Top Sites for Betting on UFC

UFC is extremely popular all over the world. This is without a doubt due to it being so entertaining to watch. However, now you can do more than just watch. You can actually participate (to some degree) by betting on UFC matches or events.

There is so much to be aware of before betting real money on UFC. So, if you’re only starting to transition from being a spectator to a bettor, then this guide is for you. It will teach you everything you need to know to bet on UFC, including the top sportsbooks that offer UFC, reading UFC odds, and the types of bonuses you can expect to get.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC): An Overview

The UFC is a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) organization that was started back in 1993. It has since evolved into a sports brand that is well-known all over the world.

The UFC aimed to determine the Ultimate Fighting Champion by hosting a “Fight Night”, where the best fighters from various categories compete. The tournament winner would then be crowned the ultimate champion. In the beginning, there were no rules. Consequently, many US states declared MMA events illegal. There were also no weight classes. It was the organization’s belief that technique could beat strength any day. However, later weight classes were added to help keep the fights fair.

Today, the UFC hosts over 40 live events every year. Events are broadcasted in more than 165 countries in more than 40 languages. In 2013, the organization also launched its digital subscription service, UFC Fight Pass, providing fans with exclusive content.

Top UFC Betting Sites for Players in the US

1
300% up to $6,000
1-5 days Payout
Win Rate
2
100% + 100 Free Spins
1-7 Days Payout
Win Rate
3
$3000
3-7 days Payout
Win Rate
4
$5,000
3-7 days Payout
96.18% Win Rate

Registering at a UFC Betting Site

Before you can even start thinking about betting on UFC, you need to have an account at a sportsbook that offers UFC betting. With our recommended UFC sites, it shouldn’t be too hard to find the perfect one.

So, now that you’ve chosen a site, it is time to create an account. Although casinos differ, the registration process tends to be similar across casinos. See the typical steps below:

1

Fill in personal information: When first signing up, you will need to provide some personal information and choose a username and password for logging in.

2

Make a deposit: To start betting, you need to make a deposit (Unless you were lucky enough to get a sportsbook that offers a no-deposit bonus).

3

Place your bet: Select a market, bet type, and amount.

Prior to signing up, compare the bonuses of the various sportsbooks you are considering. Don’t be fooled by massive bonuses, always read the fine print. You want to choose a bonus where the wagering requirements are doable, otherwise you’ll never see your winnings.

UFC Odds Explained

It is important to get a grip on UFC odds before you place any real money bets. However, if you're a beginner bettor, it can be overwhelming and confusing. Below we explain the different odds though the use of examples.

Total Rounds

If you aren’t confident enough to bet on a winner but you think you can predict how many rounds the fight will be, you can bet on total rounds.

Total Rounds

Under 4
-275
Over 4
-175

Here, if you bet on over 4 rounds, you need to bet $175 to win $100. The same rule applies to under 4.

Winner of Match

Say for example you want to bet on the winner of the upcoming Welterweight title bout at the UFC 278. This would be a moneyline bet, and the odds would be presented as follows.

Contestant to win

Kamaru Usman
-380
Leon Edwards
+310

Favorites have the minus sign, which means Kamaru is the favorite in this scenario. Based on the above odds, you need to bet $380 on Kamaru to win $100. On the other hand, if you bet $100 on the underdog, Leon, you could win $310.

To Go the Distance (Fractional)

This is a bet on whether you think a fight will last to the end or be cut short. Here the betting options are “Yes” or “No”. An example of fraction odds follows.

Fractional: Go the distance

Yes
54/100
No
28/50

Using yes in the example above, you would read the odds as follows. For every $100 you bet, you win $54. For no, you would win $28 for every $50 you bet, in addition to your stake.

To Go the Distance (Moneyline)

See example odds below:

To go the distance on the moneyline in the American format

Yes
-110
No
+119

In these types of bets, there won’t always be a very clear favorite. In some cases, both options are strong. When this happens, the smallest (+) odds are usually the favorites.

To Go the Distance (Decimal)

Decimal: Go the distance

Yes
1.25
No
2.5

This one is quite simple to understand. Simply multiply your stake by the odds. For example, if you bet $150 that the match will be cut short, your winnings would be $150 x 2.5 = $375.

Different UFC Bets

Over/Under
Accumulator/Parlay
Method of Victory
Moneyline/Match
Decision Victories

Over/Under

The most popular over/under bet is the total rounds in a fight. Here the sportsbook predicts the number of rounds, and you bet that it will either be over or under.

