The UFC has come a long way since its 1993 maiden tournament. What started as a genuine event to determine the best style of fighting slowly morphed to create the first genuine Mixed Martial Arts competition the world has ever seen.
UFC started out as a sort of no-holds barred, bare knuckle event. It was a blood sport. Over the years though, it grew in professionalism, despite being banned in 36 USA states. The UFC began to outlaw controversial moves like hair pulling, fish hooking, groin strikes and head kicks to a downed opponent. By 1997 the UFC had introduced weight classes and the mandatory use of padded sparring gloves during fights.
The UFC has grown so much that every UFC event is now a major money maker, not only for the UFC itself, via sponsorships and pay-per-view, but bookies around the world who are flooded with bets on every UFC fight.
The best money-makers when it comes to having a punt on the UFC are the knowledgeable fans. But how can you begin to turn a quid on the UFC too?
A good place to start is gaining an understanding of the different markets you can wager on.
Popular UfC betting markets
With the growing popularity of UFC comes a growing popularity in having a punt on the UFC. Here are some of the more popular betting markets available on the UFC.
Head-to-head
A straight forward bet on which fighter will win the bout. Odds are calculated by the bookies according to the likelihood of each fighters success.
Method of victory
This bet usually comes with seven different options and is a bet for the more advanced punter:
Fighter A by KO
Fighter A by points
Fighter A by submission
Fighter B by KO
Fighter B by points
Fighter B by submission
Draw
This is a great bet that can offer some pretty good returns if you manage to get the right result.
Round betting
This is a six pronged bet for all regular fights, but a 10 pronged bet for all Championship bouts, because regular fights only have three rounds, while Championship fights have five rounds.
With round betting each bet consists of the winner and which round the fight is won. Beware of this bet though, because some bookies rate all bets as losers if the fight goes the full length and goes to decision.
What round will fight end?
This is a simpler version of round betting. Instead of having to identify the winner AND the round the fight is won in, all you have to do is identify the round the fight ends. Again, for regular bouts there are three options (Round 1, Round 2 or Round 3) with Championship bouts having five options (Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Round 4 or Round 5).
As with Round betting, all bets can be considered losers if the fight goes to decision.
Best UFC betting strategies
Research. Research is the best conceivable betting strategy you can have before making a bet on the UFC. If you have an intimate knowledge of each fighters stats and fight history prior to a bout then you have a better chance of placing a winning bet on a more complex market that may boast better odds.
For example, Conor McGregor has won 13 of of his 19 wins in the first round. A smart bet would be to through a bit of cash on McGregor winning the bout in the first round.
Another example would be that throughout her amateur and pro career of 16 fights, Ronda Rousey has won 11 of them through an arm bar submission. So perhaps making a bet on Rousey winning her next fight through arm bar submission would be a good idea.
Study the fighters’ history to see if you can determine a pattern of success or loss. You may also note that a fighters only losses have come against an opponent with a longer reach than them, or they might struggle against someone who is a master at a certain fighting discipline.
Which markets should I target in the UFC
There are some markets available for betting on the UFC that provide great odds and massive potential returns for the well informed punter.
For the new comers a bet like the Double Chance is a great one. This bet allows you to hedge your bets in a way. It gives you a chance to pick who will win and two possible modes of victory. A bet may be: Fighter A wins by KO or points – $2.10. This makes it ideal for newcomers looking for higher odds than the more traditional head-to-head bet.
“What round will the fight end” in is another great bet during regulation fights. However if it is a Championship bout the decision could get a little tricky, blowing out from a 1/3 choice to a 1/5 choice. Again though, knowledge can help. If a fighter has a history of first round wins, then go for the first round.
Method of victory is another bet that works in the favour of the well informed punter. Whether a fighter has a history of submission wins or a history of KO losses, then you have a good guide for your bets and can punt accordingly. Not only that but the odds are usually pretty good too.
What are some danger signs when betting on the UFC
As with all betting there are certain danger signs to beware of. Here are just a few things to watch for and keep in mind when making bets on the UFC.
Head-to-head betting on the UFC can often be a little tricky. You may get better odds further out from the fight, however, as with the Ronda Rousey/Holly Holm bout, there could be a late surge for the underdog. Just be aware.
Also beware of mis-matches. If a well known striker is pitted against a well known wrestler then the conceived “favourite” mantle can go flying out the window. If a favourite who is a striker is taken to ground then they may be more susceptible to submissions or choke outs.
Another thing to beware of is if a fighter suddenly shoots up a weight division or two to face an opponent that has suddenly come in to the fight to cover for an injured or sick fighter. Someone fighting out of their usual weight division, whether or not they are the favourite, can play against them.