Betting on UFC in 2025

UFC Betting Overview

The UFC is MMA’s most prominent organisation. Founded in 1993, over the last 30+ years it has gained millions of fans who look for more intense, exciting, no-holds-barred fighting events than other sports such as boxing can provide.

UFC fights are decided by a number of factors. In addition to rankings, fighter matchups are also chosen by fighter performance and how marketable a fight might be. Therefore, in every UFC event there are bouts that will stimulate interest amongst MMA fans and beyond.

As the popularity amongst spectators has grown, so too has betting on UFC action. It has huge global appeal, which has led to online bookmakers offering odds on markets on every event. Fight Nights are held all over the world, which has certainly helped UFC become a force on a global scale.

Many of its stars have become household names. Recently retired Jon Jones, thought of as the GOAT of the sport by many, is known all over the world. Huge fights such as those between Connor McGregor and Dustin Poirier, and McGregor v Khabib Nurmagomedov, captured the imagination of fans everywhere. More recently, the bout between Paddy ‘the Baddy’ Pimblett and Michael Chandler saw millions of dollars staked on the outcome.

Typically, UFC holds two to three Fight Nights per month, with numbered events usually taking place one per month. Numbered events, such as UFC 318 taking place in July, are Pay Per View events and feature huge championship bouts and title matchups. Fight Nights, while still featuring bouts the public want to see, tend to focus on rising stars and fighters local to the area in which the event is being held.

There are 12 title belts in UFC - 8 weight divisions in men’s UFC and 4 weight divisions for women. Currently, only three weight divisions are in use for women’s UFC, with the Featherweight division pretty much dissolved due to a lack of quality fighters. Title defences are amongst the most popular fights. As such, bookmakers often provide specific bonuses and promotions on these bouts, as well as a wider range of betting markets.

Below, we’ve listed all current UFC Champions.

• Heavyweight - Tom Aspinall
• Light Heavyweight - Magomed Ankalaev
• Middleweight - Dricus Du Plessis
• Welterweight - Jack Della Maddalena
• Lightweight - Islam Makhachev
• Featherweight - Alexander Volkanovski
• Men’s Bantamweight - Merab Dvalishvili
• Men’s Flyweight - Alexandre Pantoja
• Women’s Bantamweight - Kayla Harrison
• Women’s Flyweight - Valentina Shevchenko
• Strawweight - Zhang Weili

As events are held regularly, there are plenty of chances to bet on UFC action. Betting sites make odds and markets available well in advance of each event, particularly for numbered events. This helps you to plan your betting, do your research and find value odds.

Why Bet on UFC in 2025?

One of the biggest reasons for the rise in popularity of the UFC is that they give the audience the fights they want to see. It can be difficult to call a winner of a fight as matchups are generally between fighters of similar quality. This means winners can be hard to predict and while this further adds to the excitement of betting on the sport, it can be difficult to call a fight correctly. However, this also means that odds can be favourable, you can find value odds often, especially if you’ve conducted your research thoroughly.

There’s also a huge range of betting markets available on UFC fights. We’ll talk more about this later, but you can expect to find a range of niche and exotic betting markets at most UFC bookmakers.

The biggest events in UFC, such as title fights, can often come with specific bookmaker promotions attached which in turn can see you maximise your profit or provide you with a risk-free betting opportunity.

Top Betting Sites for UFC in 2025

With the global impact the UFC has, it’s no surprise that almost every bookmaker offers odds on each major event.

There are a variety of factors when we rank the best sites for UFC betting. Of course, we look for a good range of markets and competitive odds on UFC and MMA in general. In addition, we examine live markets, promotions and bonuses, mobile betting and overall user experience.

Our top 5 betting sites for UFC odds are detailed below.

#1 Megapari

An incredibly popular betting site in many countries, Megapari offer odds and markets on both numbered and Fight Night UFC events, as well as a whole host of other combat sports. We’re very happy with the number of markets available on UFC. For example, the UFC 317 bout between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveiri had almost 160 markets available to bet on, including Method of Victory, When Will Bout End, First 60 seconds and Bout Duration.

The Megapari desktop site is pretty cluttered, but it’s still easy enough to find the markets you’re looking for. We found it easier to access odds using the mobile app, which is available on Android and iOS operating systems.

There are plenty of promotions available, for both new and existing customers. Boost and Cashback bonuses can be used on UFC betting, with specific fight offers occasionally options too.

#2 22Bet

Another excellent choice of UFC betting site is 22Bet. Bettors at this bookmaker can enjoy a comprehensive UFC betting experience, with odds and markets available on numbered and Fight Night events.

There are between 150 and 165 betting markets available on the biggest bouts. Topuria v Oliveiri in 317 featured 159 separate betting odds, covering popular and niche market options.

The 22Bet site is usable, but the mobile version provides a much smoother betting experience. Dedicated betting apps are also available to download on Android and iOS devices.

There’s a great selection of bonus offers at 22Bet, including odds boost, rebate and reload bonuses.

