How to Bet on UFC Fights

Now that full-scale sports betting is legal in many states, MMA betting, especially on UFC events, has become more popular than ever before. However, if you are new to UFC betting or to sports betting in general, you might find the number of UFC fight betting lines and the range of different UFC betting options available to you overwhelming. In fact, most betting sites offer the same popular betting options, such as moneyline betting and parlay and prop betting, that are typically available in other betting markets, in MMA and UFC betting as well.

By the way, throughout this article, you will find the terms MMA and UFC used frequently. Many people use these two terms interchangeably, but they are not synonymous. MMA is short for mixed martial arts, which refers to the actual sport. UFC stands for Ultimate Fighting Championship, which is the name of the Las Vegas-based organization established in 1993 to promote MMA fights. Because UFC fights, especially major UFC events such as title fights, are the most heavily publicized, they attract the most betting interest.

Given the plethora of UFC betting sites nowadays and the many different ways to bet on each UFC fight, we think you will find this comprehensive MMA betting guide indispensable. Understanding how the betting odds work and using a proven money-making betting strategy is just as important in picking the winner of a UFC fight as in handicapping any other sports. This article on how to bet on UFC fights will show you how to find the best UFC betting sites and betting lines, and lists the important factors to consider when comparing UFC fighters. Many sports bettors prefer the added convenience that online sportsbooks offer.

We provide all of the basic information you will need to place real money bets on the UFC online with confidence.

What bets can you make on UFC?

The types of bets you can make on a UFC fight night depend on the online sportsbook and might also vary with the fight’s relative importance. For example, title fights tend to have the most betting options. However, at the best online betting sites, the UFC betting options usually include all of the following types of bets:

Odds to win the fight (moneyline betting)

These are wagers with varying odds on which of the two fighters you think will win a particular match. Usually, the betting odds show one fighter as the favorite and the other as the underdog, but occasionally, a fight will have two evenly matched opponents, so the line will be “pick ‘em.” Here is an example to show how the betting odds for a moneyline bet work.

Suppose fighter A has been consistently dominating the competition. His last four bouts have not only been quick and decisive victories, but three of them were TKOs. Fighter B, on the other hand, has had an illustrious career with multiple titles under his belt, but lately, he has been in a slump. He is hoping this UFC fight will show that he is still a strong force to be reckoned with in the ring.
Based on the above information, the oddsmaker does not think fighter B has much of a chance to defeat fighter A, as reflected in the following UFC betting odds:

• Fighter A: -400
• Fighter B: +275

Before you saw the UFC betting odds, fighter A looked like the obvious bet. Now you have a dilemma. Are you willing to risk $400 to win $100 on this wager? Upsets do occur. On the other hand, the odds on fighter B look tempting, but the probability is high that the bet will lose. Accordingly, your best bet might be to pass this matchup and look for other upcoming UFC events with more competitive odds on both fighters.

Some sportsbooks offer three-way moneylines on MMA fights, with the third option being that the fight will end in a draw. However, draws do not happen often, as reflected in long odds and high potential payouts.

Round betting (over/under bets)

Rather than betting on which fighter will win, another popular UFC online betting option is whether the total number of rounds that the fight will last will go over or under a designated number.

However, you should not be surprised if the odds are different on the two alternatives. If the fight involves two evenly matched opponents and/or both fighters are known for their defensive tactics, expect to see shorter odds on the over, which is also probably the right bet. There is a good chance that the fight will continue longer than expected.

The reverse would be true if one or both fighters are very aggressive and/or one fighter is a heavy favorite. Given that scenario, expect the fight to end early and lean toward the under, even with shorter odds.

Method of victory prop betting

If you want more action and the prospect of getting a large payout on a small investment appeals to you, UFC prop bets are another betting option to consider. For example, you can wager on the method of victory, picking one of the following:

• Knockout/TKO/DQ
• Submission
• Decision

Parlays

A parlay bet is a single wager on more than one MMA fight outcome. The more components you include in your parlay, the greater the return if you win. However, every leg of the parlay must win for you to cash your bet.

Futures

As in other sports, you can make futures bets on major UFC events, including title fights, way in advance of the bet being decided. The odds on futures bets are subject to frequent changes.

