Ngannou Opens As Betting Favorite Over Jones, Cormier

Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight champion, Daniel Cormier, warned the mixed martial arts (MMA) community not to get overly-excited about the devastating knockouts from 265-pound smashing machine Francis Ngannou.

Because they don’t prove these mistakes have been corrected.

I guess the bookies weren’t listening, or simply ignored what Cormier had to say, because Ngannou opened as the odds-on betting favorite over “DC,” as well as light heavyweight titleholder Jon Jones, who seems intent on finagling a “Predator” super fight.

From BetOnline (www.BetOnline.ag):

Francis Ngannou vs. Daniel Cormier
Francis Ngannou: -140 (5/7)
Daniel Cormier: +120 (6/5)
**Note: Fight must take place in 2020 for action.

Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones
Francis Ngannou: -150 (2/3)
Jon Jones: +130 (13/10)
**Note: Fight must take place in 2020 for action.

There’s an outside chance Cormier will compete against Ngannou in the coming months. The former light heavyweight champion was expected to first complete his trilogy against Stipe Miocic; however, the current 265-pound kingpin refuses to abandon his duties as a first responder in order to appease “DC.”

If Miocic does make his way back to the Octagon and Cormier agrees to a late summer or early fall showdown, that would leave Ngannou — the division No. 2 contender — inactive for the remainder of the year.

Clearing the way for Jones.

Not to speak for the promotion, but I have a hard time believing UFC would pass on a potential “Predator” fight in favor of a 205-pound title defense against Jan Blachowicz, which “does nothing” for a lot of paying fight fans.