UFC 247: Jones v Reyes - light-heavyweight title prediction, odds & betting tips

Free MMA tips and predictions for UFC 247: Jones v Reyes

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, from 3am Saturday night (prelims start 1am)

Best bets

Jon Jones to beat Dominick Reyes by decision
1pt 12-5 bet365, Hills
Ilir Latifi to beat Derrick Lewis
1pt 2-1 general

UFC 247 preview

Jon Jones was recently named male fighter of the decade by influential MMA journalist Ariel Helwani and the long-reigning light-heavyweight champion should get the 2020s off to a winning start, although it may not be one of his easiest fights against Dominick Reyes.

Reyes is undefeated in his MMA career and has won six out of six since joining the UFC, with notable victories over Jared Cannonier, Ovince Saint Preux, Volkan Oezdemir and most recently former middleweight champion Chris Weidman.

Jones is undoubtedly more talented than Reyes but has struggled to finish fights recently, with his last two victories over Thiago Santos and Anthony Smith both going to the scorecards.

Jones is 2-9 to win the fight and while he is capable of getting a KO at any time, 12-5 for it to go the five-round distance seems good value.

Women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko is just 1-10 to retain her title by beating Katlyn Chookagian, and while it's hard to make a case against her the UFC tends to throw up huge upsets now and again so while this one may be best swerved, a small bet on the underdog may tempt some.

Derrick Lewis is will have a huge size advantage in his heavyweight showdown against Ilir Latifi, who is stepping up from light-heavy, and The Black Beast is a 2-5 favourite to get the victory.

But Latifi is much quicker and a better wrestler and is capable of giving Lewis plenty of problems.

Lewis's one-punch power often gets him out of trouble from losing positions and if one of his giant fists lands on Latifi's head it could be game over, but 2-1 for the upset looks a fair price.

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