β Ready to step into the octagon? Our below guide to UFC betting lists the top ten sites for betting on MMA, as well as our free tips, strategies, the top UFC fighters for 2024, and more!
- 1 Best Betting Sites We Recommend for UFC Betting
- 2 Best Sites for MMA and UFC Betting Reviewed
- 3 Best UFC Betting Apps
- 4 What Is UFC Betting?
- 5 UFC/MMA Fights To Look Forward To in 2024
- 6 Best UFC Betting Odds 2024
- 7 Best UFC Betting Offers and Free Bets
- 8 Popular UFC Betting Markets
- 9 UFC Betting Tips and Strategy
- 10 κ¦Where Can I Find Real and Free MMA and UFC Betting Tips?
- 11 Where Can I Watch UFC/MMA Main Events?
- 12 What Makes MMA Betting So Unique?
- 13 More Articles
- 14 ThePuntersPage Final Say
- 15 UFC Betting Resources
- 16 UFC Betting FAQs
Best Betting Sites We Recommend for UFC Betting
Bet Β£10 & Get Β£50
Payment methods:
18+. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. #ad |
Bet Β£10 get Β£40
Payment methods:
18+ Opt in, bet Β£10 on combat sports (odds 2.00+) & Get 4xΒ£10 Free Bets for set sports markets (odds 2.00+). No cash-out. Free Bets expire in 30 days. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. #ad |
Bet Β£10β―Get Β£30 in Free Bets
Payment methods:
18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet Β£10 β―or more on any football market at minimum 1/1 odds within 7 days of registration. No cash out. Get Β£30 in Free Football Bets, selected markets. Free Bets expire in 7 days. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. #ad |
Up to Β£50 in free bets
Payment methods:
18+ Free bets and spins must be claimed within 28 days of opening. Free bet/spin stake not included in any winnings. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. #ad |
Bet Β£10 get Β£40
Payment methods:
18+ New UK & ROI Customers only. Min deposit & bet Β£/β¬10 at minimum odds 1/2 to qualify for 4x Β£/β¬10 Free Bets. Certain deposit methods and bet types excl. Free Bet valid 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions +Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. #ad |
Bet Β£5 Get Β£20 in Free Bets
Payment methods:
18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first 5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4x 5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. No cashout, restrictions + Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. #ad |
Up to Β£50 in Free Bets, Odds Boost Token, 20 Free Spins & Β£10 Casino Bonus
Payment methods:
Up to Β£50 in Free Bets, Odds Boost Token, 20 Free Spins & Β£10 Casino Bonus
Payment methods:
18+ New players only | Available until 23:59 GMT 31.12.2025 Each challenge has its own TCs. Eligible Bets must be placed for each respective Challenge during the Promotional Period including the following: ACCA, Football, In-Play, and Casino. Each challenge has its own set of TCs and can only be completed 1x. Available to claim: 20 Free Spins, Odds Boost Token, Β£10 Free Bet, 50% Back up Free Bet up to Β£20, Β£10 Casino Bonus when you wager Β£50+. If all are completed you will receive Max Β£20 Free Bet to be used on any sport. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. #ad |
Great Welcome Offers Available
Payment methods:
18+ Full T&C's apply. Bet Responsibly. #ad |
Bet Β£10, Get Β£40 in Free Bets
Payment methods:
18+ New UK customers only. Min Β£10 first deposit using Debit Card or Bank Transfer. Place a bet of Β£10 at min odds of 2.0 and get a Β£10 Football Bet Builder token upon settlement. A Β£10 Multiple token, a Β£5 Horse Racing Multiple token and a Β£5 Football Bet Builder token will be credited after 24 hours. A further Β£10 Free Bet token will be credited 48 hours after the qualifying bet has been settled. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. #ad |
50 Free Spins when you play Β£10
Payment methods:
18+ New cust only. Opt in & deposit Β£10+ in 7 days & wager 1x in 7 days on any eligible casino game (excluding live casino and table games) for 50 Free Spins. Wagering contributions vary. Free Spins worth 10p each on Big Bass Splash. 3 day expiry. T&Cs apply. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. #ad |
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Best Sites for MMA and UFC Betting Reviewed
ꦦ These days, the vast majority of online bookmakers offer markets for those interested in MMA and UFC betting. Iβve shortlisted below the very best of these options, basing my recommendations on factors like UFC coverage, margin on odds, specialty bets on MMA, mobile support, accepted payment methods, and promotions up for grabs.
