Close Menu
    Join LowPlays

    LowPlays UFC Betting Guide

    Are you looking for the best online betting site with competitive odds for MMA fights?

    The four biggest major league sports (NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB) and NCAA football and basketball only begin to scratch the surface of the many different sports you can bet on at licensed online sportsbooks now operating in many states. This article will introduce you to another competitive sport that has become increasingly popular, now that you can bet on it – UFC fights.

    UFC is the abbreviation for Ultimate Fighting Championship, the name of an organization based in Las Vegas that promotes mixed martial arts (MMA) fights. The participants range from relatively unknown fighters with little professional experience to the top names in the sport, including current and aspiring title holders. As you would expect, title fights are by far the most heavily promoted and bet, but sportsbooks post betting odds on many lesser fights, too.

    Whether you are already a fan or this is a sport you would like to learn more about, this comprehensive but easy-to-follow UFC betting guide is must-reading. We will give you all the basic information you need to help you zero in on the best UFC betting opportunities and sites.

    UFC Betting Season

    Whereas most other sports you can bet on at American sportsbooks have different leagues, each of which plays during a specific season, UFC fights take place all year long. Two very different types of fights comprise the action-packed UFC schedule:

    • UFC Numbered Events

    These heavily promoted marquee events feature the top names in the sport and therefore generate a lot of betting interest, even among casual fans. However, leading up to the main event, the multi-fight card also includes other bouts Typically, one or two UFC numbered events take place every month. If you want to watch, you can do so via pay-per-view TV.

    •  UFC Fight Nights

    These weekly events provide an opportunity for up-and-coming fighters with limited professional experience and others who are past their heyday but trying to make a comeback to move up in the rankings. UFC fight nights typically take place on Saturday nights. However, when a numbered event is scheduled for a Saturday, fight nights can be switched to a different night.

    Recommended UFC Betting Sites

    Even if you are a seasoned sports bettor, you might have little or no UFC betting experience. Therefore, the ideal online sportsbook would be one that not only covers UFC fights extensively but also includes specific information on how to bet on this sport. The following sportsbooks are not only available in many states but do an excellent job on both criteria. They are the best online sportsbooks and mobile apps for betting on UFC fights.

    • DraftKings
    • FanDuel
    • BetMGM

    If you want to try your hand at UFC betting, you won’t go wrong with any of these online sportsbooks, and because shopping around for the best lines is also advisable, signing up with all three is a great idea. However, for UFC and MMA betting specifically, I rate DraftKings No. 1, especially if you are a beginner.

    For starters, the list of events and betting options is as extensive as you will find anywhere. I also like DraftKings’ user-friendly use of clearly labeled headings for each of the many different betting options, so despite the plethora of possibilities, you can make your selections quickly and easily.

    gET bONUS

    Best of all, the comprehensive yet easy-to-follow How to Bet 101 section not only describes the different kinds of bets and how to make them but also contains separate betting guides for different sports. The MMA Betting Guide includes descriptions of this sport’s most popular bet types along with a few useful betting tips.

    Types of Bets

    The best UFC betting sites not only accept action on a large number of diverse fights but also offer extensive choices in the types of bets you can make. If you are new to UFC betting, upon first sight, the presence of so many choices might seem a tad overwhelming. However, it won’t be for long. That is because many of the same types of bets you can make in other sports are also offered for UFC fights. You also have other betting options, unique to this sport.

    The most common bet types for UFC fights that DraftKings and other leading UFC betting sites offer are described below.

    Moneylines

    A moneyline wager is simply a bet on who you think will be the outright winner of the contest. Other variables like the duration of the event and the margin of victory are immaterial. A win is a win, whether it is a one-sided contest where the outcome is never in doubt or a close hard-fought battle. Also, above all else, the number 1 goal of every participant and every bettor is to win. Therefore, much like moneyline bets are a popular option in other sports like football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, and tennis, the first opinion that a UFC fan will probably have on a fight is who is going to win it.

    Most fights have both a designated favorite and a designated underdog. Using American odds, the favorite, which is preceded by a minus sign, is expressed as the amount of money the bettor must risk for every $100 he or she hopes to win. The underdog, which is preceded by a plus sign, is expressed as the amount of profit the bettor would make on a winning bet of $100.

    On paper, some fights look like mismatches, as reflected in a much higher price for the favorite than most bettors would be willing to risk. Occasionally, however, the two fighters are too evenly matched to readily justify naming either one the favorite over the other, in which case, the odds are pick’em or -110 for each fighter.

