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It sounds like MMA fans are finally going to get the fight they want…Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones.
News surfaced Tuesday that Jones and Ngannou are “penciled in” for UFC 285 on March 5 next year. Curtis Blaydes is the backup fighter if Jones or Ngannou pull out (odds below).
Xtreme Couture head coach Eric Nicksick confirmed last month that the UFC reached out to ask him who heavyweight champion Ngannou wanted to fight next.
“A UFC exec called and basically said, ‘Hey, what is your ideal timeline, and what is your ideal matchup?'” Nicksick told MMA Junkie Radio. “Does it matter what my opinion is? No, but it is nice that they called and asked. I said ideally I would want March, and ideally I would want Jon Jones. The person that called agreed 1 million percent that this is what (the UFC) would like, as well. That is what Francis would like. They’re calling to figure out timeline on injury and how long I would need to get him ready.”
Back in January of this year, SportsBetting.ag made Ngannou a -220 favorite in a potential bout against Jones (+180).
But by the time August rolled around, the odds had tightened drastically, moving to Ngannou -150, Jones +130.
And that’s exactly where we’re at currently on the heels of this latest fight date news.
Fight Odds
Francis Ngannou -150
Jon Jones +130
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Francis Ngannou -350
Curtis Blaydes +285
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Jon Jones -265
Curtis Blaydes +225
UFC 282 Expectations
Ngannou was determined to undoubtedly welcome a megafight withJones at UFC 282, and the odds then were clearly in the champ's favor.
Back in January, SportsBetting.ag made Ngannou a -220 favorite in a potential bout against Jones (+180). However, with the hype Jones was building the numbers shifted.
Fight Odds
Francis Ngannou -150
Jon Jones +130
That match, however, never came to fruition.
- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
