Ufc Betting Sites
Mixed martial arts continues to gain momentum throughout the USA and the world, with UFC fights and events being at the heart of it all. As the UFC fan base has grown tremendously, so too has interest in betting on UFC MMA fights.
- Ufc Betting Sites
- Ufc Betting Odds Sportsbook
- Best Vegas Betting Sites
- Ufc Betting Sites Canada
- Ufc Betting Predictions
MMA Stats @ Bet MMA: Bet MMA is home to the most in depth MMA betting statistics on the net! Check out whether it is best to bet on Underdogs or Favorites in MMA or check out our vast array of MMA stats, providing detailed breakdowns of MMA fights broken down by things like round by round finishes, card position, weight class, male and female, plus check out the odds at the time for every fight. The UFC, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, is the no.1 MMA discipline in the world with it generating huge betting interest, learn about the best online betting sites for the UFC, top bet bonuses and how to bet on the sport.
The all inclusive UFC betting sites are the mack daddy of the choices. These sites will let you bet on every fight, and you’ll have every betting option available to man. This is perfect for serious. UFC flyweight contender Alexandre Pantoja is looking forward to his next challenge in the Octagon. Paired up against the former Rizin Fighting Federation champion, Manel Kape, at UFC Vegas 18, the Brazilian has high expectations for an action-packed battle and hopes to score a bonus along the way. UFC Betting Site #6 – Ladbrokes. Ladbrokes is one of the biggest and best betting sites in the world. For MMA, they offer some of the best odds, along with a wide array of MMA markets to bet on. New players get to bet £5 and get £20 in free bets, while you can get a free daily odds boost on any sport, including MMA. UFC Betting Sites #7.
USA UFC betting options have increased as the sports betting market in the US has expanded beyond offshore sportsbooks to also include domestic sportsbooks. Online, mobile and in-person betting are all options depending on where you place your bets, with online sportsbooks offering some of the best bonus offers.
Bovada is our top recommendation for betting on UFC fights and really any MMA events. In addition to a nice selection of bettig lines, they offer some great prop bets for quite a few of the fights. Their bonus offers are attractive and they accept Bitcoin, which is the easiest option for US bettors.
New players enjoy a 100% bonus up to $250 on their first deposit, as well as ongoing promotions that will definitely appeal to loyal players.
Top Rated USA Online Sportsbooks Offering UFC Betting Lines
Site Name | Current Bonus | U.S. | Visit Site |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 50% Max $250 | Review | |
2 | 50% Max $1,000 | Review | |
3 | 100% Max $1,000 | Review | |
4 | 50% Max $1,000 | Review | |
5 | 50% Max $500 | Review | |
6 | 100% Max $300 | Review |
Is Betting On UFC Fights Legal In The United States?
There are no US federal laws that prohibit placing bets on UFC fights, or any MMA events, via offshore sportsbooks that are operating legally outside of the United States. In addition, only Connecticut and the state of Washington have outlawed online gambling, regardless of the source.
With the repeal of PASPA in 2018, domestic sports betting has expanded across the US, providing additional state-regulated sportsbooks options for Americans seeking legally sanctioned options for betting on MMA fights.
Upcoming UFC Fights to Bet On
Here we've listed the upcoming UFC fights that are currently covered by most sportsbooks. Visit any of the UFC betting sites listed above to find the odds and betting lines for each fight.
Date: May 9th, 2020
Location: Jacksonville, Fl.
Main Event: Ferguson VS Gaethje
Date: May 13th, 2020
Location: Jacksonville, Fl.
Main Event: Smith vs. Teixeira
Date: May 16th, 2020
Location: Jacksonville, FL.
Main Event: Overeem vs. Harris
Popular UFC Betting Lines
Moneyline
There are two main types of bets that you can place on fighters in the UFC, and both of them are technically called moneylines. The first is the classic moneyline. For instance, let's say that you find a featherweight bout featuring Max Holloway and Jeremy Stephens in a rematch. Winning the first fight, Holloway opens up as a favorite with a line of -220, and Stephens opens up +200. This means that to win $100, you'd have to bet $220 on Holloway, while betting $100 on Stephens would win you $200 if he wins the fight.
