How to Bet on UFC & MMA
How to Bet on UFC? - Ultimate MMA Betting Guide, Tips & Strategies
The UFC is the world’s biggest and most exciting MMA promotion, featuring many of the world’s best fighters. When you join us at Stake Sportsbook, you’ll be able to enjoy MMA betting odds on all UFC events, along with live streams and betting promotions.
MMA & UFC Rules & Gameplay
Although the two acronyms are often used interchangeably, MMA – mixed martial arts – is the sport, while UFC – Ultimate Fighting Championship – is the leading MMA organisation.
Fights involve 2 opposing fighters, who can use punches, kicks, elbows, knees, takedowns and submission moves to defeat their opponent. The referee in the cage upholds strict rules prohibiting eye gouging, hair pulling, biting, and low blows, among other unsavoury actions. Fighters are classified by their weight, ranging from flyweight to heavyweight.
Main UFC events are numbered (for instance, UFC 325), and there will be a headline fight and several other high-profile fights on the main card. Also on the card will be several preliminary fights, which precede the main event on the night itself. It’s not uncommon for UFC events to have 10+ individual bouts. A UFC Fight Night event is typically lower-profile, but it still features lots of exciting fights.
As for the fights themselves, they’re scheduled for either 3 or 5 rounds. Standard fights will be 3 rounds, while main events and championship fights are fought over 5 rounds. Regardless of the fight, each round is five minutes long.
A fighter can finish an opponent by KO/TKO or submission to win. Or if the fight goes the full distance, the outcome is determined by the judges’ scorecards. Three judges are present cageside and will score each round using the 10-point must system. This gives 10 points to the winner and 9 or fewer to the loser. The scoring criteria uses damage, control time and aggression. The total for each round is added up to determine the winner.
Major MMA Tournaments & UFC Fights
If you’re a fan of mixed martial arts, you will know that there are multiple MMA promotions, each featuring its own fighters:
UFC – The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the biggest MMA event in the world and is watched by millions. Be sure to check out the upcoming UFC bouts you can bet on at Stake.com.
PFL – The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is an American-based MMA league launched in 2018, with 8 weight divisions and a very similar structure to the UFC.
One Championship - A Singapore-based combat sports promotion which holds events featuring kickboxing, muay thai, submission grappling and MMA.
RIZIN Fight Federation - The largest MMA promotion in Japan, with some of the world’s best fighters.
EFC – The Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) has been going strong since 2009 and is based in South Africa, though EFC events are broadcast in more than 120 nations worldwide.
KSW – Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (KSW) is one of the leading MMA organisations in Europe. Based in Poland, the championship has been running since 2002.
Cage Warriors - A UK-based MMA promotion which has featured many of the UFC’s biggest stars, including Conor McGregor and Paddy Pimblett.
LFA - The Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) is a US-based MMA promotion that serves as a developmental league for the UFC, with many prospects emerging from it.
How to Bet on MMA & UFC Fights?
Placing your first bets on MMA fights and the UFC is straightforward enough. If you’re a complete beginner, we recommend reading our ultimate sports betting guide. We’ve also laid out the key steps below:
Log in to your Stake.com account using your password or secure passkey .
Check that you have sufficient balance before searching for the event or fighter you want to bet on.
You can also use the menu to look up MMA > Live and Upcoming to see all available events to bet on.
Alternatively, select the Outright tab to see all outright betting options.
Choose any event to see all the available fights and select one to see the full range of betting markets on that fight.
Add a bet to your bet slip, then enter your stake, check your potential and confirm to place your bet.
If available, open the live stream to watch the action inside the cage and see if you’re a winner!
Most Popular MMA Betting Markets & Types of UFC Bets
There are lots of different ways to bet on MMA at Stake. The number of markets offered on a fight depends on the popularity, but common markets on fight cards include:
Match winner - This is a straightforward moneyline bet on which fighter you think will have their hand raised at the end of the bout.
1x2 - Like the moneyline bet, this lets you predict the eventual winner, although it offers the possibility of betting on a draw.
Total rounds - Bet on the over/under for the total number of rounds you think will be fought. For example, in a bout between 2 fighters with high finish rates, you’d probably take the under.
Will the fight go the distance? - Bet yes or no on whether or not the fight will go the full number of rounds (either 3 or 5).
Winning method - Predict the method of victory, choosing whether the fight will be won by decision, submission or KO/TKO.
Winning method double chance - This lets you choose two different winning methods, and if either occurs, you’ll win your bet. For example, you can choose to bet on a KO/TKO or a decision.
Winner & exact rounds - Predict which fighter will win and the exact number of rounds fought.
Parlay bets - Combine multiple bets into one to increase your odds. For example, you can create a parlay from multiple fights on the same card.
Outright bets - Bet on long-term outcomes such as which fighters will hold the belt in their division after a certain date.
