Current heavyweight champion Jon Jones is expected to defend his UFC heavyweight championship this year after defeating Ciryl Gane through submission during the first round at UFC 285. However, Jones will face strong opposition for the title against the Interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, who is hoping for a title unification fight against Jones.
Besides Aspinall, Stipe Miocic remains another strong contender for the UFC heavyweight championship belt this year. Jones and Miocic were expected to face each other at UFC 295 on 11th November 2023, but the reigning champion withdrew after suffering a pectoral tendon injury during training. However, Jones hasn’t fought since his victory over Gane to claim the then-UFC heavyweight title in March 2023.
But can Jones successfully defend his title, or will he lose the belt to Aspinall or Miocic? Here is a look at the current odds on the UFC men's heavyweight championship favorites in 2024.
Jon Jones (-150)
Reigning UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones ranks as the bookmakers’ favorite in his quest to defend his title. Jones is set to return to the Octagon on 9th November at the Madison Square Garden in New York, where he is expected to face Stipe Miocic. However, many UFC fans believe that Jones's predicaments might affect his title run this year.
Jones hasn’t fought since his heavyweight title triumph over Ciryl Gane, with a mix of injuries and legal troubles plaguing his campaign. The 36-year-old currently has two misdemeanor charges, which makes his situation more complex and his return to the Octagon in November uncertain. However, Jones is currently ranked as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter and you can bet on him to successfully defend his title via this helpful list of betting sites at Win-Comparator.
Tom Aspinall (+200)
Interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is expected to put up a strong fight this year in his quest to become the undisputed heavyweight champion. Aspinal is expected to defend his interim heavyweight title against Curtis Blaydes and hopes to face Jones for a shot at the heavyweight championship belt. The current pound-for-pound No 1 is among the greatest MMA fighters in history and hopes to consolidate the heavyweight title by going against Jones.
Many UFC fans consider Aspinall the rightful champion since he has held the interim championship belt for over a year without a title fight. Normally, the interim title is reserved to help the current champion recover and unify the belts once in shape. However, several issues have hindered a unification fight and Aspinall hopes to get the chance if he manages to beat Blaydes at UFC 304.
Stipe Miocic (+150)
Former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic hopes to get the chance to challenge Jon Jones for the UFC heavyweight title. Miocic was knocked out of the heavyweight championship title by Francis Ngannou in March 2021 and he expects to bounce back to his former spot when he fights Jones in 2024. The 20-4 heavyweight veteran is expected to retire after facing Jones and winning the championship title would be an excellent way to culminate his career.