    For example, at the time of this writing, DraftKings Sportsbook posted the following very different moneyline odds on two upcoming marquee events.

    • Makhachev -625
      Poirier +455
    • McGregor -105
      Chandler -105

    Total Number of Rounds

    This type of wager is analogous to an over/under wager in other sports. But instead of making an over/under bet on the number of points, runs, or goals, your bet is on whether the number of rounds a fight will last will be over or under the designated number.

    Many UFC fights show the O/U line for the number of rounds as 2.5. The use of decimals prevents a push. In this case, a bet on the over would win if the fight lasts three rounds or longer. Conversely, a bet on the under would win if the fight terminates after one or two rounds.

    Method of Victory

    This type of bet is unique to combat sports. Your task is to predict whether the victory will be by submission, knockout (also covering TKO and DQ), or the judge’s decision. You can also make a combined bet on the method of victory and the round when it occurs. If the method of victory is a wager you are considering, I recommend doing some background research beforehand on both fighters. A pattern might emerge from their previous fights.

    Prop Bets

    While the above are the three most basic types of bets you can make on UFC fights, there are various prop bets you can also make. These are bets on specific outcomes not related to which fighter ultimately wins. Here are a few examples.

    • Will the fight include the start of round X (2, 3, 4, or 5 – Y or N)?
    • During which round (1, 2, 3, 4, or 5) will the fight end?
    • Will the fight go the distance (Y or N)?

    Parlays

    A parlay is a single bet combining two or more independent outcomes. The payoff is higher than if you bet the same amount on each outcome separately, so it is a very popular form of betting. Many bettors like to take a shot with elaborate multileg parlays, in the hope of making a killing. But while it is true that the potential payouts can be huge, the more components you add, the harder it is to win. That is because every leg of the parlay must win or the whole wager goes down.

    Parlays including UFC outcomes can include different fights (i.e., other fights on the same card as the main event) or even different sports as the components. Or, as with same game parlays (SGPs), all of the components can apply to the same fight. If you need help deciding, you can choose one of your favorite sportsbook’s suggested parlays. Or, if you prefer, you can select the components yourself.

    Futures

    If you have a strong opinion about a particular upcoming fight, you don’t have to wait until the day of the event or even the same week to place your bet. Sportsbooks post odds on major fights far in advance. Keep in mind that all odds are subject to change. You might get better odds by betting early but not necessarily.

    Live or In-Play Betting

    Thanks to the live betting option – placing bets on a sporting event that is already in progress – if you failed to get your bet in before the fight started or you want to increase or hedge your bet or make other bets later, no problem. Ideally, you are watching the fight and following the action closely to help you use the live betting option more advantageously. Just keep in mind that live odds can change in a heartbeat, so the ability to act fast is essential. I recommend live betting for experienced UFC bettors only.

    History of the UFC

    The UFC is a Las Vegas-based company founded by Art Davie, Ronon Gracie, and Bob Meyrowitz. It was created in 1993 to promote mixed martial arts (MMA) fights.

    The first UFC event (designated UFC 1) took place on November 12, 1993 in Denver. Unlike today’s UFC fights where the main attraction consists of just two competitors, this event combined different forms of martial arts with eight fighters competing in a single elimination tournament. The winner was Royce Gracie, a jiu-jitsu competitor from Brazil and the brother of UFC cofounder Ronon Gracie. He won the title by defeating three different fighters all in one night. Royce Gracie is now installed in the UFC Hall of Fame.

    Unfortunately, during the early years of the UFC, while the multi-discipline tournaments generated a lot of publicity, the absence of appropriate rules and regulations (i.e., low blows, hair pulling, and head butts were all permitted) led to many brutal fights.

    As a result, the UFC’s image became tarnished. The major cable companies discontinued showing the programs and videotapes of the events were not available for sale either. However, eventually, the UFC, facing increasing political pressure to improve the safety of the sport, did implement new rules, not only making certain types of hits like head butts and groin shots illegal but also adding weight divisions and making the use of gloves mandatory.

    In January 2001, the Las Vegas-based company Zuffa, LLC (founders include Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta) purchased the UFC and made rebuilding its image as a fan-friendly sport its top priority. Soon afterward, major fights were back on pay-per-view. Subsequently, the UFC acquired other MMA promotion companies to become the leading promoter of professional martial arts competitions worldwide.

