Jones vs. Reyes: UFC 247 Odds and Predictions

Jones vs. Reyes is one of two title fights on the card. Here’s a preview of both (no Canadians on the card overall) with the main card starting at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view.

Jon Jones (25-1) vs. Dominick Reyes (12-0)

Division: Light heavyweight

Prediction: Jones by decision

Some Canadians might be partial to Georges St Pierre as the best MMA fighter of all-time, and the Quebec native is on the short list with his 26-2 record. However, most MMA experts believe that Jones is the best in history, and it’s hard to argue with the results. Technically, Jones has never been “beaten.” His lone loss was way back in December 2009 in the “Ultimate Fighter 10” finale against Matt Hamill, but that was because Jones was disqualified due to illegal elbows. Hamill had a very mediocre career so there’s little doubt Jones would have won that fight.

The only issue with the 32-year-old “Bones” is that he has failed a few drug tests – one led to a victory being changed to a no-contest vs. Daniel Cormier at UFC 214 – and some legal run-ins. The UFC ranks Jones as its pound-for-pound king, and he has made some noise about a potential bout with heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic later this year presuming a win Saturday. A Jones-Miocic bout would be the biggest in the organization’s history. Jones did look mortal last time in the Octagon in July 2019, taking a split decision over Thiago Santos.

Reyes, 31, gets his first-ever title shot in the UFC – he won a belt in something called the Hoosier Fight Club back in 2017. “The Devastator” is 6-0 since joining the UFC and owns impressive wins over the likes of Chris Weidman, Volkan Oezdemire and Ovince St. Preux, but Jones is on a different level from those guys. Seven of Reyes’ 12 wins are by KO or TKO. He’s ranked No. 4 in the division.

Valentina Shevchenko (18-3) vs. Katlyn Chookagian (13-2)

Division: Women’s flyweight

Prediction: Shevchenko by decision

Shevchenko is the No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter among women behind two-division champion Amanda Nunes, and the Peru native puts her flyweight belt on the line against the American Chookagian. There is some talk that Shevchenko could get a third shot at Nunes, who has handed Shevchenko two of her three career losses, with a win. Since that last defeat at UFC 215 by split decision, “Bullet” has won four in a row. Shevchenko last fought in August and beat Liz Carmouche by unanimous decision.

Chookagian, a 31-year-old American, also has fought Carmouche, losing by split decision in 2016. “Blonde Fighter” enters off back-to-back wins, last in November by unanimous decision over Jennifer Maia. A total of 10 of Chookagian’s wins are by decision and both of her losses are. That other defeat was to Jessica Eye; Shevchenko beat Eye by second-round knockout in June 2019.