Live Betting

Yet another betting option is to place bets on fights while they are taking place. If you are attending a fight in person, watching on TV, or live streaming, you might spot additional betting opportunities that you would like to take advantage of after the fight has already started. The best UFC betting sites offer that option.

Much like you can place live bets in other sports like football and basketball, you can do likewise during UFC fights. However, you need to act very quickly because UFC betting lines continually change based on the action so far.

States where online UFC betting is legal

As of this writing, online UFC betting is legal in the following 22 states plus Washington, D.C.

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Nevada (BetMGM only)
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• Ohio
• Oregon (DraftKings only)
• Pennsylvania
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• Washington, D.C.
• West Virginia
• Wyoming

A few more states are expected to legalize online sports betting shortly. So, if your state is not on the above list, keep checking.

However, you do not necessarily have to live in the state where you open an online sports betting account as long as you are physically situated there when wagering.

Tested UFC betting tips to win

Making winning bets on UFC fights, like any other form of sports betting, entails a combination of luck and skill. There is a lot to learn, so you should not expect to master UFC betting strategy and become a proficient handicapper overnight.

But the more MMA fights you watch and the more knowledgeable you become about the strengths and weaknesses of different fighters, the more successful you will be at spotting patterns and value bets.

Here are 10 tested UFC betting tips to help get you started on a winning track.

1. Be selective.

The first betting tip is not exclusive to UFC betting but applies to all types of sports betting. Do not bet on every matchup or simply because you want the action. Your bankroll will last longer if you choose your UFC picks carefully.

2. Look for betting value.

Avoid betting on heavy favorites. Upsets do occur. Even one loss on a very high-priced favorite can play havoc with your bankroll.

3. Do your homework.

There is a wealth of relevant information online that is yours for the taking, so the extra time you set aside to do thorough research on the fighters is time well spent. Among the important factors to consider are each fighter’s strengths and weaknesses. If their fighting styles are different (i.e., one UFC fighter tends to deliver frequent punches while the other is adept at wrestling), how do their different styles of fighting match up? Also, compare their performance records and the strength of the competition, and consider the possible effect of any recent injuries and where the fight will be taking place.

4. Win-Loss records are important, but they do not tell the whole story.

A long string of victories might not be as impressive as it looks on paper if they were against weaker competition and the fighter is now stepping sharply up in class.

5. Method of victory can be handicapped based on clues from the participants’ previous fights.

Method of victory bets do not require picking which of the two fighters will win. However, your success with this bet type will improve if you do some background research on each fighter’s style of combat and how well it matches up against his opponent’s style. Furthermore, if you see a certain pattern in the manner in which the combatants’ previous fights were won, there is a good chance that the same method of victory will repeat itself. When their fight history shows most fights lasting the full three or five rounds, consider a bet on a decision victory. But consider a bet on a knockout with fighters whose recent performance history includes other knockouts.

6. The total number of rounds is also strongly influenced by the style of fighting.

When making over/under bets on the number of rounds, if both fighters use a defensive style, lean toward the over. But lean toward the under, assuming the fight will end quickly if it involves two aggressive fighters.

7. Having a long-arm reach gives some fighters a big edge over their opponents.

A fighter with very long arms can repeatedly strike an opponent successfully without getting too close to him.

8. Being left handed might be advantageous, too.

If one fighter is left handed, that could give him a significant edge over a right-handed fighter who might not be accustomed to defending himself against southpaws.

9. Pre Fight weigh-ins are important.

MMA fighters have to meet designated weigh-in requirements. If a fighter is undernourished and dehydrated from needing to drop a lot of weight during the final days leading up to the fight, he might be too weak to withstand the punches from his opponent, and susceptible to a knockout.

10. Injuries, inactivity, and a recent knockout are other factors that can adversely affect a fighter’s chances.

Be sure to stay well-informed about fighters’ injuries and how they might impact their performance. Also, if any fighter has an extended time of inactivity since the last bout – whether due to injury, contract negotiations, canceled fights, or any other reason – he could be rusty.

If a fighter’s last bout was a defeat by knockout, aside from any residual physical injuries, any knockout loss has to take its toll on the person mentally. Betting on that fighter to win his next fight outright is probably not a good idea. He might lack the confidence to put forth his best effort.

How to bet real money on UFC fights Online