UFC 159 predictions: Jones vs. Sonnen odds, picks

The Jon Jones vs. Chael Sonnen main event does not make for compelling MMA drama, but the odds on whether Jones will win by TKO or submission are interesting. Check out the UFC 159 odds and predictions, courtesy of Odds Shark.

by OddsShark

Apr 25, 2013, 7:03 PM UTC

Tom Szczerbowski-US PRESSWIRE

Jon Jones may want to get some rounds under his belt after a long layoff, or he may want to get his job done quickly before breaking a sweat.

The outcome of his fight with Chael Sonnen seems inevitable and only Jones can decide when and how it ends.

“At -1000 on some online sportsbooks, there is no value on the champion at UFC 159 and putting dog money on Sonnen is throwing away your money,” said Jack Randall of OddsShark.com.

”So many bettors are looking at the props for better value, where a TKO or knockout is +115 and a submission is +140. At least there is a bit of cash to be made there without risking too much.”

Indeed, Jones looks to tie Tito Ortiz’s record for consecutive light heavyweight title defenses before moving on to a possible rematch with Lyoto Machida or a possible move to heavyweight.

If there is no drama or UFC betting profits on the main event, where can it be found?

Healy vs Miller

Pat Healy is a +250 underdog against Jim Miller, but the Strikeforce veteran is in trouble here against the speedy and scrappy Miller. Healy is on a six-fight win streak, but every time he has stepped up in competition -- Jake Ellenberger, Josh Thomson, Rory Markham -- he has lost.

So it’s hard to imagine the cagey, but patient Healy handling the barrage of punches that Miller will unload. We would bet on a first-round stoppage here as Miller has been dominant lately and should run right through Healy.

McKenzie vs Garcia

This will end in a rear-naked choke or a TKO. Garcia will fire away, and McKenzie will work for a submission. It’s just a question of who gets the first opening.

So we don’t pick either one, but wager on the fight not lasting three full rounds, a prop bet that is offered at several shops tracked by OddsShark.com. We like the UNDER 1.5 rounds.

Bisping vs Belcher

Alan Belcher had finished four straight tough foes before getting mauled by Yushin Okami at UFC 155. Michael Bisping is a better matchup for him, but we’re not sure he can handle the pressure and pace that the Brit will bring.

Bisping also lost in his last Octagon trip (to Vitor Belfort) but we see him rebounding, probably in a unanimous decision. He will have watched Okami ground-and-pound Belcher and will resort to that if needed.

Nelson vs Kongo

Cheick Kongo is capable of knocking a man’s head clean off, but he hasn’t done it lately and seems unlikely to frighten Roy Nelson. Instead, we see Big Country landing one of his heavy shots in the first round and watching the muscle-bound Frenchman go to sleep.

Kongo is tempting at +190 because he has the power to end it early. We like a first-round KO here, unless Kongo makes it a boring hug-fest like his last ‘fight’ with Shawn Jordan.