As the premier brand in the sport of MMA, the UFC has experienced a massive growth spurt since its inception back in 1993. The growth has kicked into overdrive in recent years. It’s safe to say that the rise of the UFC has been one of the biggest stories in the sporting world over the past decade.
Betting on the UFC is in the midst of its own surge. What was once the domain of Las Vegas and risky offshore operators is now within reach for many folks across the US. The legalization of sports betting in a number of states has opened the doors for scores of folks, many of whom are starting their own love affair with UFC.
Our betting guide details how to bet online, upcoming fights and UFC odds as well as the top betting apps with UFC lines.
How UFC betting works. The most basic UFC bet will look familiar to those who are experienced with the moneyline, but there are also several other bets that are unique to the sport. Let’s take a look at the standard ways that you can bet on the UFC. 19 hours ago UFC Betting On the main card for the next UFC event, there is a featherweight battle worth looking into for a betting opportunity. In this matchup, you can check out the fight between Dan Ige.
Those in legal sports betting states looking to get in on the action, we’ll cover everything you need to know right here. We’ll begin by taking a look at the top spots to place your bets.
The legal sports betting environment continues to take shape. A number of operators are battling for their piece of the pie in legalized states, but some are emerging as the leaders of the pack.
Each of these operators offers UFC betting among a wide array of other markets. You can keep it simple and just bet on fighters to win, or explore a wide range of prop betting choices. In addition, live betting opportunities are available on each, and mobile is a perfect complement to take advantage of all that’s offered.
The most basic UFC bet will look familiar to those who are experienced with the moneyline, but there are also several other bets that are unique to the sport.
Let’s take a look at the standard ways that you can bet on the UFC.
The betting doesn’t stop once the bell rings in UFC. Live online sports betting affords users the opportunity to place wagers as the action unfolds in real time. Odds and markets move fast, but that only helps to enhance the appeal.
During a UFC fight, you’ll see a number of opportunities to take advantage of, such as how long the fight will last and updated moneyline odds for the outright winner based on what has happened so far.
Beyond being potentially profitable for those who have a good feel for momentum, live betting also allows you to hedge your bets. For example, let’s say that you dropped a wager on Jon Jones to win in advance of his upcoming fight.
After round one, Jones just doesn’t look like himself, and you wouldn’t be surprised if he wound up losing. You can mitigate the damage of your original wager by placing a new bet on his opponent. If the odds and stake are in range to your original wager, you’ve somewhat covered your position instead of just taking an outright loss.
To fully take advantage of all that live betting has to offer, a mobile sports betting app is the way to go. You can bet from your phone at any time during the fight as long as you’re in a legalized state.
There’s no need to be at a sportsbook or locked in front of your computer. You’ll be able to go out and enjoy fight night and know that you can quickly take advantage of opportunities as they arise throughout the card.
It wasn’t too long ago that legally betting on the UFC online was a mere fantasy. Today, it’s a reality. You don’t need to take a trip to Vegas to get in on the action, nor do you have to take any unnecessary risks with an unregulated and risky offshore operator.
You can find all of the UFC betting action you need right from the comfort of your own home in legal sports betting states. The lines are just as good as what you’ll find in Sin City, and you’ll find many more wagering opportunities than you would find at an offshore operator.
State | Online / Mobile | Retail |
---|---|---|
New Jersey Sports Betting | Yes | Yes |
Pennsylvania Sports Betting | Yes | Yes |
Colorado Sports Betting | Yes | Yes |
Indiana Sports Betting | Yes | Yes |
Iowa Sports Betting | Yes | Yes |
West Virginia Sports Betting | Yes | Yes |
Virginia Sports Betting | Yes | No |
New Hampshire Sports Betting | Yes | No |
Illinois Sports Betting | Yes | Yes |
Michigan Sports Betting | Yes | Yes |
Tennessee Sports Betting | Yes | No |
The legalization of sports betting not only means that more folks have access to a safe means of wagering, but it also translates into better product offerings. That means there’s real customer service to deal with if any questions come up, a number of different ways to fund your account and awesome platforms that are a breeze to navigate around.
Perhaps most importantly, the legal sports betting environment provides users with real protection and regulation. Operators that have hit the ground running in the US market are well aware of what they need to do from a legal standpoint.
For sports bettors, that results in some extra peace of mind that allows them to focus on betting without worrying about legal gray areas. For more niche sports you can bet on at legal US sportsbooks, check our guide here:
Sports betting isn’t the only way to get in on the action with UFC. DraftKings and FanDuel both offer DFS games that have proven to be quite popular with users.