    UFC Weight Divisions

    The UFC currently uses five different weight classifications:

    • Lightweight – 146 to 155 lbs.
    • Welterweight – 156 to 170 lbs.
    • Middleweight – 171 to 185 lbs.
    • Light Heavyweight – 186 to 205 lbs.
    • Heavyweight – 206 to 265 lbs.

    The requirement that participants can only compete against fighters in the same weight group protects the integrity of the sport and helps to ensure a fair playing field for all competitors.

    How Long Does a UFC Fight Last?

    All UFC fights are divided into rounds, each of which is five minutes long followed by a one-minute rest period. Non-championship fights that go the distance end after three complete rounds, while the maximum duration for title fights is five rounds.

    Thus, the maximum duration (including rest periods) of a UFC fight where there is no title on the line is 17 minutes, and the maximum duration of a UFC championship fight (including rest periods) is 29 minutes. However, some UFC fights do not continue for the maximum number of complete rounds but end earlier due to submission, knockout (KO), technical knockout (TKO), or a fighter being disqualified (DQ).

    A knockout occurs when a fighter is knocked down and cannot get up after 10 seconds. A technical knockout occurs when a referee decides that in the interest of a participant’s safety, the fight must be terminated immediately.

    UFC Betting Tips

    As with any sport, becoming proficient in handicapping UFC fights takes time, study, and practice. Especially if you are a beginner, do not expect to develop these skills overnight. But here are five easy-to-incorporate UFC betting tips that I think can significantly improve any bettor’s bottom line.

    Start slowly

    Some matchups might look lopsided on paper, but no fight outcome is a sure thing. Therefore, overbetting your bankroll on any play is a big no-no.

    Look for value

    Another sure road to the poorhouse is to spread yourself too thin with too many bets. Avoid the temptation to make a bet regardless of the odds just because you want to watch the fight on TV. Betting on extremely high-priced favorites is especially risky because even one loss can play havoc with your bankroll. Pick your spots carefully instead, and shop around at different sportsbooks to grab the best odds possible.

    Stick to the basics

    Your best bets are the simple ones – a moneyline bet on the winner and the method of victory and an over/under bet on the number of rounds. Avoid the temptation to shoot for the moon with highly specific props and multi-leg parlays. These bets rarely win.

    Learn from the experts

    These are professional handicappers whose analyses and predictions can be very helpful. But rather than follow them blindly, strive to become a better handicapper of UFC fights yourself.

    Study diligently

    The more you know about the two fighters squaring off – their fighting style, past performance, and recent form – the better equipped you will be to take advantage of solid betting opportunities. However, keep in mind that win-loss records alone can be misleading if the wins were against lower-ranked competitors and the fighter is now stepping way up in class. Avoid betting on fighters whose performance might be adversely affected by a long period of inactivity, a recent knockout, or substantial weight loss.

    In Which States is it Legal to Bet on UFC Fights?

    Currently, both online and retail sports betting are legal in the following 26 states and Washington, D.C., all of which accept bets on UFC fights:

    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    •  Florida
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    •  Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    •  Nevada
    • New Hampshire
    •  New Jersey
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    •  Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Rhode Island
    • Virginia
    • Washington, D.C.
    •  West Virginia

     In addition, the following eight states offer in-person sports betting only:

    • Delaware
    • Mississippi
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • New Mexico
    • North Dakota
    • South Dakota
    • Washington

    Three more states – Tennessee, Vermont, and Wyoming – offer online and mobile betting only.

    The minimum age to bet on UFC fights and other sports legally in the US is 21. In addition, to bet legally online or via a licensed sportsbook’s mobile app, you must be a registered account holder.

    UFC Betting News

    UFC Betting FAQs

    Do the terms UFC and MMA mean the same thing?

    The two terms are closely related but not interchangeable. MMA stands for mixed martial arts and covers a wide variety of competitive full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, karate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, judo, and karate. UFC stands for Ultimate Fighting Championship, the biggest MMA fight promotion company in the world.

    What types of bets can I make on UFC fights?

    Most sportsbooks offer all of the following bet types:

    • Moneyline bets on the winner
    • Moneyline bets on the method of victory
    • O/U bets on the total number of rounds
    • Prop bets
    • Parlays
    •  Futures
    • Live betting

    How long can a UFC fight last?

    All UFC fights consist of five-minute rounds with a 1 minute rest period between rounds. Championship fights contain a maximum of five rounds (29 minutes). All other fights contain a maximum of three rounds (17 minutes). However, not all UFC fights go the distance.