Top Online Sportsbooks to Bet on UFC

Are you looking for the top sportsbook to bet on UFC? You’ve come to the right place! We reviewed the best UFC betting sites to bring you

  1. The best overall UFC betting site
  2. The best mobile UFC betting sportsbook
  3. The sportsbook with the best odds for UFC
  4. The best UFC betting bonus
  5. The sportsbook with the best UFC betting specials and props

Bovada is our top sportsbook for UFC

Bovada UFC betting lines

It’s really hard to beat Bovada in the sports betting business because they do everything at such a high level. Even among the top UFC betting sites, they really stand out. That’s why we have chosen Bovada as the best overall sportsbook for UFC betting in 2024. 

The website design is simple and effective with nothing to create extra noise that could distract you. Bovada gives new players who choose Bitcoin as their first deposit method an insane $4.500 in welcome bonuses split between the sportsbook, casino, horse-racing book, and poker.

Bovada’s UFC lines are not the most generous ones, but they are nevertheless competitive.

UFC Betting Sites 2024

We like especially the futures for matches that have not been set up yet but could be, as was the case with the potential meeting of Kamaru Usman and Conor McGregor back in 2022 (Usman was a heavy favorite at -700 vs McGregor’s +450). In this case, if you had staked your money on the Usman vs McGregor fight, you would have been refunded due to the fight not taking place in 2022.

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BetOnline is the top mobile sportsbook for UFC betting

UFC Betting Sites 2024

 

We absolutely love BetOnline’s mobile design and it was an easy choice to name BetOnline the top mobile sportsbook in 2024. The green lines pop up from the white background and everything is in its correct place. On the default view, you’ll have a menu on the bottom with shortcuts to Cashier, Sports, Live betting, Casino, and a small menu for access to Racebook, Poker, Esports, Contests, Promos, and Login/Logout. It’s simple, but everything is there all the time, in the correct place (again).

They offer plenty of future fights with a deadline, like a possible Nate Diaz vs Dustin Poirier fight that needs to happen before August 1st or you’ll get your money back. If that fight was to take place, Poirier would be a clear favorite at -400 vs Diaz’s +300.

It’s a joy to navigate around the mobile site at BetOnline, and if you’re thinking about which sportsbook to choose to bet on UFC on mobile, you will not find a better option than BetOnline.

Check out our in-depth reviews to uncover the best UFC betting apps on the market!

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MyBookie offers the best UFC betting lines

MyBookie UFC Totals MoneyLines

To find the best UFC betting odds, you need to shop around every time you’re about to make a bet. For one event and one fighter, Bovada might have the best line, and for some other event and another fighter, BetOnline might have the best line.

But where MyBookie beats both Bovada and BetOnline is the selection of types of UFC bets: Bovada and BetOnline only display money lines as the default, but MyBookie displays also the Over/Under for UFC betting. We love this.

For Future fights, MyBookie has often the exact same lines as Bovada.

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XBet is the best new UFC Betting Site

UFC Betting at XBet

XBet is a relatively new UFC sports betting site compared to out Top-3 UFC betting sites, but they are performing like a seasoned veteran in the octagon.

As you can see, their lines are a little more conservative than with the TOP-3 UFC betting sites, but the difference can be bridged by using the XBet sports betting bonus. Check more details about Xbet and their bonus from our XBet Review by clicking the Review-button on the table at top of this page.

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Are you looking for sportsbooks like BetMGM, FanDuel or DraftKings? Or maybe you are looking for Caesars Sportsbook, PointsBet or Fox Bet? That would be totally understandable given the sheer volume of advertising on TV. But, and yes, there is a but: those brands are not available in the biggest US states like Texas, California and Florida. What to do? Don’t panic. The list of brands above includes brands that are available in all big US states. We have tested them all and have accounts with them. Read reviews and find your new favorite sportsbook today!

