The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) stands as the heavyweight champion of mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion. For nearly 21 years, the UFC has dominated the MMA sector, elevating the sport into a beloved spectacle where many fans eagerly place their bets. Maybe they’ve just accepted that getting your bell rung and seeing stars is part of the package — who knows? But let’s not linger over that for now.
So, betting on a UFC fight can be a real head-scratcher. Yes, I know, everyone does. With various weight classes for both men and women, predicting the outcome before the fighters even step into the octagon is as if you’re trying to predict the weather in Antarctica — highly unpredictable! Sometimes matches end in draws, and champs get served a humble pie by a newbie. That’s the UFC for you — full of surprises!
To make your life a tad simpler, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide on how to find your way through the complexities of betting on UFC.
One of the most confusing parts of UFC betting is interpreting those numbers tagged onto a fighter’s name. Even the dinosaurs of the business still crack their heads to understand UFC betting odds.
I will explain some of the main UFC odds to you. Regardless of the fact that these odds might vary depending on where you’re betting from, rest assured you will walk away with something.
Hoi mate, this type of UFC betting odds is used mostly in the two regions where you would hear the language I am currently using, the United Kingdom and Ireland. Sounds cool innit?
Well, Blud, Fractional Odds express the potential gain/profits against your stake if your prediction is correct. For instance, if you bet $1 on odds of 2/1, you’ll pocket $3 – $2 in profit plus your original $1 stake. Don’t be deceived because, as simple as it might sound, fractional odds are the most difficult to use when betting on UFC.
The second one, blud, but I have to betray you here because I must say the moneyline odds are the coolest and majorly an American thing.
That is the naked truth, buddy, as the simplest type of odds to understand for beginners is usually the Moneyline Odds. They are straightforward as they simply represent who is the favorite and who is the underdog in a fight. The favorite is marked with a minus sign (-), and the underdog with a plus sign (+). Here’s an example: If a fighter has -10 odds, you’d have to wager $10 to win $8.
On the contrary, if a fighter has positive odds of +200, you would win $200 on a $100 bet.
This simplicity makes Moneyline Odds a good starting point for beginner bettors. However, it’s not a call for you to relax because it is important for you to understand all types of odds as you get more involved in UFC betting.
Now we are en Europe. These Decimal Odds are shown using decimals, for example, 2.1 or 4.0. The decimals show your potential winning (your bet and profit inclusive) for every 1 Dollar, Euro, or Pound bet placed. Intéressant. Let’s use a real-life example: Chris Duncan has odds of around 2.1 while Manuel Torres has odds of around 1.87. When you place a €1 bet on the underdog (2.1, Chris Duncan), it returns a total payout of €2.1.
Calculating your winnings with decimal odds is pretty simple. Here’s how it works: Let’s say you want to bet €20 at odds of 3.0. First, you multiply your stake by the decimal odds, which gives you (3.0 * €20) = €60. Then, you subtract your initial stake from this total, so €60 - €20 = €40 in winnings.
With decimal odds, the lower number usually indicates the favorite because it means a lower total payout. On the flip side, the higher number signifies the underdog because it offers a higher potential payout for the same stake.
In a fight between Chris Duncan and Manuel Torres. Chris Duncan is considered the underdog because the betting market considers him less likely to win. Voilà!
To bet on adults trying to knock themselves out, UFC offers different types of bets. Here, we will discuss 6 of the most popular ones.
Many bettors on UFC fights prepare for live bettings because they can easily tell who will win the round or the next round by looking at the first few punches at the beginning. Once live betting begins, other betting options may close, leaving live betting as the sole option.
To succeed in live betting, you must act swiftly to gauge which fighter has the upper hand in the round you’re interested in and place your bet promptly.
Note that not all pre-fight betting options necessarily close once live betting starts. Some bookmakers may allow certain types of bets, such as method of victory or round betting, to remain open after the fight begins. The availability of these bets during the fight can vary depending on the bookmaker’s rules.
Many bettors lean towards the moneyline when one of the fighters boasts an undefeated record or has fewer losses compared to their opponent. In this type of bet, bettors simply predict the fighter they believe has a greater potential. There are only two possible outcomes, and if the fighter you choose emerges victorious, you cash in on your bet.
This is where you bet on how the fight will end — will it be a submission, a judge’s decision, or a knockout/technical knockout? To make a good guess, you’ll need to do some homework. Some bookmakers may further slit these methods even to make the odds much longer.
When researching, pay attention to the fighters’ fighting styles, especially if you’re not already familiar with them. Their approach in the ring can provide clues about how the fight might end. Additionally, consider how they’ve won previous fights. Bettors who place this type of bet could find themselves with big payouts, especially when bookmakers offer detailed breakdowns of the methods of victory.
Placing your bet on the “go the distance” type of bet, you say that a fighter will last for the entire round of the match. You lose money if the fighter submits, gets disqualified, or is knocked out by any method. Otherwise, you will be paid. The odds are straightforward.
In the “total rounds” bet, you have no business knowing which fighter will win a match. All you have to do is predict how many rounds the fight will go on for. But there is a catch: UFC uses the Over-Under format for this type of bet. Let’s say the bookmaker sets the line at 1.5 rounds, you have two options:
Not all bookmakers offer this type of bet because many bettors avoid this type of bet. But those who have the stomach for this type of bet are in to make real money. Combo bets involve making multiple predictions about a single fight.