#3 20Bet

We rank 20Bet very highly for UFC betting. Offering a great range of odds and markets, this operator provides plenty of betting options on UFC and combat sports in general.

Live odds are also available on the biggest events. You’ll find in-play odds on all numbered events, with many Fight Night bouts also available to bet on live.

The 20Bet app provides an easy-to-use, smooth interface that allows for easy navigation. The desktop site isn’t as seamless, but is still reasonably user friendly.

There’s a good range of promotions for new and existing customers to claim, many of which can be used for betting on the UFC.

#4 1xBet

A hugely popular betting site across the globe, 1xBet are a great choice of UFC bookmaker. They offer odds and markets on UFC events well in advance of fight night, along with odds on other MMA leagues and competitions.

Bettors at this site can also place wagers on bouts in real time via the Live section. This facility is available using both the desktop and mobile versions of the site.

Promotions are numerous, many of which can be used on UFC fights, such as 1xBet’s Odds Boosts offers.

#5 Rabona

Making up our top five UFC betting sites is Rabona. Odds are available on site well in advance of fight night, meaning you can plan your betting early. There aren’t as many markets available as some of their competitors, but the most popular markets are listed. In addition, the odds available at Rabona offer great value.

The live betting facility available is equally as impressive, with odds updated constantly through each event.

The desktop site is extremely cluttered, but this doesn’t really seem to impact loading times or navigation. However, the mobile version was much easier to use, providing a more enjoyable user experience.

There’s a fantastic range of promotions and bonus offers at this site, including a generous welcome offer for new customers.

Betting Site	Average number of UFC markets	UFC Promotions	Live UFC Betting
	11	Deposit Match, Free Bets, Cashback	Yes
	11	Deposit Match, Reload, Free Bets	Yes
	11	Deposit Match, Free Bets, Odds Boosts	Yes
	11	Deposit Bonus, Risk Free Bet, Cashback	Yes

Upcoming UFC Events and Headliners 2025

There’s a plethora of UFC bouts scheduled for the rest of 2025. Below, you’ll find all major upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship events.

UFC Betting Odds

Betting sites offer a range of formats for you to read UFC odds. While these can differ from site to site, you can expect to find the following formats at most online bookmakers:

• Decimal (European)
• Fractional (UK)
• Moneyline (US)
• Hong Kong
• Indonesian
• Malaysian

Decimal, Fractional and American odds are the formats you’re most likely to find no matter which site you sign up to. Let’s take a look at what these odds mean.

For our examples, we’re going to use the UFC 319 title bout between Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev.

These current odds on both fighters to win:

Let’s start with Decimal odds. Odds less than 2.0 is also known as ‘odds-on’ and generally indicates the favourite. With Fractional odds, odds shorter than 1/1, also known as Evens, also indicate the bookie’s favourite. With Moneyline odds, the minus sign in front of the number suggests the favourite, with the + sign indicating the outsider.

As you can see in the table above, the odds suggest that Chimaev is the favourite to win the bout.

So, how much do you stand to win on a successful bet? Let’s say you place a stake of €10 on Chimaev and want to calculate how much this bet stands to win. If you’re using Decimal odds, you can use the calculation of Stake x Decimal Odds. In this case, you’d multiply 10 by 1.5, which equals 15, leading to a €5 profit.

For Fractional odds, it’s slightly more complicated. To calculate your potential winnings, you’d multiply the stake by the top number, in this case 1, and divide this number by the bottom number, in this case 2. So our calculation would be 10 multiplied by 1 divided by 2, which equals 5, therefore €5 profit.

Moneyline odds are calculated differently still. If your odds have a + sign in front, you’d calculate your winnings by dividing your stake by 100, then multiplying this number by the odds. If your odds have a - sign in front, you need to divide 100 by the odds, then multiply this number by your stake. In our case, the Moneyline odds are -200. So, we’d divide 100 by 200, then times this number by €10, which shows us a profit of €5.

UFC Predictions and Fight Night Picks

Let’s focus on UFC 318, due to take place in New Orleans on July 20th. The headline fight is Max Holloway vs Dustin Poirier, which will be the third time these fighters have faced each other. Poirier won the first two meetings between the pair, the first of which came in 2012 when Holloway made his promotional debut. Their second meeting came at UFC 236 in 2019, where Poirier was again successful, this time by unanimous decision.

The third meeting will be Poirier’s swansong, as the star has announced his retirement. Who will win? The odds are pretty close. It’s Poirier’s final outing, plus the event is taking place in his home state of Louisiana. He’s also beaten Holloway twice. The latter lost his last fight to Ilia Topuria at UFC 308 and so many are predicting a reasonably comfortable victory for Poirier.

Ateba Gautier vs Robert Valentin is a Middleweight bout on the card at 318. While most are predicting a KO victory for Gautier, it’s important to remember how explosive Valentin can be. Current odds suggest Gautier is the favourite, priced at around 1.29, with his opponent at 3.38.