Live MMA Betting – How to Live Stream UFC & Place Live Bets?
Another option is to place live MMA bets, which allows you to put wagers on the fights as and when they’re taking place.
Whether you place bets or not, you can also live stream a wide selection of MMA fights at Stake.com. You don’t even need to log in to your account, and you can simply open Stake.com on your browser and find out which fights are available to live stream for free.
Learn more about the differences between live betting & pre-match betting at Stake and discover how to live stream MMA events for free.
UFC Betting Strategies & Tips to Win
Check all the available stats - Before you bet, you should always check the stats. For MMA fights, you want to look at fighter records, as well as physical stats such as height and reach. When making your picks, look at recent fights and the ranking of their opponents if available.
Consider layoffs or busy schedules - If a fighter has had a lot of time off recently, check the reason for it. Did they suffer a serious injury, or were they working on their skills? Busy schedules can be advantageous for fighters building momentum, but multiple fights and weight cuts in a year can take their toll on the body.
Watch for news during fight week - As fighters approach the week of the fight, they’re normally undergoing an intense weight cut. Watch out for a last-minute change of opponent or a missed weight cut, which could affect the odds.
Make the most of all the available betting markets - Here at Stake sportsbook, we offer a huge range of betting options on UFC and MMA fights. Make the most of these to find the best value when choosing your bets.
Use our picks and predictions - Our sports blog offers the latest predictions and expert analysis of upcoming UFC events, and we also provide exclusive interviews with our Stake-sponsored fighters for more insight into big fights.
MMA & UFC Betting Mistakes to Avoid
Don’t bet blind - Always check the latest stats and data before you bet. Ideally, you should watch some tape of the fighters when making your predictions too, as this will help you understand their styles and how they fight.
Don’t bet without comparing odds - When making your bets, it’s always a good idea to compare odds between betting sites to ensure you get the best price. This is known as line shopping.
Don’t bet recklessly - When choosing your bet size, it’s important to manage your bankroll and avoid betting more than you can afford to lose. Set a budget before you begin and stick to it.
Analysing UFC Fighter Styles & Matchups
Another key factor to consider when choosing your MMA bets is how each fighter’s style matches up against their opponent. The beauty of mixed martial arts is that there are thousands of fighters, and many of them have a different approach to the sport. From the high volume strikers, deadly counter strikers, powerful wrestlers and skilful submission specialists, there are many effective styles in MMA. However, some styles are particularly effective.
When choosing your MMA bets, it’s important to understand the fighting style of each fighter and their likely game plan when they’reinside the cage. Modern MMA fighters are better than ever at mixing styles effectively, but styles make fights. Analysing previous fights and knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each fighter is key to making successful bets.
MMA Betting Odds & Payouts Explained
MMA betting odds work in the same way as any other sport. The higher the odds, the lower the implied probability, but the larger your potential payout. When choosing your bets, it’s important to balance risk and reward. Remember, you can easily switch between odds formats at Stake, including decimal, fractional and American odds, to make it easier to calculate your potential returns.
Deposit & Withdrawal Methods for MMA & UFC Betting
Deposit
Log in to your Stake.com account and open your Stake wallet to see your current balance.
Select the deposit option before choosing a payment method and a local currency, such as Canadian Dollars, Turkish Lira, Vietnamese Dong, Argentine Pesos, Chilean Pesos, Mexican Pesos, USD in Ecuador, and Indian Rupees.
You can also deposit crypto at Stake , with support for a variety of popular cryptocurrencies, including BTC, ETH, USDT, EOS, DOGE, LTC, TRX, and SOL. Use these for secure deposits and crypto betting.
Send your coins to the deposit address provided, or use a trusted exchange or platform such as Mesh, Swapped.com or MoonPay to buy crypto before transferring it.
Once your deposit has arrived, you can store your coins safely in the Stake vault and use the crypto swap feature to swap between supported cryptocurrencies.
Withdraw
Log in and open your Stake wallet.
Select the option to withdraw and choose any of the available payment methods.
Enter your payment details and the amount you’d like to withdraw.
If you’re withdrawing cryptocurrency, check that the right network is selected .
Double-check your details before you confirm the payment.
Why Should You Bet on MMA & UFC at Stake.com?
Stake is the best place to enjoy betting on MMA thanks to our competitive UFC betting odds, varied betting options and free live streams on every UFC event. We’re also excited to offer some exclusive betting promotions, including decision insurance, which is available on all UFC fights.
What’s more, you’ll also be able to earn special rewards thanks to our VIP Club. Earn points by placing bets and level up your account to unlock regular rakeback, reload bonuses and even your own VIP host. Discover how it works on the VIP FAQ page.
Another reason to bet at Stake is our commitment to responsible betting. Our Stake Smart page offers tools and resources, including a budget calculator, to help you stay in control and have more fun.