There are a number of different ways to play daily fantasy sports, such as tournaments and 50/50s, which are all made available at numerous price points to fit any budget. On the tournament front, a big fight night can attract thousands of users gunning for some eye-popping prizes.
The object of the game is to pick a lineup of fighters from those scheduled to compete on the card. Each of the fighters has a salary attached — ranging from high for top stars to low for unknown commodities — and your final lineup will need to remain under the cap.
Fighters earn points based on how they perform, and scores are tallied up as the action unfolds. Once the final fight on the card is in the books, the highest scoring lineup wins. DFS is completely legal and safe to play in 40+ states. Outside of Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada and Washington, you’ll be good to go.
There’s a learning curve for betting on any sport you may be unfamiliar with, but it’s far from insurmountable. When beginning with UFC, stick to the basics and work toward devising a strategy that fits your style. Here are five simple tips you can use to get the ball rolling.
Once you have mastered the basics outlined above, you can begin spending more time on more detailed information such as fighter stats and dive even deeper into the matchups.
Getting up to speed on the UFC is nowhere near as intimidating as it may seem, and you’ll learn lots along the way to boot.
The UFC has a rich and storied history, and there have been a number of impressive fighters who have had lengthy careers inside the octagon. Picking the best of the best is no easy task.
However, there are five who have enjoyed lengthy careers and headlined numerous pay-per-view events along the way. These fighters not only sold tickets and racked up impressive buy rates for fight cards, but also collected hardware along the way.
Let’s be clear: if you make it to the UFC, you’re doing something right in your fighting career. That said, there are some fighters who have records that leave a lot to be desired. Here’s a look at some of the worst won-loss records among those with more than 25 fights under their belt.
Stephens is third on the all-time list for most UFC fights. Donald Cerrone and Jim Miller are the current leaders with 34 fights apiece. Cerrone has a career mark of 23-11, while Miller is 20-13 with one no contest.
There have been a ton of legendary fights inside the octagon during the 27-year history of UFC. Naturally, some of them have stood out as being the best of the bunch. Here’s a trio of UFC fights that quickly come up when the conversation turns to the most memorable and famous fights of all time.
The biggest UFC cards are found on pay-per-view. You can purchase the broadcast from your cable or streaming provider, or head to a sports bar that’s broadcasting the fights.
ESPN has the broadcast rights for UFC. The majority of events will be found on ESPN+, a subscription-based channel that has a slew of UFC content. If you get the UFC Fight Pass via the UFC app, you’ll also be able to stream events on mobile.
Additionally, certain sportsbooks have streaming capabilities and provide live feeds of events. Consult your operator for the events you can stream via the sportsbook app.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship made its debut on Nov. 12, 1993, from the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver. The event aimed to answer the long-standing question of which fighting style was the best.
Initially attracting a niche following, the UFC continued a steady rise before exploding in popularity for good after the turn of the century. Along the way, there were a number of controversies and legal challenges surrounding the violence of the competitions.
UFC managed to weather the storm and is now one of the more popular sports in the land, as evidenced by its broadcast partnership with ESPN. Prior to joining forces with the gang in Bristol, UFC’s TV home was with the FOX Sports family of channels.
The UFC brand loved by so many could easily have found itself out of business at one time. By the end of 20th century, the UFC was struggling financially, and considered close to bankruptcy. Dana White, along with his business partners – the Fertitta brothers (Lorenzo and Frank III) – formed Zuffa LLC.
White’s investment of $2m within the acquisition package was considered a huge personal risk, but with his business expertise, White was able to justify it. In the early 2000s, following the UFC’s agreement to adopt rules set by the New Jersey State Athletic Commission, the UFC brand grew rapidly, and developed some extremely charismatic, PPV buyout-boosting talents.
Amongst them were Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell, who formed what many consider to be the UFC’s ‘breakout’ rivalry. Ken Shamrock, a former WWE King of the Ring winner, was also a popular figure of note. Shamrock’s bout with Tito Ortiz in November 2002 (at the Las Vegas-held UFC 40) rates as one of the most important in UFC’s entire history.
White’s determination to make the UFC brand as uncompromising as possible has been unrelenting. This was reflected in his reaction to the mass cancellation of sports events in early 2020, with White stating his intention to hold UFC 249 in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. His talk of hiring an island just to stage the event was met with particular incredulity and amazement from UFC fans, but in the end, the event was postponed.
Though not the headline of the original card, Ferguson and Gaethje went into UFC 249 as a fascinating, and very evenly-matched pair of opponents. They kept even the most astute of bettors guessing until the starting bell, and did not disappoint on the night.
If you want to learn about how to bet on UFC fights, you’ve come to the right place.
