MMA
UFC Betting Guide: How to Bet on UFC Like a Pro
Mixed Martial Arts is one of the fastest growing sports and the popularity of top franchise the UFC has brought it into the betting realm.
This will provide a comprehensive guide to UFC betting, odds, predictions and much more.
Check out more MMA News at William Hill
Introduction to UFC betting
In this section we will take a look at what the UFC is all about and the history of what is now one of the biggest sporting organisations in the world.
What is UFC?
UFC is one of the biggest sports franchises in the world and its main sporting focus is MMA. It is an American mixed martial arts promotion company headed by frontman and President Dana White.
History of UFC
UFC was founded in 1993 as a professional mixed martial arts organization and has since revolutionized the fight business and today stands as the largest mixed martial arts corporation and Pay-Per-View event provider in the world.
Understanding UFC Betting Odds
In this section we cover all of the different types of odds you may find when betting on UFC events.
Types of UFC Betting Odds
Decimal Odds Explained
Decimal odds make it easier for punters to compare odds without complicated mathematical formulas and allow for a quick view of potential winnings. The higher the number, the higher the potential winnings.
To work out your return, you need to multiply the stake by the odds. For example, if the decimal odds are 5.00 and your stake is £1, then you would multiply your stake (1) by the odds (5) which would leave with returns totalling £5; £4 profit plus the return of your £1 stake.
Fractional Odds Explained
Fractional odds are one of the most straightforward ways of determining how much you will win from a bet.
If the odds are 3/1, you win £3 for every £1 staked. You stake the number on the right to win the number on the left. For example, if you stake £1 at 3/1, you will win £3, leaving you with a total return of £4 including your £1 stake.
Moneyline Odds Explained
Moneyline bets are displayed through a positive or negative number, relative to how much you would make from a £100 stake. For example, odds of +250 would mean that if you stake £100 you would win £250, leaving you with £350 including your stake.
Moneyline bets that would be considered ‘odds-on’ are displayed as a negative number, relative to how much you would have to stake to make £100. For example, odds of -400 would mean that if you bet £400 you would win £100, leaving you with £500 including your stake.
Understanding Implied Probability
Implied probability refers to the overall likelihood of a betting outcome in relation to the listed odds.
There are two simple formulas used to understand implied probability which differ between whether the odds are positive or negative. The two formulas are listed below:
Negative odds: Odds ÷ (Odds +100) x 100 = Implied Probability
Positive odds: 100 ÷ (Odds +100) x 100 = Implied Probability
Essential UFC Betting Strategies
In this section we will take a look at the key strategies and factors to consider when betting on UFC events, and how to evaluate elements of a fighter when deciding which fighters to bet on.
Researching the Fighters
As is the case with all betting markets it is important to research the ins and outs of what you are betting on. Given the size of the UFC franchise there are many places where you can research fighters and get information such as previous fights, methods of victory and fighting styles. UFC have their own official website where you can find all the relevant statistics about fights and fighters called ufcstats.com.
Analysing Fight Styles and Matchups
Given that UFC involves mixed martial arts, different fighters will have different styles depending on which area of martial arts they specialise and that can create interesting dynamics within fights.
Some styles can be very effective against others and styles can often define fights and methods of victory. For example, if your research on a fighter leads you to find that they specialise in kickboxing it is unlikely that they would win a lot of their fights by submission as kickboxing encourages powerful striking, more likely to lead to victories by knockout or TKO.
Evaluating Fighter Performance Metrics
Fighter Performance Metrics refer to a fighter’s statistics in relation to their performance in fights. This can include looking at their striking statistics.
Statistical data in UFC has become just as advanced as in other sports and there are a variety of stats which can help to evaluate fighter performance.
Evaluating stats such as a fighter’s expected significant strikes can help you to decide whether they are likely to win by knockout or TKO, whereas a fighter who has a high success rate of non-significant strikes may be more likely to win by a points decision.
Managing Your Bankroll
Managing your bankroll is important in all sports betting, including UFC betting. It is important to set a budget for your bets and stick to it, regardless of whether you are winning or losing. It is important to prevent chasing losses.
Different Types of UFC Bets
In this section we will take a deep dive into the different types of UFC bets and how you can utilise them to your advantage.
Moneyline Bets
A moneyline bet is simply bet on which fighter will win the fight outright, and the odds will suggest a favourite and an underdog.
