Best UFC Sites

When it comes to UFC betting in the UK, you’ll be KO’d by the range of online bookies on offer. Our industry experts have put together a list of the best UFC betting sites around right now, so you can quickly compare them and sign up today!

How to bet on UFC

UFC stands for Ultimate Fighting Championship, and it certainly lives up to its name. Online UFC betting means putting money on some of the biggest mixed martial arts (MMA) events anywhere in the world, with the greatest cage fighters across a series of weight divisions doing savage battle for supremacy inside the iconic Octagon. 

Want to put money on which of these modern-day gladiators will triumph in the next event? It’s easy, thanks to the UFC betting sites in the UK. We’ve listed the best bookies right here – all you have to do is pick your favourite, follow the link to sign up, and you can start wagering on all kinds of betting markets for these fast and furious MMA showdowns.

Best UFC betting sites

You won’t be short of options when it comes to UFC betting sites. In fact, there are so many bookies online that you might feel some information overload! But don’t worry, this is where we come in. It’s our mission to make it easier for you to find the best UFC betting sites, and we’ve reviewed long-established sites and up-and-coming bookies alike. Some basic factors to bear in mind when assessing the top operators include:

• What kinds of welcome bonuses are on offer – paying particular attention to waging requirements and other small-print stipulations
• The range of betting markets available for UFC fights – after all, it’s not just about wagering on who the winner will be
• The variety of banking methods supported – so you’ll know you can deposit and withdraw using your preferred method
• Whether the site has a downloadable mobile app – making it easier to bet on the go

UFC betting tips

Just like with any sport, it pays to do your research before getting stuck into some UFC betting. While the official rankings of the fighters may be a natural port of call, it’s far more useful to consider their recent form. Detailed statistics are readily available online, showing not just how many times a fighter has won, but their tally of strikes and takedowns, among other things. Knowing how two fighters have performed in recent events will help you make an informed prediction about how they’ll fare against each other. 

Bear in mind their fighting styles too – some fighters are grapplers, deploying wrestler-style moves, while others are strikers, taking a more aggressive, boxer-like approach. By understanding a fighter’s style, you’ll be to bet on whether they’re likely to win by knocking out their opponent, forcing submission or gradually racking up points.

UFC betting strategies should also include having a flutter on the prelims – ie, the less publicised fights with the more obscure contenders who are still making their names. There’s plenty of potential here to exploit lucrative odds on underdog fighters, providing you research their form as we mentioned above. 

How do UFC betting odds work?

It almost goes without saying that online UFC betting requires an understanding of how online odds work. Here’s a quick rundown of what you can expect to see on UFC betting sites.

Fractional odds

This is the old school way of presenting odds. For example, featherweight fighter Brian Ortega might be given odds of 13/8 to beat Chan Sung Jung. The first number is how much the bookie will pay out based on the second number. To calculate what you’ll win if the bet comes good, simply divide the first number by the second and multiply by your wager. So, if you bet £10 on Ortega at these odds, you’d win £16.25 (along with your initial stake). 

Decimal odds

Decimal odds are even simpler to understand. Say the odds of a victory by KO are listed as 3.25, and you put down £10 on this outcome. To work out your return, you just need to multiply the numbers together. In this example, if there’s a KO you’ll get £32.50. This includes your original stake, though. To work out pure profit, multiply your wager by the odds minus 1. 

American odds

These are also known as moneyline odds, and expressed as positive or negative numbers. Odds with a positive (+) symbol show how much you’ll make on a £100 bet, while odds with a negative (-) symbol show much you have to bet in order to make £100. 

Let’s say a high-ranking fighter is the favourite at -155. This means you’ll have to bet £155 to win £100. On the other hand, if you fancy their underdog opponent who has odds of +130, you’ll have to bet £100 to win £130. 

Popular UFC bets

The best UFC betting sites let you put money on all aspects of a match. Here are some popular betting markets to look out for:

• Outright winner – simply put, who’ll be the victor 
• Method of victory – will it be a knockout, technical knockout, submission, or will it go to the judges?
• Round betting – where you’ll guess the winner of each individual round
• Go the distance – this market lets you predict whether the fight will reach the full number of rounds allowed
• Total rounds – a classic over/under bet where you’ll wager on how many rounds the match will last

Live UFC betting

Some call it in-play UFC betting, some call it live UFC betting. However you think of it, this is a particularly exciting way to put money on MMA matches. The principle is very simple: the bookmaker will let you place wagers on all kinds of outcomes after the fighters have already started going at it in the Octagon. As cage fighting is such a fast-paced sport, you’ll have to make snap judgements to exploit the rapidly-fluctuating odds.

Live UFC betting can also bring you bigger returns. If a favourite fighter looks to be faltering in the early rounds, the odds will lengthen compared to what they were before the match commenced. Bet now, and you’ll get a far fatter return if and when the favourite ends up the victor.

Mobile UFC betting sites

One of the big benefits of online UFC betting is you can do it anywhere and anytime you like – all you need is a smartphone or a tablet with an Internet connection. Virtually every online bookmaker is optimised for use on your mobile browser, which is great news if you want to bet on the move, or if just don’t feel like being hunched over your computer when you wager.

UFC betting apps

Many of the best UFC betting sites go the extra mile by providing native apps. These are the kinds of apps you download onto your device, to sit separately from your web browser. Native apps tend to boast a faster, slicker interface and let you place bets with a few taps, without having to bother with navigating your way to the bookie’s website. You can also look forward to app-exclusive bonuses and push notifications that alert you to the latest promos as soon as they’re available.