UFC Betting Strategy

ufc betting strategy article header

It is important to know how to bet on UFC fights beforehand. Because you will only get the chance to bet on MMA fights about once a month, you should prepare to make sure you’re making the best UFC bets. So what to do first to start betting with UFC?

Your first step towards successful UFC betting is to learn which types of bets you can make for UFC. You can do a lot of preparing and know exactly how to bet on UFC, but without a top betting site or bet type, your MMA betting strategy will simply not take off.

How to Read UFC Odds

Knowing how to read and understand UFC odds is vital before you decide to bet on UFC fights, it’s also quite straightforward once you see them in action. Similar to most major sports the betting favorite is represented with the lower figure, usually a minus (-) and the underdog is the higher figure, typically a positive one (+). These American odds and can also be represented as fractional odds or decimal odds, ultimately they serve the same function.

ufc moneyline example between a favorite and an underdogAn example of how UFC odds look for a favorite vs an underdog.

In the image above, the bookmaker has listed the favorite as -150 and the underdog as +180. What that means is a bettor would have to place a wager of $150 on Fighter A to win $100 on the favorite, or only $100 on Fighter B to win $180 as the underdog.

UFC Betting Explained

UFC betting explained

Now that you know how to read UFC odds, you are probably wondering what types of bets are available for UFC fights. Similarities can be drawn between betting on other combat sports such as boxing. The moneyline for the main event of major UFC events is usually released months in advance, whereas the props such as round betting and method of victory are typically released a week or two ahead of the event.

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Types of Bets

There are three main types of bets in the UFC. These are also known as UFC betting markets and include the moneyline, round betting, and method of victory. Below is a breakdown of each type of UFC bet you can place on a fighter.

With a UFC moneyline wager, you pick the fighter you believe will win the bout. The bookmaker puts odds on each fighter to win, with one combatant as the favorite and the other as the underdog. Occasionally the odds will be even for two evenly matched opponents, this is known as pick ’em.
In this type of bet, the bookmaker sets a UFC line on how long the fight will last and the bettor decides if they think the contest will go longer or shorter than that line. If a bout has an over/under of 1.5 rounds and the odds are -200 on the under and +275 on the over, that means the bettor would have to wager $200 to win $100 on the fight going less than 1.5 rounds or they would need to wager $100 to win $275 on the contest going more than 1.5 rounds.
In this type of bet, the bookmaker sets odds on the outcome of the fight. A bout can end by decision (split, unanimous, majority), draw, KO/TKO, or submission. Bettors can also wager on if a fight will make it to a specific round. These types of bets follow the same pattern as moneyline and round betting. Here are some examples of methods of victory odds for a UFC fight.

UFC Rematch Betting Strategy

Now that you know how do UFC odds work, let’s focus on some aspects that can help our overall betting strategy for UFC fights. In UFC rematches, the victor of the first contest wins the rematch approximately 68% of the time. Out of the 28 title fights that had an immediate rematch, 19 times, the winner of the initial bout won the second as well.

Rematch Odds

In rematches, the odds are often not as strong as they were for the initial fight. For example, in the first matchup between Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson, Jones was a -1000 favorite over Gustafsson, who was a +485 underdog. In the rematch, Jones was a -340 favorite over the +125 Gustafsson.

Time Between Fights

When looking at rematches, it’s also important to look at the time between the fights and how the fighters have either progressed or regressed. For example, the first time Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway fought was in February 2012. At the time, Holloway only had four pro fights and was making his UFC debut. Poirier was a -714 favorite over Holloway, who was a +325 underdog. Poirier won that fight by first-round submission.

The next time Poirier and Holloway faced off was April 2019. When that fight took place, Holloway was the featherweight champion and had won 13 contests in a row. The odds for that rematch saw Holloway come in as a -256 favorite over Poirier, who was a +165 underdog. Poirier won the rematch by unanimous decision.

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Opening UFC Odds

Typically, UFC betting odds for contests between big-name competitors are released shortly after the fights are made official. The betting lines for an entire UFC card are released in full early during fight week. Las Vegas odds are typically not released until a bout has been officially confirmed, as to avoid the early money going on a line that was set incorrectly and losing profits.