Occasionally, the odds will be very similar for two evenly matched opponents and this is known as a pick ‘em fight.
Moneyline betting odds show you how much you would make if you were to stake £100, so it may be more advisable to use moneyline odds if you are placing larger stakes, but you can still bet with smaller stakes using moneyline odds.
Over/Under Bets
Over/under bets on UFC usually refers to how long the fight will last in terms of the amount of rounds. The bookmaker will set a line, for example 2.5 rounds, and you can place a bet on whether the fight will last over or under 2.5 rounds.
UFC fights consist of five-minute rounds, and with bookmakers often setting lines which include half a round, there may be some confusion over whether or not your bet wins.
If you placed a bet on the fight to last over 2.5 rounds, and the fight is stopped three minutes into the third round, your bet will be a winner. However, if you bet on the fight to last over 2.5 rounds and it is stopped one minute into the third round, then your bet will not win.
Method of Victory Bets
Method of victory bets are bets placed depending on how you think the fight will be won and can be placed on a specific fighter or on the fight as a whole.
For example, if the fight is between two hard hitting kickboxers you may want to bet on the fight to end by knockout or TKO without picking a winner as no matter who wins it is likely that it would end with one of those two outcomes.
You can also bet on a specific fighter’s method of victory, for example if you are betting on a fight involving Francis Ngannou you may bet on him to win by knockout or TKO as that is how he wins the majority of his fights.
Round Betting
Round betting involves betting on which round the fight is going to end in. This can also involve betting on which fighter will win in which round.
For example, you could bet on the fight to be won in round two by either of the fighters, or you could bet on a specific fighter to win the fight in round two.
Parlay Bets
A parlay is one bet consisting of multiple outcomes and is often referred to as an accumulator is Europe and the United Kingdom.
All outcomes within the bet must occur for the bet to win. For example, if you place a parlay on T. J. Dillashaw and Miesha Tate both winning their fights, you’ll need both fighters to be victorious to win the bet.
Bet on UFC 2023 at William Hill
UFC Betting Tips and Tricks
In this section you will find all of the key pointers to follow when placing bets or making predictions on UFC events to ensure that your bets are well informed.
Stay Informed with the Latest News
Keeping up to date with the latest news is key with all sports and UFC is no different. This can include things such as fighters dropping out or failing to make weight, in which instance a replacement may be brought in at short notice and the fight card will change.
It is also important to stay informed with the latest news about your fighter. For example, finding out that your fighter may be carrying a minor injury may affect whether or not you are as confident in betting on them to win.
Consider Fight Camps and Training
Tying in with staying informed on the latest news, it is important to keep up to date on a fighter’s fight camps and training. If reports are coming from their training camp saying that the fighter is looking better than they ever have then you may be more inclined to bet on them.
If a fighter has started their fight camp late, or reports say that they have not been performing well in training it may make you less inclined to back that fighter. Fighters can also pick up minor injuries in fight camps and training so it is important to be in the know about those things before you place a bet.
Analyse Previous Performances
Previous performances can tell you a lot about a fighter and can go a long way to decided whether or not you bet on them.
Fighters’ records will be widely accessible online and records from previous fights will help you decide whether or not they are likely to win, especially if they have already fought their opponent previously.
You will also be able to find out by what method the fighter has won previous fights and this will help you to make a more informed bet on markets such as Method Of Victory.
Watch Out for Underdogs
As is the case in many combat sports, UFC has its fair share of upsets. Keep a look out for underdog opportunities or fighters whose stats line up to make them noticeably more likely to win than the odds may suggest.
It is not uncommon to see favourites lose during major MMA events. Check out the underdogs and look for opportunities.
Utilize Live Betting
If you are watching a fight live betting markets can provide opportunities to capitalise on valuable odds.
If you are well informed enough you may be able to notice trends within a fight, or occurrences that make a fighter seem stronger or weaker than the odds and stats might suggest, this could give you the opportunity to make a well-informed bet at odds potentially more valuable than they were before the fight.
Check out all the latest betting offers at William Hill
How to bet on UFC FAQs
Is UFC easy to bet on?
UFC has brilliant ease of access when it comes to betting with a variety of markets available on fights in all weight classes, with William Hill offering odds on all fights on every UFC event card.
How do you bet on UFC online?
Go to sports.williamhill.com for all the latest odds offers on MMA/UFC.