Before you can start wagering, it’s essential to understand how the sport works. You’ll need to know the rules, fighters, and how to calculate UFC odds before you can make any accurate selections.
That’s where we’ve got you covered. Our guide will take you through everything you need to know about betting on UFC. With our tips, you’ll learn more about making predictions and choosing the best picks for your wagers. By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how to bet on UFC.
Without further ado, let’s delve into this blood sport’s details and how to bet on UFC matches.
Before you can learn anything about how to bet on UFC fights, you need to know the cage’s rules. If you’ve ever heard the phrase, “Two men enter, one man leaves,” you’d know that these fights aren’t for the faint of heart.
While not a fight to the death, knockouts occur, and injuries aren’t uncommon when you’re receiving such blows. If you’re at all interested in profitable betting and understanding UFC odds, you need to know the rules:
Some fighters skirt the lines of these rules, which can affect your UFC predictions. They use these regulations to create or enhance their styles, and, if you know the rules, you can understand how combatants’ techniques and judges’ votes can influence the outcome of a fight. That’ll help you learn how to bet on UFC matches.
People rarely understand that there are some differences between MMA and the UFC. When people talk about mixed martial arts, they’re often talking about the Ultimate Fighting Championship instead. Are there any real differences between the two?
Yes, and no.
MMA is a sport, not a league or an institution. The UFC, on the other hand, organizes the fights. In other words, the Championship is to MMA as the NBA is to basketball. Everyone can become a mixed martial artist, but not all these fighters can compete with the best in the UFC.
Interestingly, MMA rules can vary significantly from one organization to the next, while all UFC fights must obey the rules we mentioned before. Some MMA tournaments have very lax regulations, and contests can become incredibly dangerous.
For example, in Japan, fighters can continue to kick their opponent’s head, even if they’re down. In United Fighting Championship matches, that’ll get you disqualified. That’s why it’s essential to study the rules when you’re learning how to bet on UFC bouts.
While there’s no real way to pinpoint when MMA first started, we have a good idea of when one of the first examples took place.
It was essentially a publicity stunt, Muhammad Ali, one of the great boxers in existence, faced off against a famous Japanese professional wrestler, Antonio Inoki.
It was a terrible fight. Neither competitor was aware it was supposed to be a real fight until they were told in the last round. Inoki dropped to his back, crawled up to Ali, and started kicking the boxer’s legs repeatedly. However, Ali had no interest in wrestling with Inoki and remained standing. The fight was a draw, but it laid the groundwork for a unique, bloody future sport.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship has similar origins. However, instead of being an unplanned fiasco, the UFC was the ultimate bloodsport. Fighters from across the world came together to show their skills, determined to prove that their fighting style was the best. It was brutal and had only three rules: no groin strikes, no eye-gouging, no biting.
There were no rounds or safeguards, and competitors would keep fighting until someone tapped out or a KO occurred.
It was only after Dana White bought the UFC that it started cleaning up its act, becoming the sport we know today. After establishing the Unified Rules of MMA in 2001, the Championship elected to abide by the regulations, laying its groundwork to become what it is today.
We’re on to another of our UFC betting tips: reading and interpreting the odds. Before you can start wagering on the fights, you need to know how to read the odds and use them to your advantage.
Like many other sports, the negative value represents the favorite in UFC betting odds. Underdogs, on the other hand, have a higher number, usually indicated by a plus sign.
For example, let’s say that Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov goes up against the insane Conor “The Notorious One” McGregor. Nurmagomedov is one of the most successful, undefeated MMA fighters, and his Sambo techniques have left many a combatant – McGregor included – on the floor.
However, by Nurmagomedov’s admission, Connor is the fighter who poses the biggest challenge. Now, let’s imagine that you get the following UFC betting odds for this fight:
The Eagle, being undefeated, would naturally be the favorite. However, McGregor is no slouch, and he’d be a hard underdog to keep down.
Now, let’s say you're going to be betting on UFC matches between these two combatants. If you wagered $100 on McGregor, you could win $110 if he’s victorious. However, if you bet on Nurmagomedov, you’d need to put down $150 to win another $100.
While it’s essential to understand the odds as part of knowing how to bet on UFC, you also need to know what types of bets you can place:
Also called match betting, a moneyline wager is probably the simplest type of bet to understand. You need only pick a winner, and if your mauler walks away with the victory, you’ll get your cash. The UFC betting odds for these matches are rather average unless there’s a clear favorite.
Over/Under bets are relatively easy wagers to place when betting on UFC fights. A bookie will list a particular time, and you need to bet on whether the fight will end before or after the named period.
