Mixed martial arts has never been more popular, and the simultaneous boom of the legal gambling industry has led many fight fans to search for how to bet on UFC. There are several methods for betting on UFC, with a variety of enticing bet types, and of course, no shortage of sports betting apps and sites.
Whether you’re a hardcore fan who’s been around since the dawn of UFC 1 or one who just found the ultra-exciting sport, this page will cover everything you need to know about betting on the UFC. Follow along for a complete breakdown of bet types, fight odds, and key terms/information for bettors to understand.
How to bet on UFC: Fight odds and bet types
There are a variety of ways for fight fans to bet on UFC, including several popular bet types. UFC moneylines allow users to pick an outright winner and profit if their fighter comes out victorious. Over-under round betting provides bettors with a way to call their shot on how many rounds a fight will last. And, of course, UFC prop betting has all the niche markets that an MMA bettor could ask for.
UFC Moneyline Odds
The easiest and most straightforward way to bet on the UFC is by wagering on a moneyline. This UFC bet type is just picking a winner of the bout, no matter the method of victory. Each fighter will have associated moneyline odds, which represent their odds of winning the fight.
The fighter that is the betting favorite will be marked with (-) moneyline odds, while the fighter that is the betting underdog will carry (+) moneyline odds. These moneyline odds determine the payout of a successful bet.
For example, a successful $100 bet on an underdog fighter with (+220) moneyline odds would payout a profit of $220. On the flipside, a UFC bettor would need to successfully wager $220 on a favored fighter with (-220) moneyline odds to return a profit of $100.
While most UFC fights see a winner and loser, it is possible for the judges to have it all even on the scorecards after the final bell, in which the fight is a draw. Given that a UFC bout can end in a draw, users will have a little bit more juice when betting UFC moneylines in comparison to sports where a winner/loser is a guaranteed outcome.
UFC Over-Under Round Betting
Another very popular bet type for UFC gamblers is the over-under round total. This bet type does not require users to pick a winner of the fight, and instead focuses on how many rounds the bout lasts.
The way this betting market operates is very easy to understand. Oddsmakers will set a total number of how many rounds the fight could last, and users bet that the actual number of rounds the fight lasts is over or under that total.
For three-round fights, the over-under total is typically set at 1.5 or 2.5 rounds. For main events and championship bouts (which are five-round fights), the over-under total is typically set at 2.5 or 3.5 rounds.
UFC Prop Betting
Just like betting on any other sport, UFC gamblers also have the option to wager on props. UFC prop betting encompasses a variety of niche markets and can provide lucrative odds and angles to bet on a fight.
While UFC props can vary, the following are some of the more regularly seen UFC prop bets on most sportsbooks:
- Fight to go the distance: Bet on whether or not the fight will last the full scheduled duration (three rounds or five rounds). This is different than betting the over-under rounds total.
- Time props: Bet on a fight to end within a specific time window (specific time within a round). This is different than betting the over-under rounds total.
- Round props: Bet on the exact round a fight will end. This is different than UFC time props or the over-under rounds total.
- Method of victory: Bet on exactly how a fight will be won (knockout, submission, or judge decision). This bet type also requires the user to pick the winning fighter.
One of the more popular methods of UFC prop betting is to parlay several wagers together. We’ll further detail UFC parlay betting in the next section.
UFC Parlay Betting
For UFC bettors who want to call multiple shots throughout a fight card, there is the option to parlay those wagers together. UFC parlay betting allows fight fans to combine multiple wagers together onto one betting ticket for multiplied odds and a potentially larger payout.
This can be one of the most entertaining ways to bet on UFC, especially if the parlay bet is spread out across several fights on the event card. UFC fans can combine moneylines with over-under totals, props, and more to create their parlay and potentially make it rain.
In order to craft a UFC parlay, the user must combine at least two legs (bets) onto the same ticket. Users can certainly stack together more than two legs in a parlay bet, and the potential payout will grow with each wager added, but the risk of the bet losing will also increase with each bet added.
To cash a UFC parlay, the user must successfully win each individual bet on the parlay ticket. If any of the individual legs loses, the entire parlay ticket is marked as a loss.
