TUF 17: Jon Jones opens as big (-650) favorite over Chael Sonnen

The fans were demanding one middleweight vs light heavyweight match-up in Anderson Silva vs. Jon Jones.

Instead, they'll have to settle for Jones vs. the man Silva stopped twice for the 185 pound title, and the odds reflect it.

Of course, Jon Jones was expected to be a heavy favorite after having dismantled a bevy of the best wrestlers the light heavyweight division has had to offer in Rashad Evans, Ryan Bader, Vladimir Matyushenko and Matt Hamill*. "Bones" is, after all, widely regarded as one of the best pound for pound fighters on the planet.

Chael Sonnen? He's currently unranked at light heavyweight considering the "Gangster from West Lynn, Oregon" hasn't competed at 205 pounds since a 2005 loss to Renato Sobral at UFC 55. Over 100 numbered UFC events will have passed by the time Sonnen and Jones square off.

Jones' betting odds opened with the current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion as a -650 favorite.

That's according to the fine folks at bovada.lv, which has odds on all the upcoming UFC, Strikeforce and Bellator main events.

Jones (17-1) has not lost legitimately in his entire career. He's torn through the UFC light heavyweight division like a hot knife through butter, defeating former UFC champions Mauricio Rua, Quinton Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans and Vitor Belfort in consecutive bouts.

Enter Chael P. Sonnen.

Sonnen (27-12-1) is widely regarded as the second best middleweight in the world, beating the likes of Yushin Okami, Brian Stann and Nate Marquardt although he came up short against UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva on two separate occasions, getting stopped both times after controlling "The Spider" with his wrestling for multiple rounds

Sonnen even accepted a bout against Jones less than two months ago on just eight days' notice following an injury to Jones' original UFC 151 opponent Dan Henderson, although "Bones" declined the bout at the time.

There's no turning it down this time around. What do you think, Maniacs? Is this a smart business decision or a poor sportsman decision? Both? Is the line correct?

Sound off!

To read the announcement of the Jones vs. Sonnen bout, click here.