PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

THE BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO BETTING ON THE UFC

Introduction

Everybody needs a guide when starting out, especially when there’s money on the line. While sports betting has existed for many decades, betting on MMA events has exploded over the last few years. This is down to the superstar personalities that have risen to prominence through the UFC, the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As the biggest MMA event, UFC matchups attract bettors from all over the world.

Here you’ll find a primer that explains how these bets work and how you can make some cash through gambling on the UFC. There are both local and major UFC fights that you can bet on. Once you’re confident that you can start betting, you can visit sportsbooks like Fanduel to try your luck.

The Sport Of MMA

MMA is Mixed Martial Arts, a fighting competition where different combatants strike and grapple with one another. Unlike many other martial arts, points aren’t as important since the objective is to get the other opponent to give in or even get knocked out. In the event the fight ends without a clear winner, only then is the fight scored and a winner decided. Fights take place in a distinct arena called the octagon because it has eight sides.

Here's a quick rundown of how most MMA matches work:

• The simplest win is through a knockout, or KO, which is where the opponent cannot continue fighting.

• MMA athletes are often ambitious and stubborn, trying to continue the fight even after being injured. In these cases, the physician or the referee may call an end to the bout for the fighter’s safety. This is a technical knockout, or TKO.

• Another method of winning is through submission. If the opponent is in a chokehold or a limb hold that forces them to tap out, then the winner has won the fight via submission.

• Like a TKO, a fighter’s corner camp might also choose to surrender themselves if the fighter has sustained damage but the referee/physician won’t call the fight.

• Every round in the UFC lasts for five minutes, with five rounds making up every fight. After those rounds are over, the judges decide who wins through the performance of each fighter during the fight.

• Both combatants have to actively fight. This is enforced by the referee. Different fighters have different styles that will be more strike-heavy or grapple-heavy.

How To Bet On MMA Fighting

Betting on the UFC is a surefire way to learn more about the sport. UFC nights are common and full of multiple bouts, so you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to betting on your favorite fighters and matchups.

Most bets on MMA bouts simply bet on who the winner will be. This is called match betting, just like it is for other sports. You bet on which of the two combatants will emerge victorious in the fight. You could also bet on a draw occurring, though this isn’t very common at all.

Along with match betting, you can bet on how the fight will be won too. Given the different disciplines in MMA, some fighters prefer grappling and submission over brute-force knockouts. This allows you to anticipate and bet on the method of victory.

Then you can also bet on how many rounds the fight will last for. Using an over/under line, you’ll predict if the fight goes past that number or not. In a five-round fight, you could bet if it ends before the third round or surpasses the third round.

You can combine some of these bets. For example, you can place round and method bets that don’t just predict when the bout ends but also how the fight ends during that round.

Savvy bettors even bet on fights that aren’t confirmed yet to get ahead of the odds. Even if the fight falls through, the bet will be refunded and so you don’t lose much.

If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!

• Tweet