UFC Betting Odds & Lines

Spearheaded by its President, Dana White, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is the world's premier mixed martial arts organization. It was established in 1993, but the promotion had to fight through a decade of backlash – due to its in-cage violence – before gaining recognition as a professional sport. And now, thirty years into its existence, it's the fastest-growing sport on the planet and has matched the pay-per-view numbers of some of the most viewed boxing main events in combat sports history.

With twelve weight divisions (eight men's and four women's), 2022 saw the UFC hold more than 600 events in that calendar year. Every month provides fight fans with three to four events, including spin-off events such as Tuesday Night's Contender Series and The Ultimate Fighter. Under the guidance of Dana White, the UFC is now a multi-billion-dollar enterprise and continues to grow rapidly behind the assistance of MMA superstars such as Conor McGregor, Israel Adesanya, Jon Jones, Sean O'Malley, Paddy Pimblett, Khamzat Chimaev and Dustin Poirier.

The sports betting market isn't far behind whenever a popular sport is consistently supported in North America. In today's betting guide, we'll help you better understand the basics of UFC odds and lines, the types of UFC betting, and answer the most asked questions surrounding MMA and the sports betting markets it currently populates.

Behind the exponential growth of the MMA industry, the UFC is leading the way in all aspects – including the betting markets. Below you'll find the most commonly approached types of bets for UFC markets at the top sportsbooks with a short explanation of their work.

The moneyline. Perhaps the most popular sports gambling market universally. It's also the most straightforward, and regarding UFC bouts, bettors are tasked with picking a winner of the fight.

Unlike boxing moneyline markets, the betting odds for UFC moneyline wagers are fairly priced in most circumstances. Mixed martial arts present a certain level of unpredictability, thus leading to odds prices that can garner profitable long-term betting investments.

How well do you know a fighter or martial artist? Well, if you've got a knack for predicting fight outcomes, the UFC betting market is for you.

To accomplish success, you must predict a fighter to win and the method by which they'll achieve victory. UFC bouts can be won in various ways, such as:

Betting totals on a UFC event hold the same sentiment as any other over/under sports betting market – bettors must decide if the set total will go over or under. And regarding the UFC, the totals in question represent the number of rounds.

UFC Championship and main event bouts are x5, five-minute rounds. The over/under totals for these contests range between 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5. Regular preliminary or main card bouts are x3, three-minute rounds; the totals are set at 1.5 and 2.5.

UFC Totals Example:

Weili Zhang vs. Carla Esparza

Over/Under:

Bettors supporting the over would need the fight to exceed the midway point of the second round without a TKO/KO, submission, or DQ taking place. The time for over 2.5 rounds is exactly 12 minutes and 30 seconds. A $250 stake would return a $100 profit based on the fight odds in the example above.

Those backing the under 2.5 rounds would need the fight to end before the midway point of the second round. A $100 stake on this outcome would return $180 profit.

UFC prop bets involve predicting outcomes separate from the main betting lines (moneyline and totals). They can range from predicting which round the fight will end to how many takedowns are landed or which specific round you believe a fight will end.

Some of the most commonly approached UFC prop bets include:

Parlays are often referred to as "a sportsbook's best friend" as the lucrative odds received from compiling a long list of outcomes are incredibly tempting, but also extremely rewarding. However, the UFC isn't just any sport, and parlay wagers can be an excellent method of canceling some juice on dominant fighters whose moneyline odds are too highly-priced.

Jon Jones, Sean O'Malley and Islam Makhachev are all fighting on the same night, but are the moneyline prices too high? Put them all in a parlay and watch your potential returns rise.

The UFC hosts two types of events – Fight Nights and Pay-Per-Views. The former is the most common and is used for lower-ranked fighters or top-ranked fighters aiming to earn a championship opportunity or climb the rankings.

Fight Night events are currently labeled as 'UFC Vegas,' and are held 2-3 times per month at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas — a closed-off arena with limited public viewing created during the pandemic. However, post-pandemic, the need for closed-off fight nights isn't necessary, and you can expect the UFC to get back on the road for Fight Night events held in different states and countries at various arenas.

UFC pay-per-view events are held once per month and showcase the company's champions and top-ranked fighters.

Where can I bet UFC?

UFC betting markets are readily available at online betting sites throughout North America. Due to its increasing popularity and high demand, UFC betting odds can be found at almost every land-based and online sportsbook worldwide.

How does betting on UFC fights work?

You simply find a fighter you expect to win or a prop bet you believe has a good chance of winning, and you stake money against the outcome and receive cash profits if your expected outcome is successful.

Is MMA betting worth it?

Finding the best UFC betting value through dedicated research can undoubtedly result in long-term profits. It is also a fun activity to involve yourself in while watching the fights live. However, it is only worth it if you can afford it – always bet within your means.

How often do underdogs win in UFC?

In the previous eight years, UFC underdogs have won 35% of the time. Depending on the available odds, UFC underdogs are a viable path to a long-term return on investment.

How are odds made in UFC?

Oddsmakers utilize computer algorithms, rankings, win totals, futures and consultants to determine the UFC betting odds they provide.