UFC 182 Free Pick & Prediction: Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier
By Drew Sharper
LAS VEGAS, NV (The Spread) – The UFC Light Heavyweight Championship will be decided tonight in the main event of UFC 182. Who will win when Jon Jones faces Daniel Cormier.
Jones (20-1) is defending his title against the man believed to be the greatest threat to beat him in Cormier (15-0). Jones is a dynamic striker with strong wrestling ability, but he faces a two-time Olympic wrestler in Cormier, who has manhandled other fighters at heavyweight and light heavyweight. Jones will have a big reach advantage, which will be what Cormier has to deal with.
The latest odds according to oddsmakers at BetDSI have Jones as the favorite to retain his title, as he is getting odds of -175 to win, while Cormier is getting a money line of +145 to prevail. This fight will air on PPV with the main card starting at 10PM ET.
Jones has the capability to end this fight at nearly any time with his hands, legs and elbows, but I think he is facing someone unlike anything he has dealt with yet. Cormier is the strongest opponent he has faced and if Cormier gets a hold of Jones, he will likely get him to the ground. We have yet to see anyone put Jones on his back consistently and it is hard to know just what a fighter is made of if until he has to fight off his back consistently. Look for Cormier to take the fight to the ground and grind Jones out for 25 minutes to win the UFC gold.
UFC 182 FREE PICK: Daniel Cormier +145