For example, the Nurmagomedov-McGregor match would likely get a 1.5 round Over Under, since both fighters are aggressive. The fight must end before 2.5 minutes in the second round to win this bet as an under bet. For an over wager, the match must cross the 2.5-minute mark in round two.
You might see Over Under 2.5 round listings, meaning that the bout must pass or end by the third round’s 2.5-minute mark.
Finally, you’ll see Over Under 3.5 round, which means that the match must cross the halfway mark in the fourth round. This listing is standard for championship matches, and you should shop around for the best UFC betting odds before wagering.
There are a lot of different types of prop bets. If you want to have some fun, you need to know how to bet on UFC events that fall under this category.
For example, you can bet on whether a fight will “Go the Distance.” That means that the match needs to last the full five rounds.
You can also wager on “Inside the Distance.” Like the bet mentioned above, this type means that you need to bet on your UFC pick to win within a certain number of rounds.
Round and Method of Victory bets may also be considered prop wagers. Keep in mind that the UFC betting odds for prop bets are usually quite risky. You’ll have to shop around to get the best ones and compare different sportsbooks before making a wager.
However, these longer UFC odds can also result in lucrative wins. Don’t shy away from prop bets entirely; just make informed decisions.
A Round, or Total Rounds bet requires a bettor to pick the round they think the match will end in. There are five rounds, and you need to select just the round, not a specific time. For example, if you think that Nurmagomedov will drop McGregor in the fourth round, he’s your UFC pick for the Round Bet.
If you want to learn how to bet on UFC fights, you need to know your fighters. These men and women follow different disciplines, and each one prefers to end their matches uniquely.
Try to get a good idea of how each fighter prefers to end a matchup. It’s one of the best UFC betting tips we can give.
You can’t determine your UFC picks if you don’t know how fighters like to drop their opponents. There are four ways a match can end:
Depending on a fighter’s style, he might prefer a knockout over a submission, while others might find themselves locked in battle until the judges render a decision.
A knockout is self-explanatory, and we shouldn’t need to go over it again as part of our ‘How to Bet on UFC’ guide. For those who don’t know, a knockout means that one of the combatants gets knocked unconscious, ending the fight.
A TKO means that both fighters remain conscious. However, if one fighter can no longer defend themselves against oncoming blows, the referee ends the fight.
When understanding how to bet on UFC fights, know this: few things are more embarrassing for a fighter than defeat by submission. Essentially, a fighter needs to tap to signal their loss. For many, this is admitting defeat and giving up – not a common habit amongst competitors.
If a fight comes down to a decision, the judges score the match based on specific criteria, before picking a winner.
For a Method of Victory bet, you simply need to pick how you think a match will end.
There’s nothing like the thrill of placing live bets. However, before you start making these wagers, here’s another of our UFC betting tips:
Prepare. If there’s one thing you need to know about how to bet on UFC, it’s that the matches are incredibly fast-paced. They’re violent, unpredictable, and quick, much like the fighters themselves. While it might sound like fun, these types of wagers are just going to drain your bank like money-sucking black holes.
However, if you’re familiar with how to bet on UFC fights, and you already have your picks for every match, live betting can be very lucrative. You’ll have to make a few predictions of your own and go into the fight armed with as much knowledge as you can gather.
The in-fight betting options are much the same as the regular types of bets. You’ll find betting markets like Fight Result, Round Betting, Over/Under, and Method of Victory.
Now that you know one of the most crucial things about how to bet on UFC matches during play, you need to know where you can place your wagers. Some of the best options would be BetMGM, FanDuel, and DraftKings.
As the name implies, this type of bet allows you to pick the season’s future champion. However, it involves taking quite a significant risk. You’ll need to make several UFC predictions as you try to figure out how different match-ups will end. If you’re lucky, you can speculate which fighter will come out on top, several matches in advance.
More than any other type of bet, Future Champion requires bettors to have an extremely in-depth knowledge of different players and how different UFC picks might play out. Then they need to use that knowledge to make as informed a guess as possible.
Rank | UFC Sportsbooks | Welcome Offer | Legal States | Bet Now |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | BetMGM Visit Review | Risk-Free Bet up to $600 T&C’s Apply, 21+ | Available in CO, IA, IN, MI, NJ, NV, PA, TN, VA, WV | |
2. | PointsBet Visit Review | 2 Risk Free Bets to $2,000 T&C’s Apply, 21+ | Available in CO, IA, IN, IL, MI, NJ | |
3. | WynnBet Visit Review | Up To A $500 Risk-Free Bet T&C’s Apply, 21+ | Available in CO, MI, NJ |
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For our guide about how to bet on UFC, we’ve gathered some of the best tricks to get you started.