UFC Betting Strategies and Tips

• Research Fighter Styles. As UFC can be a difficult event to bet on successfully, it’s important you look at every aspect of a fight. One such aspect is fighter style. Learn which fighters perform well against opponents who are good when they go to ground, or who are experts at wrestling. No matter how powerful a fighter might be, learn their weaknesses and if they’re up against an opponent who might exploit them.
• Fitness and injuries. With UFC action being pretty brutal, both in fights and in training camps, injuries occur often. Look at the recent injury records of the fighter you’re betting on. Also, research into their training camps, has there been any changes to trainers and coaches? This can also play a part in how a fight might play out. In addition, research into how many rounds a fighter has gone previously. Some fighters try and get the job done in the early rounds as they’re unsure of their ability to last the duration.
• Consider recent form. While UFC events can present surprises all the time, it’s still important to research the form of your fighter. If they’ve lost a few, how have they lost them? How often have they suffered a KO, or a Submission, and are they facing a KO or Submission king? Also, consecutive losses can sometimes be a sign of a declining fighter. Additionally, if the fighter you’re looking to bet on has won a few consecutively, think about how and in what round they were victorious and if any similarities can be found between their previous and next opponents.
• Don’t bet on the name. It can be tempting, especially if you’re not completely knowledgeable about the UFC, to bet on a famous name. Of course, successful fighters tend to become household names, but this doesn’t mean success in future fights. Analyse the current skills and ability of the fighter, not what they’ve achieved previously.

Live Betting on UFC Fights

In-play betting can often provide greater entertainment and intensity than pre-fight bets. Odds can fluctuate dramatically in-play on many sports, none more so than on UFC action.

If you’re betting on live UFC odds, you’ll need to pay close attention. Odds can change very quickly, responding to a fighter getting knocked down, a grapple or serious cuts and bleeds. If one fighter appears to be getting on top, the odds on that fighter can drastically shorten.

You’ll notice that odds change from round to round, as well as during each round. To give yourself the best chance of betting successfully, you’ll need to be alert to all potential changes during your fight of choice.

Very often, a bookmaker denotes the change in odds using coloured icons. Generally, a red icon indicates the odds have shortened and a green icon indicates odds have lengthened. This can come in handy to notice odds changes quickly as the event proceeds.

All of the UFC betting sites we’ve featured in this guide offer comprehensive in-play betting facilities which feature live odds on the biggest events.

UFC Prop Bets and Exotic Markets

As we saw earlier, the best UFC bookmakers offer a wide range of markets. While it’s likely you’ll be familiar with standard markets, such as Fight Winner or Total Rounds, there’s a much greater choice available that can potentially offer greater value than a standard bet.

• Method of Victory. This market contains an array of different options. With a Method of Victory wager, you’re betting on how either fighter will win, or how the fight will end. You’ll find options like Win By KO, TKO or DQ, Win By Submission, Painful Locks or Chokehold and Win by Decision or Split Decision. Many of these come with Yes/No options, which can further enhance value.
• Win in Round. As UFC rounds are quickfire, it can be difficult to call which round a fight will end in. The Win in Round market can present good value. Most betting sites will allow you to choose a specific round or a round band, such as Rounds 1-3. There are even more specific options, such as which round a fighter will be submitted, or which round a fighter will win by chokehold.
• Will the Specified Round Start. Another Round Betting market, many operators give you the option of betting on whether the bout will reach a certain round.
• Bout Duration. A popular choice amongst many UFC bettors, the Bout Duration market allows you to bet on how long a fight will last, in minutes.
• Who Will Win The Bout Within The First 60 Seconds. If you’re looking for markets with incredibly long odds, this one ticks the box. This market allows you to bet on which fighter will win the fight within the first minute of action. It doesn’t happen often, but there have been a few instances of a fighter winning within the first 60 seconds of a fight, most memorably when Jorge Masvidal knocked out Ben Askren almost immediately with a flying knee.

What Payment Methods Can I Use to Bet on UFC events?

The best sites tend to offer a variety of deposit and withdrawal methods for their customers to use. Payment methods, minimum deposits and minimum withdrawals can vary, depending on who you’re betting with and which country you’re betting from. Generally, though, most site will provide the following options.

UFC Betting Bonuses and Promotions

As we touched upon earlier, most sites offer an array of bonuses and promotions that can be used on UFC betting. Specific offers tend to be reserved for the biggest headline fights, but other promos can be claimed by betting on UFC events.

The types of promotions you’re likely to find when you bet on the UFC include the following.

• Odds Boosts. These offers are a common sight at UFC bookmakers. Boosts can increase the odds on selected events and markets, presenting bettors with greater value.
• In-Play Free Bets. Occasionally, you’ll find promotions that can give you a free bet to use in-play if you place a pre-fight wager.
• Insurance. Some betting sites offer Insurance bets, such as Acca Insurance. You’re likely to find offers that return your stake if one fighter in your accumulator fails to win.
• Money Back. These are another common promo for UFC betting. These types of offers can vary, but you’re likely to come across an offer such as money back if your fighter loses by submission, or money back if the fight is finished in the first round.