Accumulator/Parlay

Parlay bets consist of several selections combined into one bet. This is quite lucrative and perfect for bettors who are confident enough to bet on who will win several different fights. This bet also comes with increased risk, as winnings roll over. This means that if one bet loses, you lose the wager and all winnings from previous selections.

Method of Victory

With the method of victory bet, you can place a bet on how a fighter wins a match. For example, will it be a Knockout, Technical Knockout or by Submission?

Moneyline/Match

This is the most straightforward UFC bet, where you bet on who you think will win a match.

Decision Victories

In some cases, winners are declared based on decisions or points. For example, will it be a split decision, unanimous decision, or majority decision?

Tips for UFC Betting

As with betting on any sport, there are different levels of expertise. Our team of gambling experts have put together some tips to help you improve your betting strategy regardless of where you find yourself on the expertise spectrum. There are also some general tips to get better at MMA betting:

Beginners
Before you start placing bets you will need to do some research. You will need to find a sportsbook with competitive MMA betting odds and learn more about the fights. Our guide has the information below, to make things a bit easier:
Know how to choose a sportsbook that suits your needs and how to create an account.
Understand the different types of bets you can place and how to read them to calculate what you stand to win.
Place wagers based on facts, statistics and data. In other words, do not place emotional bets such as betting on the same fighter every time, because you are a fan and want to show your loyalty.
Try to gather as much knowledge about the sport, betting options and where to place your bets before jumping in headfirst.

Furthermore, you will need to gather as much information about the fighters as you possibly can. Find out more about what their strengths and weaknesses are along with how they fight and what type of fighting styles they are weak against.

There are plenty of factors you will want to consider and this will be part of the statistics, this will include the above mentioned factors about the fighters. You will also be looking at things such as how long the fighter has been doing the sport, how many times they have won and lost fights, fighting class and more. The more you know, the easier it will be to analyze the odds and place your bets.

Statistics
Just like other professional sports and leagues, UFC keeps a record of all its fighters’ stats. These stats are free for the public to view and offer detailed information about UFC fighters. Finding out about the fighters will grant you insight into how they perform under different circumstances and how they fare against certain opponents and will also help you answer the following questions:
Do they drag out their matches?
Are they cautious fighters?
How much stamina do they have?
Does a fighter have any trump cards?
Are they known for their speed?
Are they known for their speed?

Those are just a few of the questions that will get answered as you learn more about the fighters you want to back with your bets. Never give up on gathering more information, especially as a beginner. The more you know now and the things you learn consistently will help you adapt your betting strategies in the future.

Major Factors That Impact Matches
The finer details of a fighter are not the only factors that can affect the outcome of a fight. Here are some of the external factors that can have an impact on a fighter’s performance:
Status: Find out how the fighter is seen in the world of UFC. Ask questions such as; Is the fighter a newcomer? Is the fighter defending their title? Is the fighter famous for something specific? This will affect how they perform in the match based on what they want to achieve.
Weight: At times, fighters will move between weight classes and if a fighter has to make a change to their weight, it could affect how well they have trained. Losing or gaining weight can also affect the fighter’s ability to fight if they are outmatched.
Size of the ring or octagon: The size of the cage, octagon or ring will affect how much space the fighters have to move. Octagons used in UFC can be 25 feet (7.62 m) wide or 30 feet (9.14 m). For example, if the fighter you are backing is a striker, then a smaller octagon is an advantage because the fighter’s opponent will have less space to move around or run away.
Location: Fighters can have advantages and disadvantages depending on where the fight takes place. The location can affect the fighter’s ability both mentally and physically. Higher or lower altitudes can affect a fighter’s performance as well as playing in a familiar or unfamiliar location.
Personal issues: In most cases, it is also good if you have an understanding of the fighter’s personality. UFC fighters are often in the news and behaviours leading up to an event can also affect their performance.
Betting Strategies for Beginners
Even as a beginner, placing bets on MMA events still takes time and thought. Here are a few strategies to think about when you start betting on UFC fights:
Don’t jump on the bandwagon when there is hype around a specific fighter. Don’t place a bet just because the fighter is popular or is making a name for themselves using publicity stunts and other marketing strategies. All the hype could be a façade and their opponent could outmatch them purely based on skill and their performance in the octagon.
Having the confidence to predict a winner and place a bet to back that prediction can be stressful as a beginner. However, other bets are less risky and more suited to beginners, like prop bets. These bets focus on 50/50 odds related to smaller occurrences during the fight which happen quickly and can be placed with lower stakes.
Do not place a wager just for the sake of it. Place informed bets, if you know the stats of the fighters on the main card, then stay away from the undercard if you haven’t done your research. There is no need to place bets just because the odds are available.
Betting Strategies for Experts
Once you feel comfortable and want to up your stakes, then here are some tips we can offer. Remember, that when you place a wager, you want to do so with as much information as possible to make calculated decisions that have a high probability of you making a profit. Here are some strategies to help you improve your chances:
Accumulator or parlay bets can be a good way to take some bigger risks and increase your profits. If you calculate how your bets will be placed then you can still turn a profit while minimizing the risk.
Hedging your bets can also end up being a good thing. If you are willing to lose some money then you still stand a chance of winning some as well. You can place a bet on who will win and a bet that predicts that the fighter will lose. Depending on the odds, you could end up winning back your stake from the conflicting bet.
Prop bets with increased odds are also a good way to make more money throughout the match. You will need to find out as much as possible about both contenders so that your fast-paced bets can have an impact.
Don’t be afraid to place bets with different sportsbooks for the same event, some bookmakers will have different odds for the same match. One bookmaker might have better odds for the same outcome and that way you can increase your chances of turning a profit.

