[wolf137]

Despite being a champion, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua currently is the underdog to title challenger Jon Jones in their upcoming UFC 128 title fight.

That's according to the oddsmakers' opening line, anyway.

Jones opens as a -150 favorite while Rua is a +120 underdog.

Jones (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) set up the light-heavyweight title fight, which takes place March 19 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., with a victory over Ryan Bader at Saturday's UFC 126 event in Las Vegas. Rashad Evans initially was slated to fight Rua (19-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC), but earlier in the day, UFC president Dana White and the organization's medical staff learned that a torn knee ligament will keep Evans sidelined for six to eight weeks.

Once Jones scored a second-round submission victory over then-undefeated Bader, he was told the title shot is his.

The 23-year-old phenom's hype now will only grow; few title challengers have entered a championship bout as a favorite.

The -150 line means oddsmakers are giving Jones an approximate 60 percent change of winning. "Shogun" is an approximate 45 percent favorite. (Due to the nature of sports wagering, the two figures don't add up to an even 100 percent.)

*CURRENTLY - Jones -160*