Advantages

One of the reasons to bet early is to take advantage of potential mistakes in the early odds. If bookmakers don’t have complete information on a fighter, the odds could be in a bettor’s favor. Another advantage is that the odds could be advantageous before the action begins to come in on the competitors.

Disadvantages

Some disadvantages of betting early include potential injury to a fighter, a bad weight cut, the market making the odds more favorable and a lack of complete information on strategies and match-ups.

UFC Parlay Betting

UFC Parlay Betting

A parlay bet is when you combine bets on several fights to combine the payouts. When it comes to placing bets on UFC fights a parlay bet will result in a higher return. The downside of a parlay bet is that if you get one fight wrong, you lose your entire stake. One of the more famous parlays in UFC betting history came in 2015 when a bettor turned a $1 bet into $48,921 by going with nine underdogs on the card.

One of the best ways to parlay a UFC bet is to find heavy favorites that you are almost sure will win and then balance them with a couple of fights where you feel the underdog is a safe bet. A four-fight parlay where you bet $100 on a -500 favorite, a -600 favorite, a +150 underdog, and a +200 underdog would pay out $900. If you’d bet those fights individually, the payout would be $386.67.

The best way to handle a parlay is to look very deeply at the event and go with fights you are incredibly confident in. The fewer the number of match-ups you parlay, the more of a chance you have of picking a winner correctly.

UFC Betting Tips

In addition to having UFC betting odds, explained, we have also prepared for you these UFC betting tips. These will help you put into action everything you know about MMA betting and odds.  Tips for UFC betting are especially important because it is so different from other mainstream sports. These are one-off events and the winning metrics are very different.

Regardless of your experience as a bettor, it’s important to stay ahead of the curve by doing your research prior to betting on ufc fights. Even the most seasoned UFC bettors will know each fighters’ key strengths and weaknesses before placing a bet. As the saying goes, “styles make fights” and that has never been truer than in the UFC; every fighter has a weakness that can be exposed by the right opponent.
It is essential to know a fighter’s record, but it’s more important to consider their quality of competition. A fighter might have a 10-0 record, but if each of those opponents had losing records or are unrecognizable names, it’s difficult to give that fighter an advantage over an opponent who might have a worse record but has fought several tough fighters.
It’s crucial to consider both the strengths and weaknesses of each fighter in a UFC matchup. While some skills can prove unparalleled, others can be countered by different MMA specialties. See the chart below for a breakdown of the specialty of past UFC champions.
Daniel Cormier is an excellent example of what it means to be a well-rounded UFC fighter. Cormier has a great wrestling technique, good cardio, a heavy top game on the ground, superb takedown defense, sound submissions, good ground-and-pound, and excellent clinching. Because of his versatility, Cormier has more ways to attack and defend which automatically gives him the upper hand in a bout.
The difference between being well-rounded versus being a specialist can be found with Demian Maia. Maia is a world-class jiu-jitsu artist. Rather than trying to succeed in each martial art, he’s become a specialist in jiu-jitsu. Against a fighter with poor takedown defense and weak submission defense, Maia will always be a favorite. However, if he faces an opponent with strong wrestling and excellent jiu-jitsu, it’s safe to bet against Maia.

Wrestling Trumps All

You often hear that wrestling is the best base for UFC fighters. It would be a cliché if it weren’t true. Most UFC champions work from a wrestling base and build their skills around that wrestling. If all things are equal except for wrestling skills, it’s not unsound to favor the wrestler. Since the late 90’s wrestling-based fighters have produced 17 Champions to date, followed by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at 17 and boxing at 12.

wrestling Parlay Beting

Southpaw vs. Orthodox Stance

If the fighters are primarily strikers or if you think they will keep the fight standing for prolonged periods, it’s vital to consider fighting stance. A southpaw stance is when the fighter’s right foot is forward, and their left is back, whereas an orthodox stance is when the left foot is forward and right back. Typically, the strongest hand will be back to give the fighter more momentum with each hit.