That's the traditional moneyline. The second sort of moneyline is more like horse racing odds, whereby you might see the odds of Stephens open up at around 4:1 before potentially adjusting to 2:1, matching the other line, while Holloway may have a line more like 5:3. They're both considered moneyline bets, however, and they're the most common types of bets you're going to find within the UFC.
UFC Futures
For UFC futures, all you're really doing here is betting in advance on which fighters will win which fights. The benefit of betting on futures is that you're betting early and may be able to find friendlier lines before action forces the lines to adjust to an unfavorable position. For example, when Holly Holm and Ronda Rousey opened up, Holm was a huge underdog, like around 30:1, so people who bet on that received a huge payday.
People who waited until closer to the fight to bet on Holm found that the odds had adjusted to around 12:1, and in some precincts only 6:1, so the payday wasn't nearly as large. So keep this in mind when betting on fighters. Futures, which will primarily be moneylines, is all about betting on the outcome of fights early on rather than nearer the gate.
UFC Prop Bets
While prop bets aren't offered on a lot of UFC sites and will likely only be found on the larger sportsbooks, you can still make quite a few prop wagers that go beyond the main moneyline bet. For instance, you can bet on which round a fighter will win or lose, or how they win or lose: Knockout, TKO, decision, DQ, etc. Keep your eyes peeled when you sign up for a sportsbook and be on the lookout for props.
These bets are often a lot more expansive than the simple moneyline bets that you find on fighters, and this will allow you to get your feet a lot wetter in the pool of betting, particularly as it pertains to leveraging your bets out. UFC action is typically too short-lived and fast-paced for any real live betting options, though it's not outside the realm of possibility that you'll find some. But larger sportsbooks will have props sections where you can bet on various aspects of the fights.
Recognizing UFC and Not Just MMA
It might be tough as a gambler to separate the UFC from MMA, but keep in mind that this guide is only about the UFC. Now, when you get to a sportsbook, you're probably going to have to click on the 'MMA' tab to see the 'UFC' tab specifically, but once you get to this section you're going to find plenty to bet on. Yes, you can bet on all sorts of MMA from around the globe, but for this guide we're going to keep the focus on the UFC.
Our reasoning is pretty simplistic. If you need to research fighters, look at past fights, check out fighting styles, and read expert opinions on fighters and what they think about the odds, then the UFC is far and away the most popular MMA league on the planet. If you're dealing with lesser MMA leagues, like Japanese or European leagues, then you might not be able to find a lot of good information about the fights.
And without information, you're basically betting blind and may as well flip a coin. By sticking with UFC betting, you're going to be able to find out a ton of information about fighting styles, expert opinions, and other sorts of breakdowns on the fighters. This invaluable information can easily help you make winning bets.
Where to Go Bet on UFC Fights
So, we mentioned before in our legal breakdown that your best bet is to simply find an offshore site. Unless you live in a state like Nevada, you're going to have to find an offshore website with which to bet on the UFC. This is your primary and your best option. Offshore sites that allow players from USA typically cater to Americans by offering big bonuses, flexible payment options like Bitcoin and perhaps even PayPal, and they'll cover an extensive range of UFC fights for your betting pleasure.
Of course, you don't have to go out there and start researching these sites on your own. Here at USA Sportsbook Sites, we can point you in the direction of a great sportsbook today. We have researched and reviewed these sites, and if you're an American in need of a home for sports betting, we can point you directly toward a winning website with which to bet.
Tips to Help You Win
Find A Trusted Site
We told you above where you can go to bet on the UFC, and also that we can help you get there. But we want to speak very briefly about how important this is. The top-shelf sportsbooks out there, like the ones we'll point you toward, have the most betting options, the fairest betting lines, and will also load you up with bonus money, reload bonuses, loyalty points, and other incentives for signing up.
So the first tip that's worth mentioning when betting on UFC fights is to find the right website with which to bet. Follow our lead here and find yourself a trusted US friendly sportsbook that will benefit you in many ways over the course of your betting.
Use the 10% Rule
It might seem like you're restricting your money to the point you cannot make any money, but you have to budget yourself when betting on sports. Limit all of your betting activities to 10% of your stack. Yes, if you have $300 in your account, this means only betting $30. We know; it sounds very restrictive, but it's all about risk minimization.
Think of the big picture here, the long game. As you start to win and turn that $30 to $60, and $60 to $120, that 10% gets bigger every single time. Eventually, and pretty soon, you're going to have $1,000 in your account if you do things correctly, and this going to allow you to bet $100 with your 10%, and on and on it goes.
