champ because it was vacated from Daniel Cormier after he decided to focus on his heavyweight title instead.
Jones, who is listed at -285 in the UFC Odds, is well known for being the youngest champion in UFC history, having won this exact title at the age of 23. Gustafsson, who lost by a decision to Jones in 2013, is a heavy underdog once again at +225 (odds provided by Bovada).
If you like Jones to regain his title, you will have to bet a lot to make a little. A bettor will have to wager $285 to earn a $100 profit on a Jones victory ($285 bet + $100 profit = $385 total return). A winning $10 ticket would return $13.50.
Gustaffson’s odds offer a lot more value, but a lot more risk, too. A bettor will have to wager $100 to earn a $225 profit on a Gustafsson victory ($100 bet + $225 profit = $325 total return). A winning $10 ticket would return $32.50.
The biggest fights for Jones haven’t taken place in the ring. His inability to stay out of trouble has hindered his success as a fighter. Now, Jones is hoping for a comeback eight years after winning his first UFC title.
The 31-year-old has a career record of 22-1-1 with 42 per cent of his victories by knockout. Jones, who has won 15 straight bouts, is often considered the best fighter in MMA history, but he hasn’t fought since July 2017. This is his third fight in three years and he’s coming into this event following a suspension for testing positive in a drug test.
Gustafsson has a career record of 18-4 with 61 per cent of his victories by knockout. The Swedish fighter, whose efforts have been hampered by a nagging knee injury in 2015, has split his last six fight decisions. He won his last fight in May 2017.
Gustafsson, also 31, became the first fighter to ever take Jones down in their 2013 match. Jones kept his belt that day, winning by a decision, but Gustafsson has been hungry for a rematch ever since.
Prediction — Jon Jones (-285) clearly has all the tools to regain his championship title. He’s seen Gustafsson in the Octagon before, so there will be few surprises for the highly skilled former champion.
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