A southpaw stance (left-handed fighter) usually has an advantage over an orthodox (right-handed) fighter. The reason behind this is simple math. Left-handed fighters are rarer, so most fighters train against and with righties.

More Considerations Prior to Betting on UFC

Being an avid fan of the sport you’re betting on always gives you an advantage over casuals. What’s important to take away from below for a successful UFC betting strategy is that it takes a multitude of factors to help make the best picks. Knowledge is profit.

Watch the weigh-ins. If a fighter has a severe weight cut or looks especially drained on the scale, it’s never a good sign. A bad weight cut could affect a fighter’s strength, cardio and mental acuity.
Know the pace the fighters compete at. If one combatant is primarily an attacker and the other is a counter striker, the judges could favor the attacking fighter due to higher output.
Keep an eye on injury reports. If a competitor is significantly compromised or is only just returning to the octagon after an injury, take note.
Another thing to consider is the location of the fight card. If a fighter is traveling a long distance and not giving themselves time to acclimate to the site, food, and altitude, that should be considered. One memorable incident of this occurred in 2015 when Fabricio Werdum set up camp in Mexico City for months ahead of his matchup against heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez, who arrived shortly before fight night. Velasquez’s cardio failed him at the different altitude and he submitted to Werdum in the third round, losing his title.

 

UFC Betting Odds

UFC Betting Analysis: Live Betting and UFC

Betting live on UFC fights is a ton of fun. Given how infrequent these events are compared to other sports, it is a good idea to milk each fight for all its betting opportunities. Live betting gives you exactly this type of opportunity.

There are lots of reasons to bet live on MMA fights. One is that it pumps up the excitement even more. As the fight progresses, the odds can change very rapidly. This means that good deals can appear and disappear in a matter of minutes. You can feel the adrenaline as you wrestle to make the best UFC bets.

Plus, you get more betting variety. All the markets available during live betting will have different odds throughout the match. You do not just have to sit passively and take what is offered. You can be more selective because, over the course of the match, you will have even more options than before.

Getting Started: Choosing the Right Sportsbook

Betting on UFC fights might seem overwhelming at first due to the number of wagers one can place on each fight and fight card, but once you get the hang of the sport and what to look for during your research, it can be an exciting and lucrative endeavor.

Now that you know how to bet on UFC fights online it’s equally as important knowing how to choose the right sportsbook for your UFC betting needs prior to placing a wager, that’s why we have you covered. Now in the words of Bruce Buffer “It’s Time”!

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Best UFC Betting, February 2024

  • Fan favorite Alexander Volkanovski takes on +105 underdog Ilia Topuria in the maincard title challenge, with odds available at XBet.
  • Lower down the maincard with have Geoff Neal, facing off against the Irishman Ian Garry, coming in as the underdog at +190 at Bovada.
  • Grizzly Vet Henry Cejudo takes on Merab Dvalishvili and goes into the bout as the underdog at odds of +160 to win at BetOnline.
  • The Australian Robert Whittaker will have a tough fight against the Brazilian Paulo Costa, and BetOnline agrees putting Whittaker at slight favorite at -190 to win.
  • Finally, we have Anthony Hernandez to beat Roman Kopylov at -170. He comes in as the favorite, but it’s unlikely he’ll get the win in this one.

UFC Betting FAQ

Find answers to common questions bettors like you have when researching about UFC betting.

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Trent Reinsmith

Trent is a professional sports journalist specializing in UFC, MMA, and esports coverage. His work has been featured in prestigious publications such as USA Today Sports, Vice, Bloody Elbow, Fight! Magazine, UFC 360, and Narratively. Trent's connection to MMA dates back to the early days when he and his friends pooled their resources to purchase the pay-per-view broadcast of UFC 1. He also has extensive experience in esports, particularly League of Legends and Counter Strike, dating back to the game's launch.