Parimatch
π± Parimatch offers several welcome bonuses (including Β£20 in free bets) for their sports markets. If you take a look at their UFC and MMA section on the site, you will find that they have a huge selection of fights for you to bet on at any given time. Theyβre a great bookie if youβre looking for fights on ESPN with competitive odds.
- Exceptional MMA and UFC betting coverage
- Website is fast and responsive
- Plenty of in-play options
- Doesnβt have deep coverage of smaller events
- Requires verification right away
BetVictor
π‘ BetVictor is another fine choice for both bettors looking to wager on UFC or MMA. The desktop site works as flawlessly as it should, and the same can also be said about the app, too. They are also a well-established and trusted brand, having originally been established all the way back in 1946.
- Great assortment of UFC betting options
- Smooth betting experience across all devices
- Responsive app
- User interface could be improved
- Inactive accounts regularly deactivated
The Pools
κ¦ The Pools is an absolute hit with the UFC community, consistently offering competitive odds, great promotions, and plenty of MMA betting options to choose from. You can start off by claiming their welcome offer that can be used on MMA markets, and snap up their bet boosts and free bets when fight night is on!
- Superb coverage and high odds for MMA betting
- Generous welcome offers for sports betting enthusiasts
- Weekly rewards and other tournaments
- Page-to-page navigation is clunky at times
- Limited variety of live options
Sportingbet
ΰ΅² When it comes to betting on UFC fights, Sportingbet has quite a few aces up their sleeves. For starters, the site itself offers a clean and intuitive design across all platforms. Combine that with lots of UFC specials and excellent customer support, and you will soon understand why it has attracted numerous UFC enthusiasts already!
- Features a ton of MMA and UFC special bets
- Clean design and great user experience on all devices
- Many responsible gambling tools
- Not the most competitive odds out there
- Competitors have better coverage of other sports
Spreadex
π¬ Spreadex is not just a sports betting site, but also a massive platform for financial trading and spread betting, with a built-in casino to boot!
However, for the intent of this article, their sports offering is what we'll focus on here, with quite a few virtues thatβll amaze UFC enthusiasts. Here, you can wager on the outcome of an MMA event where the success of your bet is based on accuracy, rather than a simple “win or lose” scenario. So, if you're looking for something a bit different, sign up today!
- Solid UFC coverage across the board
- Highly user-friendly app
- Great all-around bookmaker for a wide variety of sports
- Page-to-page navigation could use some work
- Not so appealing for those uninterested in spread betting
Best UFC Betting Apps
π These days, most online betting enthusiasts, including myself, use their mobile devices, with the latter offering the same range of features as their desktop counterpart together with a snappy and responsive interface.
πΌ In this section, Iβve compiled my absolute top three favourites for your reference.
Parimatch β Lowest Overround on UFC
π Thanks to the low overround and weekly specials, Parimatch is a superb choice if you want to bet on UFC, with additional odds boosts and many other bonuses waiting to be claimed!
What I also like is the “trending bets” section that shows you what people are betting on at the moment, if you are in need of inspiration. Finally, the responsiveness of the app is tremendous, especially when adding selections to your betslip.
- Feature-rich UFC betting app
- No glitches or freezes
- Special UFC bonuses for app users
- Betting markets added close to the start of the fight
- UFC markets not in the featured sports category
BetVictor β Best Odds for UFC Fight Night
What makes BetVictor one of the best betting apps for UFC is their ‘swipe down, cash out' feature, enabling cash outs in mere seconds. This is especially handy for MMA betting when a fight takes an unexpected turn.
π Also, I like the particular focus on the UFC Fight Night 236 clashes where the odds are fairly competitive, especially for the Method of Victory markets.
