Betting on UFC fights is a popular pastime in modern culture. All across the US, hundreds of thousands of people tune in to watch UFC events each month – and part and parcel of this experience is, of course, betting.
UFC cards are usually jam-packed with different fights from both the men’s and women’s divisions. This is great, as it gives fans at home an opportunity to bet on as little or as many fights as they want throughout the night.
If you’ve never gambled on a UFC fight before – or any sport for that matter – then this quick guide has all the information and tips you need to make your bets smarter and increase your chances of success.
Tip 1: Know Your Fighters
Online, there are tons of UFC databases that you can access for free (with the official UFC website being the best example of this). UFC databases allow you to analyze everything about a fighter, from their weight to previous fight records.
When you analyze this kind of information, you can become smarter at UFC betting. If you don’t know your fighters, you won’t know what bets to place!
Tip 2: Understand the Different Types of UFC Bets You Can Place
Whether you’re using a betting app or website, you will have various betting options in front of you when fight night comes. Whatever platform you use, the most popular type of UFC bet is a simple ‘moneyline’ one. This is when you place a wager on the fighter you think is going to win.
Of course, there are other types of bets, too. For example, you can bet on the ‘method of victory,’ which is the method you think the winning fighter will use to be victorious. You might go with ‘TKO,’ ‘submission,’ or even ‘disqualification’ – it’s all dependent on your knowledge and who’s fighting.
If you’re watching two fighters who are specialists in submission – such as Brian Ortega and Charles Oliveira – then it’s highly likely that one of them will win by using a submission move, such as the classic rear-naked choke. In this instance, it would be silly and misinformed to bet on a round one knockout via TKO, as it’s so unlikely to happen with submission specialists!
Over time, you will become more familiar with the different types of bets and will begin to understand your personal preferences. Some UFC fans simply stick to moneyline bets, while others prefer to go a more complex route by betting on methods of victory and individual round wins.
Tip 3: Make Sure You Use an Officially Licensed Sportsbook
Most fans use sportsbooks (online betting sites) to do this when it comes to UFC betting. Don’t use any shady websites on Google that come without reviews or gambling commission logos, as it’s a strong indicator that there’s a scam going on!
If you think you’re going to be betting on UFC fights regularly, it’s probably best that you download a sportsbook app. This way, you have quicker access to odds and other information you need for placing smart bets.
Tip 4: Keep Track of Upcoming UFC Events
This calendar year is packed to the ceiling with UFC events. There’s at least one UFC event a month, whether it’s a classic numbered event or a crowd-favorite ‘Fight Night.’ Keep track of these events so that you know when to prepare your bets.
