UFC 249 Betting Preview: Title Fight Odds

It looks like the UFC will finally return to the octagon this weekend, as UFC 249 is ready to go in Jacksonville, Florida. The long-awaited event is headlined by co-main events with two titles up for grabs – the interim UFC lightweight title and the UFC bantamweight title.

In the bout for the interim UFC lightweight title Tony Ferguson takes on Justin Gaethje with the winner expected to face reigning UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in a unification belt somewhere down the line. In this weekend’s bout at the Bovada Sportsbook Ferguson is a -190 favorite and Gaethje is a +155 underdog.

Ferguson has won his last 12 fights and owns an overall record of 25-3 with 12 wins by knockout and eight by submission. He last fought at UFC 238 in June where he defeated Donald Cerrone by second-round TKO as a -240 favorite.

Gaethje is on a short three-fight winning streak. Overall he is 21-2 with 18 wins by KO. He also faced Donald Cerrone in his last fight. He faced Cerrone at UFC Fight Night 158 in September when he defeated him by first-round TKO as a -225 favorite.

Cejudo the betting favorite taking on Cruz

In this weekend’s UFC bantamweight title bout champion Henry Cejudo faces challenger Dominick Cruz. At the Bovada Sportsbook Cejudo is a -210 favorite and Cruz a +170 underdog.

Cejudo, who also currently holds the UFC flyweight title, will be making his first bantamweight title defense. He’s won five straight fights and owns an overall record of 15-2 with seven wins by KO. In his last fight at UFC 238 in June he won the bantamweight title after defeating Marlon Moraes by third-round TKO as a +110 underdog.

Cruz, a former UFC bantamweight champion, hasn’t fought in over three years due to numerous injuries and fight cancellations. His record stands at 22-2 with eight wins by KO. He last fought at UFC 207 in December 2016 where he lost the UFC bantamweight title to Cody Garbrandt following a loss by unanimous decision as a -270 favorite. Prior to that fight Cruz had won 13 straight fights and had gone nearly 10 years without a loss.