- Bets accepted quickly
- Lots of UFC betting markets to explore
- Extremely speedy Cash Out function
- No livestreaming for UFC matches
- UFC odds posted fairly late
Sportingbet β Top UFC Futures
π Sportingbet's app stands out as a top choice for UFC betting, especially for those interested in futures bets. Unlike BetVictor and Parimatch, Sportingbet posts odds early, giving you more time to strategise your wagers.
κ¦ Notable in-app features here include Build A Bet, which allows you to form a same-match multiple with up to 10 picks.
- Multiple in-app features for UFC betting
- UFC odds posted early
- Regular UFC-related promos for all users
- Takes up a lot of storage on iOS
- Not available on Google Play Store
What Is UFC Betting?
Put simply, UFC betting involves placing bets on the outcomes of fights, similar to how you would bet on any other sport. There are numerous bets you can place β more on that later β but the most common one is wagering on who will win a match, often referred to as “To Win the Bout” or “bout betting.”
π Over the past five years, considerably and continues to rise, with fans and bettors to be found all over the world helping to push the popularity of the UFC betting machine.
UFC is the original MMA promotion and still the largest in the worldπ€ͺ. What started as a style-versus-style freak show, meant to demonstrate the effectiveness of Royce Gracieβs jiu-jitsu versus opponents who had never heard of grappling, has eventually become the fastest growing sport in the world.
π With near weekly events and fights tiered between early prelims, prelims, main card and main events, the UFC offers plenty of fights to bet on. This is a punter's dream, and offers plenty of chances to look for value.
Big UFC events often provide up to 14 fights when you include preliminaries – and of course, you can bet on all them at the top sports bookies online. The UFC is home to the biggest names in MMAΰΌΊ, from Jon Jones to Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Daniel Cormier, Stipe Miocic, Max Holloway, and plenty more.
The π offers plenty of stats on each fighter, which is very handy data for any betting strategy. What's more, most bookies even offer live bets on UFC fights, unlike smaller promotions.
UFC/MMA Fights To Look Forward To in 2024
π There are a ton of exceptional UFC events to look forward to in the remainder of 2024. However, keep in mind that these are just the fights that have been officially announced. Who knows what sort of otherworldly matchups what Dana White will come up with by the end of the year?
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria
The main event of UFC 298, which takes place on Sunday the 18th of February,𦩠is a really rather special clash between UFC Featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski of Australia and Georgiaβs unbeaten contender Ilia Topuria.
π Volkanovski will be defending his title against a dangerous opponent, in what looks like being a close thing with next to nothing between them in the UFC betting odds.
π¦ Volkanovski will be returning to what is undoubtedly his best weight class, and also one where he is not only the champion, but also where he is making his sixth defence of a title. This experience at this level gives him a huge advantage over the relatively less experienced Topuria.
β Not everyone sees Volkanovski as the favourite. The 27-year-old Georgian will be huge handful, with all but two of his wins having come by stoppage.
π That being said, Topuria has never faced an opponent such as this before, and won't know what to expect when he steps into the cage in Anaheim. Volkanovski hits hard and defends himself well. He is also patient and calm, boasting phenomenal reflexes, and has invaluable experience.
With all this in mind, it's little wonder that BetVictor has made Volkanovski the slight favourite at 10/11.
Robert Whittaker vs Paulo Costa
On the same card as above, there should be a clash between Robert “The Reaper” Whittaker and “The Eraser” Paulo Costa.
κ§ 33-year-old Whittaker is a New-Zealand-born Australian mixed martial artist currently competing in the Middleweight division. He is ranked number three in his division and is also a former undisputed middleweight titleholder.
π― However, he hasnβt won a bout since a 2022 UFC Fight Night in Paris. In fact, the Reaper has been on the sidelines ever since he featured on the UFC 290 main card back in July 2023 during International Fight Week, where he suffered a shocking second round TKO loss to UFC 297 headliner, Dricus du Plessis.
α¦ As for Brazilian Costa, he is a former title chaser and the current number six ranked challenger. Still, he hasnβt set foot in the Octagon since 2022, where he most recently beat the former undisputed middleweight, Luke Rockhold, in a unanimous decision.