UFC Live Betting
If you’ve watched enough UFC action, then you’ve very likely seen a ‘Live Fight Odds’ graphic on the screen during a bout. These are live betting odds that allow users to place wagers on a fight as it is actively taking place.
Live betting odds update from moment to moment in accordance with the ongoing action, and they can present serious points of value for UFC bettors.
For example, Leon Edwards was (+1200) on the live odds moneyline after the fourth round of his Welterweight title fight vs. Kamaru Usman at UFC 278. In that fifth and final round, Edwards scored one of the most memorable headkick knockouts in UFC history to win the fight in stunning come-from-behind fashion.
If you had locked in a $100 bet on Edwards’ (+1200) live odds moneyline at the end of round four, that would have paid out a $1,200 profit following the KO just a few minutes later.
Where to bet on UFC: Available sportsbook states
The sports betting industry continues to grow year after year, with more states joining the ranks offering retail and online sportsbooks. UFC wagering is widely available across the United States and has become one of the more popular sports/leagues to bet on.
As it stands in 2025, eligible users in all of the following states have access to bet on UFC with all the best sports betting apps and sites:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Washington DC
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
The availability of UFC betting will only increase from here as more states continue to legalize and launch sportsbooks.
Key factors for betting on UFC
MMA is one of the most unpredictable sports by its nature, and as such, can be difficult for bettors to decide where to place their wagers. For less experienced users looking to get in on the exciting action, here are some key factors to consider for betting on the UFC:
- Win/loss record: The career body of work for professional fighters showcases their win/loss results across all of their contests.
- Fight style: The age-old saying that ‘styles make fights’ rings true in UFC betting. The strengths and weaknesses of a fighter can be highlighted depending on the opponent.
- Experience: Like most professional sports, fighters tend to get better as they gain experience. Octagon experience is also an important factor when a fighter from a different promotion makes their debut in the UFC.
- Training camp: Sometimes, a fighter will sign a contract for a fight on short notice, meaning they do not have a full training camp period leading up to the bout. This can affect key aspects of a fighter’s abilities, mainly cardio/conditioning.
- Pre-fight news/media: Sometimes, pre-fight media and interviews can reveal important developments and storylines that were not previously public knowledge but could seriously impact the fight.
- Injuries: Although fighters are required to pass medicals to be cleared to fight, injuries happen. If a fighter is dealing with an injury going into a bout, it can seriously impact their performance.
- Travel: Depending on where the UFC event takes place, some fighters may need to travel further, which is an important aspect ahead of fight week and can impact fighter performance.
- Training partners: Some fighters train at major MMA gyms with a storied history of champions and top contenders, while some fighters train in smaller camps with longtime coaches and teammates. Both approaches can prove to be successful, but a fighter’s training partners leading up to a bout are always an important factor to consider.
How to bet on UFC FAQ
Some of the frequently asked questions regarding how to bet on the UFC.
Can I bet on UFC fights?
Yes, UFC betting is available in a variety of states throughout the country where legal sportsbooks are live and launched: Eligible users have several methods and bet types with which to wager on UFC action.
What are the different bet types for UFC gambling?
There are several ways to bet on UFC fights, including fighter moneylines, over-under round totals, fight props, live betting, and UFC parlays: UFC fights offer some of the most exciting markets for users to wager on due to the unpredictable nature of the sport.
Where is UFC betting available?
UFC betting is currently available in AZ, CT, CO, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, TN, VT, VA, WV, and WY: The list of available UFC betting states continues to expand as more states launch legal sportsbooks.
What is the minimum age to bet on UFC?
In most states, the minimum sports betting age is 21 years old; however, some states allow users 18 and older to bet on sports: Make sure to check your state’s minimum betting age before getting started with UFC betting.
Are there sportsbook promos and bonuses for betting on UFC?
Yes, top sportsbook operators like DraftKings, FanDuel, bet365, BetMGM, Caesars, and others often provide new and existing users with lucrative sportsbook promos, bonuses, and boosts for betting on UFC action: Check the promos section of your sportsbook app whenever a big-time fight rolls around to see available offers for betting on the bout.
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