Brock Lesnar vs. Jon Jones: Betting Odds Favor UFC Light Heavyweight Champion

Talk of a potential super-fight between Jon Jones and Brock Lesnar began even before UFC 214 Saturday night. After Jones knocked out Daniel Cormier in the third round to regain his UFC light heavyweight title, he became a significant favorite to defeat the former UFC heavyweight champion in a future bout.

Jones was initially given -300 betting odds against Lesnar when the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook set the line for a bout Sunday. The odds quickly moved in Jones’ favor, as he became a -450 favorite and Lesnar moved to a +375 underdog.

READ: Why Brock Lesnar vs. Jon Jones Could Happen

Jones and Lesnar traded barbs through the media last week, but the greatest MMA fighter in history was still focusing on his rematch with Cormier. After defeating his archrival, Jones didn’t waste any time in calling out Lesnar.

“Brock Lesnar — if you want to know what it feels like to get your ass kicked by a guy 40 pounds less than you, meet me in the Octagon,” Jones said in the cage during a post-fight interview Saturday night.

When speaking to reporters at a press conference later in the night, Jones explained that Lesnar is currently the only heavyweight that he’d be willing to face. He’s not interested in a fight against UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, who’s won four straight fights with a first-round knockout.

Miocic would offer Jones the tougher test, but Lesnar would offer him the biggest payday.

“I feel like if I was going to take a fight at heavyweight it would be against a person who me and my coaches feel would be a perfect matchup for me,” Jones said during the post-fight press conference.

“Right now, Stipe is looking extremely impressive. And I believe if you get an extremely talented big guy versus an extremely talented little guy, I mean, a lot of the cards are in his favor. At the same time, I fear no man. I strike for a reason when I strike.”

Lesnar was once considered to be the most dangerous fighter on the planet, but he hasn’t held a UFC title in nearly seven years. He defeated Mark Hunt when he made his return to the octagon at UFC 200 last year, but the decision was overturned when Lesnar tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

Lesnar is the current WWE Universal Champion, and it’s unknown if he’ll ever have another UFC fight. He’s reportedly signed with WWE through April of next year, and he would have to serve a six-month suspension if he decided to re-enter USADA’s drug testing pool.

READ: Brock Lesnar Rumors Returning To UFC, Losing His Title At SummerSlam?

Even though a fight doesn’t even seem possible until 2018 at the earliest, oddsmakers believe the bout will happen. Bovada.lv has set the odds of Jones facing Lesnar before July 15, 2018 at -160. The odds are currently +120 that the bout won't occur within the next year.

Jones and Lesnar would both stand to make more money than they ever have if they were to meet inside the octagon. Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor have proven that fights will happen if there is enough money at stake, making Jones vs. Lesnar a very real possibility.