ΰ·΄ The pair were expected to fight at UFC 294 last year, but Costa failed to sign the necessary documents to agree a middleweight clash. This was all before he pulled out of a scheduled match against unbeaten middleweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev, after suffering a nasty bursitis infection in his elbow.
Whittaker is the heavy favourite with the bookies, and can be picked at a best price of 1/2 at William Hill.
Sean OβMalley vs. Marlon Vera
ꦬ As for UFC 299, there is a bantamweight title bout between the USAβs Sean OβMalley and Marlon Vera of Ecuador for you to look forward to!
O'Malley will need to move unpredictably – something he does perfectly – in order to beat his opponent from a distance. The 29-year-old has experience in some big fights, and knows exactly what it takes, as well as how to defend himself from takedowns.
π This will be OβMalleyβs first fight since his knockout win over Aljamain Sterling back in August, a win that gave the Bantamweight title.
κ§ 31-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter, Marlon Vera, also known as Chito Vera, gets his first shot at a UFC title on March 10th at an unannounced venue, and is coming off of a decision win over Pedro Munhoz on the very same night that OβMalley claimed his title.
π³ Here, though, it is hard to escape the feeling that even if the American cannot find the right moment to knock out his opponent, he is still likely to will win on points.
Odds-wise, it is hard to find any real value in the outright markets, with OβMalley the heavy favourite at a top price of 1/2 over at bet365.
Best UFC Betting Odds 2024
π Here at ThePuntersPage, we are always on the lookout for the best possible UFC betting odds.
Based on our extensive research, itβs clear that Parimatch, BetVictor, and The Pools are currently the best platforms for UFC betting. Their offers are the most competitive in terms of overround, which rarely exceeds 9%.
ꦦ The below table illustrates this further, featuring the hottest fights ahead!
UFC Match | Parimatch | Parimatch | BetVictor | BetVictor | The Pools | The Pools |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UFC Fight Night: Jack Hermansson v Joseph Pyfer | Hermansson (7/4) | Pyfer (4/9) | Hermansson (7/4) | Pyfer (4/9) | Hermansson (7/4) | Pyfer (4/9) |
UFC Fight Night: Sean OβMalley vs. Marlon Vera | OβMalley (Β½) | Vera (13/8) | OβMalley (Β½) | Vera (13/8) | OβMalley (4/9) | Vera (17/10) |
UFC Fight Night: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria | Volkanovski (10/11) | Topuria (10/11) | Volkanovski (10/11) | Topuria (10/11) | Volkanovski (4/5) | Topuria (Evs) |
UFC Fight Night: Kevin Holland v Michael Page | Holland (8/11) | Page (11/10) | Holland (8/11) | Page (11/10) | Holland (4/5) | Page (Evs) |
Best UFC Betting Offers and Free Bets
MMA betting sites mostly offer odds boosts when it comes to UFC sports betting bonuses.
Parimatch, however, are one of the rare bookies with a special UFC offer – bet Β£10 and receive Β£40 in free bets, specifically for combat sports.
Simply sign up, place a £10 wager on any UFC fight market with minimum odds of 1/1, and you can claim £40 in free bets. Bear in mind, though, that certain payment methods like PayPalꦦ or Skrill are not eligible for this promotion. Valid alternatives include Apple Pay and bank cards.
π However, the standard free bets from welcome bonuses also apply to UFC, so there are plenty of freebies up for grabs!
πͺ Another great free bet for UFC enthusiasts can be found at Coral. Get Β£20 in free bets when you register for a new account, and make a Β£5 qualifying bet at odds of at least Β½.
Be warned, however, that this UFC betting promotion is not available to anyone who makes their qualifying deposit using prepaid cards, Apple Pay, PayPal, Paysafe, NETELLER, Skrill, or Trustly.
Popular UFC Betting Markets
MMA – and, in particular, UFC – ranks among the world's rapidly expanding sports, leading to a surge in popularity for betting on MMA and UFC events. However, placing a bet on a fight involves more than just predicting the winner of the bout, with a rich variety of betting options available. Below, we've highlighted some of the MMA betting choices you can explore.
To Win the Fight
Obviously, all UFC bouts are a simple matter of fighter-versus-fighter, which opens up a market where you can back either to win, with the opportunity to bet on the draw/technical draw available.