What Types of Martial Arts Are Included in the UFC?

The UFC includes various martial art styles, including boxing, kick-boxing, Tae Kwon Do, freestyle wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and Judo. All of the fighting styles have their strengths and weaknesses. Top MMA fighters will know when to use which fighting styles.

See some of the most popular MMA fight styles below.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a ground based, submission fighting style. Its main goal is getting your opponent on the ground.

Muay Thai

Muay Thai translated is Thai boxing. This fighting style emphasizes striking, kicking and punching.

Wrestling

Wrestlers struggle with their opponents in an attempt to get them and hold them to the ground.

Judo

Judo is a Japanese martial art that requires physical skill. These are powerful fighters, both on the ground and standing.

Tae Kwon Do

Tae Kwon Do is a stand-up fighting style that consists of kicking and punching.

Different Weight Divisions

Like boxing, the UFC has several weight divisions, 12 to be exact. Eight of these are men’s divisions, and the remaining four are women’s. Like previously stated, weight divisions ensure fairness and the safety of fighters. A fight where one player is physically bigger or stronger than their opponent is not considered a fair fight. Wins should be based on skill and technique, not size.

See below the weight divisions.

UFC Weight Classes Weight Range (lbs) Men Women
StrawweightMax. 115 lbs (52.1 kg)✔️
Flyweight116 – 125 lbs (52.6 – 56.7 kg)✔️✔️
Bantamweight126-135 lbs (57.1 – 61.2 kg)✔️✔️
Featherweight136-145 lbs (61.7 – 65.7 kg)✔️✔️
Lightweight146-155 lbs (66.2 – 70.3 kg)✔️
Welterweight156-170 lbs (70.8 – 77.1 kg)✔️
Middleweight171-185 lbs (77.6 – 83.9 kg)✔️
Light Heavyweight186-205 lbs (84.4 – 93.0 kg)✔️
Heavyweight206-265 lbs (93.4 – 120.2 kg)✔️

Bonuses for UFC Bettors

Sportsbooks offer plenty of bonuses for UFC bettors. See the most common ones below.

Welcome Bonus

This is the bonus you receive for signing up at a sportsbook. It varies from sportsbook to sportsbook, however, most sportsbooks will match your first deposit up to a specific amount.

Risk-free Bets

As the name suggests, risk-free bets are bets without any risk. For example, if you bet on a fighter to win but they don't, you get a free bet to the value of the stake you lost.

No-Deposit Bonus

This is the best type of bonus you can get, as it does not require you to invest your own money first.

Enhanced Parlay Odds

Parlays are by nature more risky than other UFC bets. Enhanced parlay odds reward you for your risk by giving a bigger payout if your selections are correct.

Parlay Insurance

There’s always a risk of losing an entire parlay due to one bad selection. With parlay insurance, you receive a free bet if you lose one parlay leg.

FAQs

What is the UFC?

The UFC stands for Ultimate Fighting Championship, which is the biggest mixed martial arts (MMA) organization in the world.

What Types of Martial Arts Are Included in the UFC?

MMA entails various martial  art styles. Some of the most popular ones include kick-boxing, boxing, Tae Kwon Do, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, freestyle wrestling,  Judo, and Muay Thai.

How Long is a UFC Fight?

Typically, a UFC fight is three rounds long. Each round is 5 minutes long. However, for title fights you can get up to 5 rounds.

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