Here are some of our top UFC betting tips to help you get the most out of every wager:
Knowing your fighters is, by far, the most critical UFC betting tip we can give.
The Championship was born because experienced combatants worldwide wanted to prove that their style was the best. The different disciplines include everything from boxing to wrestling and everything in between. If you don’t study the fighters before you start wagering, you’ll never learn how to bet on UFC.
Before you make any picks, look at historical records. For example, wrestling has produced more champions than any other fighting style. It’s almost become the required base for any serious and well-rounded fighter. That’s something to keep in mind when you make your UFC predictions.
Another thing you need to know is how combatants prefer to end their fights. Do they go for the knockout, or do they like to force a submission? When you learn how to bet on UFC matches, this knowledge can differentiate between a good and lousy pick.
Finally, you should also know how a combatant chooses to fight. Are they fast and accurate, or do they prefer to stay stationary and hand out powerful blows? Knowing a fighter’s style and track record will give you a better chance of making accurate UFC predictions and picking winners.
Another one of our essential UFC betting tips is to watch out for the Southpaws. These fighters tend to stand with their left foot forward and have a powerful punch on that side. This throws most fighters for a loop, which is why Conor McGregor is such a powerful competitor, and he’s one of the top UFC picks for many bettors.
Betting on the favorites might be safe, but you won’t make much unless you’re putting down a few hundred dollars. On the other hand, wagering on an underdog comes with its own set of risks. That said, it’s been known for underdogs in the UFC to make significant impacts. Study a fighter’s track record and judge them on that rather than how new they are to the sport.
If you want to know how to bet on UFC on the go, we’ve got you covered. There are several amazing mobile apps available to American players so that you can get your UFC odds or place bets from anywhere, at any time.
Our top five apps are:
FanDuel and DraftKings have long been industry leaders, and when it comes to betting on the Championship via mobile, it’s no different. Their applications are easily accessible, show their UFC odds clearly, and provide excellent gambling experiences to US bettors.
BetMGM and PointsBet also have top-notch apps available, giving you quick access to updated odds and matches if you need to know how to bet on UFC on any given day.
Finally, we have BetRivers. While the app is also one of the best ones out there for UFC betting, it’s not available in all states yet. Here are other great UFC betting apps along with the best places to get sportsbook bonus codes.
There’s an insane amount of UFC predictions and betting strategies available, and everyone has an opinion.
For newbies who are learning how to bet on UFC fights, the information might be overwhelming. Don’t worry, though. Our guide will help you with a few top tips for the best strategies.
As we mentioned before, study a fighter’s track record. If he/she’s on a roll, they’re likely to have a strong chance to continue winning.
For example, Nurmagomedov has a clear history of success, and he’s the top undefeated MMA fighter. He always prepares for his fights, takes time to heal, and prepares for the specific countries and environments he’s to fight in. These are all excellent traits that a fighter must exhibit, and things you need to consider when learning how to bet on UFC fights.
It’s essential to do a lot of research if you want to know how to bet on UFC matches successfully. That means you’ll likely have to skip out on some fights, but that’s alright. It’s better to take your time and ensure that you have the right information, rather than making a pointless wager.
If you still have questions about betting on UFC fights, don’t worry. We’ve assembled a few of the most frequently asked questions about odds, tips, and more.
It depends on which betting sites are legal in your area. Popular options often include DraftKings, PointsBet, and BetMGM.
Before joining any of these betting sites, make sure that they have the markets you’re looking for and preferred UFC betting odds. It’s also important to check that they’re licensed and regulated. While we always recommend reputable providers, you must choose one that you trust.
Yes. There are no specific rules that cover betting on UFC matches. As a result, you can legally place wagers on any fights if sports betting is legal. In other words, if you can bet on any other sports from your location or country, UFC betting would also be permitted.
Of course! Your most popular betting options outside of the UFC would be regular Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) tournaments or boxing (SBL). Each one has a few traits that make them unique, but all of them offer exciting betting opportunities for anyone interested in wagering on fights.
Though the Ultimate Fighting Championship isn’t the bloody sport it used to be, there’s nothing quite like watching two experienced fighters beat each other into submission. Better still is knowing how to bet on UFC fights and putting your knowledge of the sport to use.
Whether you’re an old hand at placing these wagers or just learning how to bet on UFC matches, just remember this guide’s tips. If you know the cage’s rules and your fighters, you’re already off to a strong start.
Without a thorough understanding of both these things, you’ll never understand how to make accurate UFC predictions or select the best pics.
However, you also need to know about the different types of bets you can place, and which strategies to use. With our lists of betting tips and tricks, you’re well on your way to learning how to bet on UFC fights like a pro.