πJust as in boxing, winning can be achieved by technical knock out (TKO) or by the judges' decision. In most cases, should a bout be declared a βNo Contestβ, all Bout bets will be made void and stakes returned.
To Win Fight 3-Way
π In MMA, a fight can conclude in one of three ways: Fighter A wins, Fighter B wins, or the bout ends in a draw.
A “fight 3 way” bet allows you to wager on any of these outcomes – either Fighter A or B to win, or for the match to conclude in a draw, providing comprehensive coverage for your bet.
β¨Fight Outcome 7-Way / Method of Victory Double Chance
π With this bet, all wagers will have action irrespective of any changes to the amount of rounds that are going to be fought.
Total Rounds
π§ With total rounds, you are betting whether there will be more or less than a specific number of rounds in the fight. In cases where a half round is stated, then 2 minute 30 seconds of the respective round will define the half in order to settle an under or over bet.
Round Betting / Method and Round Combination
This is a basic wager on whether or not you believe that all rounds will be completed. If that happens, the fight is decided according to the judgesβ scorecards.
π»If, for whatever reason, the number of rounds in a fight is altered, then any bets that have been placed on round betting already will be voided and stakes will be returned.
When Will Fight End
For the purpose of betting, βFight To Go The Distanceβ participant refers to the bout being decided on points or ending in a draw after the scheduled amount of rounds.
πΉIf the match is decided by either a Technical Draw or Technical Decision, then the settlement of both markets will be based on the last round that was completed.
Will Fight go the Distance?
π¦ If for some reason the amount of rounds in a fight is changed, then any bets that have already been placed will be void and all stakes will be returned. In order to settle the bet, the official designated amount of rounds must be fully completed so that bets can be settled as a yes.
UFC Betting Tips and Strategy
β¨ No matter if youβre a seasoned UFC betting enthusiast or just a beginner, you should definitely read the five following UFC betting tips.
Thorough Statistical Analysis Plays a Vital Role
κ¦ You canβt expect to be profitable in MMA and UFC betting if youβre not paying close attention to stats. Momentum counts for a lot in UFC bouts, with surprises quite common, so itβs better to look for value rather than blindly wagering outright on the favourites.
π Listed below are essential UFC stats that youβll need in your betting arsenal.
Significant Strikes Landed per Minute (SLpM)
β±This is a basic stat that can be used for virtually any UFC bet, but works best for moneylines. It shows you how many significant strikes a fighter lands each in-fight minute.
Significant Striking Accuracy (Str. Acc.)
π°This is another basic stat that shows you the general striking accuracy of the fighter, only taking into account significant strikes.
Average Takedown Landed per 15 minutes (TD avg.)
π·A good measure for strong wrestlers who love getting their opponents down and winning the fight from there. Be mindful of defensive takedown stats, as they tend to level out the overall takedown average.
Takedown accuracy (TD Acc.)
πThis indicates just how successful a fighter is at downing his opponent and creating chances for ground and pound or submissions.
πAverage Submissions Attempted per 15 minutes (Sub. Avg.)
π In combination with submission and takedown accuracy stats, this can help you find picks for βwin by submissionβ bets.
Always Look for the Best Odds
πΈ As mentioned earlier, top online bookmakers never shy away from deep UFC coverage. No matter if itβs the next big UFC event or a Fight Night, youβre bound to find competitive odds for any bout youβd like to place a wager on.
π» To maximise your profit potential, compare the odds across the top UFC betting sites and opt for the brand that offers the highest payouts.
Here is where we recommend the UFC FIGHT PASS κ§prelims, which are basically opening fights that typically feature lesser-known players. Contestants in these fights donβt have massive statistical depth, making it more difficult for the bookies to provide accurate odds. This, therefore, results in a valuable hunting ground for hungry punters looking to land some handsome winnings!
π If you can accurately pinpoint an advantage for an underdog and confirm their value, youβre free to opt either for a match-winner bet or dive deeper into specials. The choice is all yours, but it greatly depends on what sort of an advantage youβve found.
