
With the exciting press conferences, the spectacle of the events, and impressive display of martial arts on show, there are no surprises that the UFC is becoming one of the most popular sporting markets across retail and online sportsbooks alike.
Below, we look to implement some industry knowledge in the online UFC betting world. Giving you a deeper understanding of what to look out for before placing your wager, how to choose the right market, and, most importantly, how to keep your funds safe and secure while doing so.
UFC, Ultimate Fighting Championship, is the largest mixed martial arts organization in the world. Offering fans the opportunity to see some of the greatest mixed martial artists compete in the octagon over three, or five, 5-minute rounds.
Martial artists are dedicated to their craft, often specializing in one style of combat before making the transition to MMA and adding to their fighting arsenal. Inside the octagon, you can expect to see takedowns, strikes, submissions, grappling, stand-up combat, and on-the-ground battles – giving viewers plenty of excitement, entertainment, and betting opportunities!
Understanding where your chosen fighter began is a great way to uncover how they will match up against their competition. Below, we highlight the pros and cons of each fighting style and how this carries over to the UFC.
Specialists in weight cutting, boxers will have no trouble in being fight-ready when it’s time to jump on the scales. Generally, boasting more knockout power, they will control distance well before finding openings on their opponents. Unfortunately for boxers, the UFC is not determined solely by stand-up ability, and it is hard to make use of knockout power if you find yourself on the ground in a rear choke.
Simply known as BJJ, the kings of submission. Fighters with a BJJ background will look to take opponents to the ground quickly, using a variety of holds and swift movements to lock in on an opponent and force a submission. Some BJJ positions can leave you susceptible to punches, something to be very wary of within the UFC.
Those who have practiced Judo for some time will be very comfortable and in control of their body, moving swiftly and effectively around the octagon. They have the ability to throw opponents comfortably and will have experience within wrestling and BJJ too. The main weakness we can see is the attire. Most holds and throws are attempted while wearing a Gi – something the MMA world does not use.
The only singular striking combat sport to use all eight limbs – Hands, elbows, knees, and kicks are all eligible within UFC, making the striking transition across straightforward. Muay Thai fighters will be familiar with taking punishment, often training around the clock and sparring daily. Understanding the clinch is another positive, while their main negative stems from a very limited ground game.
Similar to boxers, wrestlers are no stranger to weight cuts. Allowing for training to be completed at a heavier weight against stronger opponents. Understanding ground defense and how to bring their opponents down makes wrestlers the perfect Octagon canvas assassins. Don’t expect them to stay in stand-up too long, as they will have limited striking experience.
The next crucial step in your UFC betting career is understanding the betting markets available to you. Note, not all betting platforms offer the same markets, so be sure to check your sportsbook offerings before signing up.
If you’ve been waiting for someone to explain how to bet on UFC fights online, your wait is over. With the simplest of bets, you’ll soon be well on your way to having your first taste of MMA gambling. We suggest the money line to get you started – a straightforward prediction on who will win the bout.
If you back the favorite, the return of profit will be lower as this is the most likely outcome of the bout. If you support the underdog, the return of profit will be far greater.
When looking to bet on UFC fights, the money line will be available on all platforms that offer a UFC betting market, as this has proven to be the most popular type of bet within the sport, whether as an individual or part of a parlay.
Another popular UFC betting market is the Go the distance option. For those of you who are avid fans, or keen researchers, you will be in the know of your chosen bouts fighter’s knockout power, stamina, and resilience, all critical components to better predict if a match will go the distance.
Be reminded that non-title matches last three rounds of 5 minutes, compared to title matches that last five rounds of 5 minutes. In such a fast-paced, high-intensity setting, those extra 10 minutes can often prove the difference.
Predicting the method of victory is a precise way to bet on UFC fights online, requiring a great understanding of a fighter’s strengths, weaknesses, and background. With this method, users will bet on whether a fight will be won by knockout, submission, decision, or, in some unfortunate cases, disqualification.
Some betting sites will up the stakes even further by offering markets that allow you to predict the method of victory, as well as the overall winner, and even the round.
