Jon Jones Opens as Heavy Favorite Over Anthony Smith at UFC 235

It hasn’t taken long for the betting lines to open for the recently announced light heavyweight title defense between Jon Jones and his challenger Anthony Smith at UFC 235 on Mar. 2.

The fight is subject to Jones receiving clearance by the Nevada Athletic Commission, but the Ultimate Fighting Championship appears confident that will not be an obstacle.

Jones made a triumphant return to the Octagon at UFC 232 last month with a dominant TKO victory in his rematch against Alexander Gustafsson and said recently he intends to defend his belt three times in 2019. Smith has been on a tear since moving up to the 205-pound division early last year, beating the likes of UFC veterans Rashad Evans and Mauricio Rua; however his submission win over Volkan Oezdemir in October cemented him as a legitimate contender.

Despite Lionheart’s three-fight win streak, the early betting odds place “Bones” as the heavy favorite to win. According to Bovada (via Best Fight Odds), Jones is a -600 favorite over the +400 Smith.

UFC 235 takes place Mar. 2 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Besides the Jones-Smith fight, it also features a welterweight title fight between defending champion Tyron Woodley and his challenger, Kamaru Usman.