Donβt Be Afraid To Experiment With Special UFC Bets
π§ UFC might not be as fruitful of an environment for special bets as soccer, but it definitely has some interesting setups.
κ§ If you're looking for an alternative bet to moneylines on UFC, I recommend trying out the following bets:
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Total Rounds:β The bookmaker provides you with a total number of rounds, leaving you to predict whether the final count will be lower or higher.
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KO Win:ꦫ Only wins if you correctly guess the winner and he/she wins by KO.
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Submission Win:π Only wins if you correctly guess the winner and he/she wins by submission.
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Decision Win:π Only wins if you correctly guess the winner and he/she wins by decision.
Live UFC Betting Has Massive Potential
π This one goes without saying β live UFC betting options typically possess a lot of value, provided that you follow the match live, are familiar with how both fighters perform under certain circumstances, and carefully monitor the ever-shifting odds.
π Just 20-30 seconds into the bout, online sportsbooks will start changing the odds left and right. UFC live betting options drastically depend on the momentum shifts, simply because theyβre often the deciding factor.
π When betting on live matches, your main goal is to try to predict a momentum shift and react just before it becomes obvious. This will give you an upper hand against the bookie, and hopefully land some hefty returns too!
Only Trust Betting Tips From Reliable Sources
π² We know it might sound silly, but youβd be shocked by just how many fake UFC betting tips are out there. If you havenβt figured something out by taking a deep dive into the stats on your own, you shouldnβt take it into consideration.
Where Can I Find Real and Free MMA and UFC Betting Tips?
π There are plenty of MMA tipsters who sell their βknowledgeβ, but there is no real way to know if you are getting what you pay for since they do not always show their past record of bets. There are plenty of free, legitimate sites offering free MMA betting tips. Here are some of the best.
MMAJunkie
has regular articles that predict outcomes of various MMA events. On their homepage, there is a running competition to see who can predict the outcome of the top MMA fights. Some competitors have a 70% accuracy in predicting fights over the course of a year!
Tapology
lets you create a free account πΉwhere you can create your own MMA rankings, as well as your own fight predictions. You can then compare the latter to those of others to see the most accurate, and use these predictions for your betting strategy.
UFC Betting Reddit
κ§ where you can dive into MMA betting discussions, seek advice, and gather insightful tips from the community.
Sherdog
Sherdog is one of the oldest MMA sites and has a record of virtually every MMA fight and fighter since the late 90s. This is a much more complete record than what you will find on sites like π», since they list all fights and not only UFC fights.
They also have a fun π where you can ask any question to your betting peers, and even offer alternate rankings, which are more accurate than the official UFC rankings.
Where Can I Watch UFC/MMA Main Events?
πΈ There are numerous ways that you can watch MMA bouts in the United Kingdom.
One way is on TNT Sport, which broadcasts live matches most Saturday evenings; however, many of the bigger events tend to be hidden behind a paywall known as “Box Office”.
β Should this be the case, you'll need to pay an additional fee in order to unlock paid content.
πΌ Another way is through certain online bookies, which offer livestreaming services directly from their own platform. Each bookie has specific requirements for accessing these streams. In some cases, having as little as Β£1 in your account balance will unlock the footage, while other bookmakers might request that you will have placed a small bet on that particular event or even placed any random bet in the previous 24 hours.
Livestreamed MMA events can be trickier to find. We would point to William Hillκ¦ here, as although they primarily feature horse racing streams, they are known to provide broadcasts for recognised MMA fights if there is an open betting market available for these events.
You can use your bookie's app to access these streams, such as those belonging to bet365, Coral, and Unibetπ·. However, because the UFC has broadcast deals with specific networks, such as the one with TNT Sport mentioned above, you canβt watch live UFC bouts at a UK betting site.
What Makes MMA Betting So Unique?
π MMA betting stands out because it typically involves betting on a match with two possible outcomes. While a draw can occur, this is rare, and usually results in a void bet with most bookmakers.
β The appeal of MMA lies in its unpredictability and the sport's inherent volatility. MMA fights are often seen as more challenging to predict than boxing due to the vast array of potential outcomes and victory conditions.
The silver lining is that the unpredictability of outcomes often leads to more favourable odds for bettors. Additionally, ΰ΅© are designed to prioritise fighter safety and maintain fairness in the competition.