For example, you could bet on Israel Adesanya to win by knockout in round 2
If you have looked through any of our betting guides, you will be familiar with the over/under markets – A popular choice amongst bettors across all sporting markets and growing in popularity with those reviewing how to bet on fights.
The under/over market, generally, refers to the rounds a contest will last. For example, if you believe a non-championship bout will last more than one round but won’t go the distance, you could place a wager on over 1.5 rounds.
If you are familiar with how to place bets, particularly how to bet on UFC fights, the parlay could be a great way to put your knowledge to the test… & increase your potential returns!
The parlay refers to one individual bet that is made up of several individual wagers. Your parlay could be made up of any of the previously mentioned bet types (for example, four money line bets) or a selection of all (providing you do not use two different betting markets on one fixture).
For example, you could create a four-part parlay that looks similar to the below:
Nunes to win by knockout
Usman vs. Masvidal to go the distance
Ferguson vs. Poirer over 1.5 rounds.
Jones to win.
Now your online betting UFC knowledge should be starting to take shape. Next, we discuss our top tips on how to become successful in the UFC online betting game and how to stay safe while doing so.
When we discuss your safety and security, we aren’t worried you’re about to receive a roundhouse from Adesanya. However, we are concerned about the safety of your funds.
Before placing your UFC bet, the first consideration is to ensure you have chosen the correct online betting platform. Look out for licensing and regulating bodies – with the US home to varying laws and legislations; you want to make sure you are signing up to a legal platform backed by your state’s gambling commission.
We would also suggest looking for a site that offers SSL encryption, ensuring the communication between your bank or e-wallet and the platform is encrypted in such a way that hackers are unable to access your funds.
We mentioned earlier about the UFC fighters, generally, having a singular martial arts base. By this, we mean fighters will have studied a singular martial art for some time prior to moving to MMA or hold a preferred fighting style.
It is important to understand the differences between a wrestler and a Thai boxing specialist and how each style of martial arts can positively or negatively influence the outcome of a match.
There are other key pointers to review also, for instance, how well certain fighters perform under the lights, in championship conditions, who their trainer has been, if they have been working on weaknesses, etc.
Betting solely on the odds isn’t a bad place to start, but we would always recommend looking into the contests yourself – you never know, you may spot something that others haven’t.
The fight game is electrifying, and what better way to add to that electricity than with the potential to make some money along the way. We promote enjoyment over anything here at Wetten and believe in having fun while researching, reviewing, placing, and watching bets unfold.
When we discuss researching your chosen contests, we don’t mean spending hours of your day looking into the ins and outs of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. However, you can watch snippets of old matches, look at the form, highlights, and plenty more information out there to keep things interesting. You never know; you may find some inspiration to give it a go yourself!
As with all forms of betting, the risk is very real. Be sure to set deposit limits, track your losses, bet on markets you love, and if the fun starts to leave your UFC betting experience, consider taking a time out, or seeking some advice.
As our Bet on UFC fights guide goes the distance, we look to recap some of the key highlights and takeaways to help you get the most out of your MMA gambling.
Choosing the right platform and understanding the availability of the market is the best starting point for any UFC betting fan. Take advantage of bonus offers, check that payment methods suit your requirements, uncover whether your site allows for under/over wagers, and always check the terms and conditions.
Research and review your betting history, take an honest look at your spending habits, where you are profiting, what markets you are losing, and change your approach accordingly.
We at Wetten wish you a safe, fun, and profitable UFC betting career. For those of you looking to expand your knowledge away from the octagon, why not have a look at our Nascar betting guide.
Depending on your chosen sportsbook the UFC betting opportunities are plentiful. Before placing your UFC wager consider whether your matchup is destined to go the distance, if your fighter has knockout power or is serious about submissions and place your bets accordingly.
When selecting your UFC sportsbook there are many things to consider. As with all betting platforms your main focus should always be your account security. Review terms and conditions, payment methods and any fees associated with your account to save your blushes further down the line.
Here at Wetten, we are firm believers in research. Understanding the basics of mixed martial arts, your fighters preferences and how they perform under high-stake conditions is a sure fire way to increase your UFC betting profitability.
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