For example, you might predict not only who will win the fight but also the round in which they’ll win and the method they’ll use to secure their victory. While it’s a tall order to get all these predictions right if you do, you could be looking at a big bag. So, if you’ve got the guts for it and your predictions are spot on, you could be the next big winner in UFC betting. Or maybe the next “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” champion?
It is very unwise to just place a bet on a fighter without knowing anything about them except you are one of Pablo Escobar’s great great great great great grandkids, and he willed some storage drums of cash to you, buried under Mr. Miguel’s cornfield. See what you need to do before putting your money down.
Before you put any money down on a fighter, do some digging into their fighting background. Compare them to other fighters, analyze their stats, and do whatever abracadabra you need to do. Look at their win-loss records and how they’ve been performing lately. Your goal is to get the full treasure chest of information before making your bet.
Sure, I won’t deny it — looks do not necessarily mean one will win or lose a fight. However, a fighter with a longer reach will definitely have more advantage because they will be able to keep their opponent at a distance while landing strikes. And for grappling or clinching, a bigger fighter often has the preeminence.
External factors you must consider include fight camp, new trainers, and injuries. If a fighter has a reputable coaching and training team, that’s a good sign. Nonetheless, if a fighter recently changed coach or trainer, the chances that the fighter is still adjusting to new tactics are high — not always a good sign. If a fighter just recovered from injury, think twice. All these external factors will help you narrow your options.
Knowing the fighting style of the fighters in a match can help you know which fighter has an advantage over the other. A fighter who is good at striking may perform less than a fighter who is good at grappling. Once the grappler can put the striker on the ground, it may be a game over.
UFC fighting is not just about who’s the strongest or has the flashiest fighting style. I am saying this for cases where competitors’ strengths and styles are similar to each other. The difference in such cases will be their intelligence. A more intelligent fighter will make better tactical decisions during the match that will be more advantageous in taking their opponent down.
The best way to be informed about UFC activities is to keep track of fight schedules and cards. There could be changes in the fight lineup, and you must monitor these changes. Also, you ought to be informed of updates leading up to the event. The UFC website and UFC forums are among the best places to get information that will keep you updated.
If you want to be smart about your UFC betting and come out on top, you need to have a solid bankroll management plan. There are loads of great apps out there to help you.
Start by setting a budget for how much you’re willing to throw on betting. Then, decide how much you’ll bet on each wager based on that budget. And most importantly, resist the urge to chase losses when bad days come by. With the bankroll management app, you will be taught how to practice responsible betting and how to stay in control of your finances.
When I say have a sportsbook, we are not saying have just any sportsbook as your favorite. You need to get a reputable one that you can count on, not just for now but for the future, too. Take your time to research your options before deciding.
And if you find that the one you’ve chosen isn’t cutting it, don’t hesitate to switch things up and try another one. It is also okay to get two sportsbooks. You can keep one by the side for odd comparison purposes or as a backup. Just make sure you understand and stick to the terms and conditions of whichever sportsbook you’re using.
Before placing your bets, there are five common mistakes you should avoid so that you can have fewer “earth-open-up-and-swallow-me” days. Pay attention as you check them out below:
It is very important that, as a UFC bettor, you remove emotion from your betting. You may have a “preference” for certain fighters, but that “preference” cannot win the fight.
Sometimes, because you lost certain bets, you would want to follow your emotions to bet more so that you can recover your money. Bad idea. When betting, your actions should be based on rational analysis, and emotion should be kept afar.
Blind Betting is a classic blunder that many UFC bettors fall into. Some bet blindly because one of the fighters is a big and popular name, and you just think they will win because of their “name.” News flash: big name is not what wins a fight in UFC. UFC is damn unpredictable, even when you look at it from the common eye. If you don’t see it, maybe try to adjust your lens.
To make smart bets, you need to do a deep analysis and compare stats. Another big mistake is betting without really knowing the fighters yourself, which we have discussed before. You bet just because a friend told you to bet on a certain fighter. You don’t even know what you are doing. You are playing with fire.
There is a reason why we spoke about having a bankroll management plan. Some may just read it and decide to use it because a lot of people are talking about it, and after some time, they will stop following its principles. That is very dangerous.
There are many forums on different platforms where UFC matches are talked about and dissected. When you brush off or ignore these discussions, it is a big error on your path. I am not saying you have to blindly follow the crowd, but by listening to what others are saying, you can draw wisdom and golden insights to inform your betting decisions — maybe not today, but someday.
And if the general consensus aligns with your own analysis, it can give you an extra boost of confidence when placing your bets.
Phew, we made it to the end. I’ve been itching for someone to punch throughout this read. Seriously though, if you still make any of those mistakes or ignore the advice on how to succeed at UFC betting, I might have to step in and give you a gentle reminder punch.
How would I find you? Okay, I will simply contact your local police or somehow, anyhow. What I know is that I will find you, and I will… Just kidding — I trust you’ve got a good head start on things now and are ready to tackle UFC betting in sort of the pro way.
Alright, buddy, stay focused, do your research, and bet smart — after all, it’s your money on the line. Don’t let anyone steer you wrong with their predictions.