Boxing vs MMA
κ¦ In a boxing match, a boxer can punch another boxer, leading to a knockout. He can also outpoint the other fighter. Other possible instances include cuts, slips, the occasional ear bite, and, of course, rampant bad judging.
κ¦ Boxing seems rigged to ensure the best do not fight the best, or at least never in their prime (just look at Floyd Mayweatherβs career). You will see superstar boxers fight an endless stream of jobbers and journeymen on their way to one of four major titles. Once the boxer has a title, his promoter will try to protect him from other fighters that could pose a real threat to his belt.
Another key difference between betting on boxingπΊ and UFC, particularly when wagering on the specific round a fight will conclude, is that UFC offers only five rounds to choose from, compared to boxing's 12 for world championship bouts. This makes the chances of you picking the correct round far more likely.
Competitive Matchups
α©α©α©α©α©α©β€β€β€β€α©β€β€β€β€α©β€β€β€β€α©π±α©α©α© MMA has a completely different style of matchmaking. While boxers are all under contract with different promoters, adhering to rules set out by the four major boxing organisations, fighters all fight for the same promoter.
κ¦ The promoter holds the rights to the champion, regardless of who it happens to be. This makes the fights more even, since the best are more likely to fight the best.
Anything Can Happen in MMA
MMA is really the sport where anything can happen – not boxing, as many assume!
Any kick, elbow, knee, or mistake in grappling can lead to a knockout or submission. In a sport with four-ounce gloves, even a jab can lead to a KO – add to that all of the potential injuries caused by wrestling, stomping the opponentβs knees, kicking their shins and so on.
With all this in mind, it's easy to see why MMA is a sport where freak occurrences are simply the order of the day.
MMA is a Sport With More Variance
These freak occurrences mean that MMA is full of variance.
In MMA, underdogs (even huge underdogs) win more frequently than any other sport, which should, in theory, mean it is easier to find value bets.
π» In team sports, a poor performance from one player doesn't necessarily result in a loss for the team, as teammates can compensate with stronger performances. In MMA, an individual fighter having a bad day could lead to a concussive knockout, even for a highly touted favourite or champion.
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ThePuntersPage Final Say
MMA/UFC is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. Part of the excitement is due to the sportβs sheer unpredictability – matches are close and anything can happen.
π You can often find value in MMA/UFC underdogs since they tend to win more frequently than in other sports, and in live betting, since you can bet against yourself as a fight develops. And, although betting on UFC is popular, you should not neglect smaller leagues like Bellator or Cage Warriors.
π In short, UFC betting is just as exciting and unpredictable as the sport itself!
UFC Betting Resources
πΌ If you are interested in learning more about UFC betting in the UK, you can refer to the below resources.
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1.
π―: Official site of the Ultimate Fighting Championship organisation
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2.
: Official UK gambling regulator
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3.
: Legal framework for gambling in the UK
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4.
: Charity offering support for problem gambling
UFC Betting FAQs
πTo start UFC betting, simply create an account at one of the betting sites we recommend, make a deposit, choose a fighter, and wait for your bet to settle.
π§ΈOf course β you can parlay any sporting event, including MMA fights. Parlay UFC bets let you win potentially greater sums, but the risk is, of course, much bigger. You can negate some of that risk by choosing doubles, trebles, or four folds.
MMA odds work using estimated probabilities. A bookie uses their estimation of who will likely win to create odds. Every set of odds has an implied probabilityπ¦. For example, an MMA bet that has odds of 3/1 (4.0), has an implied probability of 25%. That means the bookies think this fighter has one chance out of four to win.
βYes, of course. Several betting sites offer bets on Cage Warriors. Usually, you can only bet on the top fights of the card, but not the prelim fights. Betting on fights from smaller promotions often carries high value, since the performance of prospects is often highly unpredictable.
βTo bet on UFC fights, simply register with an online bookmaker or log in to your existing account and navigate to the MMA/UFC category. Once there, youβll see a list of available fights. Youβll be met with a plethora of different betting options β however, take your time, do your research, and place bets that are backed by data.