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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 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.
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:
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
Here, if you bet on over 4 rounds, you need to bet $175 to win $100. The same rule applies to under 4.
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.
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.
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.
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.
See example odds below:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
This is the most straightforward UFC bet, where you bet on who you think will win a match.
In some cases, winners are declared based on decisions or points. For example, will it be a split decision, unanimous decision, or majority decision?
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:
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.
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.
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 is a ground based, submission fighting style. Its main goal is getting your opponent on the ground.
Muay Thai translated is Thai boxing. This fighting style emphasizes striking, kicking and punching.
Wrestlers struggle with their opponents in an attempt to get them and hold them to the ground.
Judo is a Japanese martial art that requires physical skill. These are powerful fighters, both on the ground and standing.
Tae Kwon Do is a stand-up fighting style that consists of kicking and punching.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strawweight | Max. 115 lbs (52.1 kg) | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Flyweight | 116 – 125 lbs (52.6 – 56.7 kg) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Bantamweight | 126-135 lbs (57.1 – 61.2 kg) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Featherweight | 136-145 lbs (61.7 – 65.7 kg) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Lightweight | 146-155 lbs (66.2 – 70.3 kg) | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Welterweight | 156-170 lbs (70.8 – 77.1 kg) | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Middleweight | 171-185 lbs (77.6 – 83.9 kg) | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Light Heavyweight | 186-205 lbs (84.4 – 93.0 kg) | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Heavyweight | 206-265 lbs (93.4 – 120.2 kg) | ✔️ | ❌ |
Sportsbooks offer plenty of bonuses for UFC bettors. See the most common ones below.
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.
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.
This is the best type of bonus you can get, as it does not require you to invest your own money first.
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.
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.
The UFC stands for Ultimate Fighting Championship, which is the biggest mixed martial arts (MMA) organization in the world.
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.
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.