This rule starts as a way to minimize your risks, but it gets even better as you follow through with it. As you proceed by only betting 10%, you're now only betting your profits, so no matter what you're never going to lose any of your money ever again so long as you stick to this rule. It's about thinking big picture here, not just a hit-and-run night with UFC betting.
Avoid Big Favorites
For the first real tip that has to do with judging fights, you should always avoid those huge favorites. Even if you bet on them and you end up winning, there's just not enough in it for you. For instance, let's say that Connor McGregor is facing off against a cupcake opponent just for a publicity stunt, which is often the case in Dana White's UFC; it's all about selling pay-per-view subscriptions to his UFC #58,458 this year.
So, McGregor's such a huge dog that's he's going off at -500! That's a huge line, and there's no way for you to win any real money here. Especially if you're using your 10% rule and have like $200 in your account, you're betting $20 on this fight and aren't getting back anything but $4 in profit. That's not worth your time. You can find plenty of other fights at any particular UFC event and at least get 1:1 on your money, if not a lot better by finding a slim dog whose skills are better than his or her opponent's.
Those big favorites are traps. And just imagine for a second that you put in $500 to win $100, and his opponent caught him with a lucky knee to the chin and won. You're out $500! There's just too large a risk and not nearly enough reward when you take the big favorites. If the line is over -300, avoid the favorites. You have to draw your own line somewhere.
Don't Bet Too Many Fights
Once you see how easy the lines are to figure out and how easy it really is to place your bets on a legit sportsbook, you might just want to go down the list and bet a few bucks on every single UFC fight. Understand, however, that you'll have to win more than half of them to make a profit, assuming that you've even bet enough on the favorites to cover the juice they take.
So if you're betting on every fight, you can be in some serious trouble. The better approach is to find a handful of fights that you want to research for further details, finding out some information about the fighters, reading some expert opinions, etc, and figuring out which fighters you think have a legitimate shot at actually winning.
After that, you want to narrow your choices down to just three or four fights to bet on, and you typically want to keep these bets small to start. You don't need to go past that 10% rule. If you bet correctly and win, that stack will grow every single time, and each new bet gives you a larger stack and thus a bigger 10% chunk with which to bet.
Don't Get Caught Up in Hype
Hype in UFC is pure poison. It caught up with Ronda Rousey against Holly Holm to the tune of a vicious beat-down for the ages. It's also going to catch up with Conor McGregor within his next few fights, mark our words. He's going to run into someone with superior boxing skills, and his face will be lit up like a Christmas tree.
The UFC has been about pure hype since its 1990s rebranding, and fighters are built up to be much better than they actually are. All fighters to ever be hyped have lost. Chuck Liddel, Jon Bone Jones, Rampage Jackson, Randy Couture, and on and on it goes. We're talking about two human beings facing off in a real fight.
Somebody's going to get hit, and somebody's going to get hurt. Nobody is invincible. If you're betting on the UFC, never buy into the hype that someone is unbeatable. If they have too much hype surrounding them, it's not automatic that you should bet on the other fighter, but you might want to ignore that fight and bet on something else.
Understand Fighting Styles
Returning to our Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm example, there were actually many people who recognized that Ronda was the true dog in this bout because of fighting styles. Rousey was a ground-and-pound fighter with no stand-up game, whereas Holm was considered one of the best boxers in MMA. If not for the hype (remember, hype is poison), Holm wouldn't have went off at 12:1 and the fight would have been rated much more evenly.
But because Rousey was built up as the best thing since sliced bread, people were duped into believing that styles didn't matter. The same thing happened a few years back when Anderson Silva fought Chris Weidman. Anderson had a great martial arts game, one of the world's best, but Weidman was a world-class striker, and he knocked Silva plum out in the second round.
Understand fighting styles. If a fighter has a superior boxing game vs. no stand-up skill, or a superior ground game vs. no ground-and-pound skills, take the more complete fighter. Your attention to these details will pay off more often than not.
Leverage Out on Underdogs
Just as you should avoid those big favorites (-300 and higher) as to avoid having to put up too much money to win, thus taking too much of a risk with not enough reward coming back, you should also avoid underdogs who are too small. For instance, if an underdog is simply +120, that's not worth betting on.
However, if you're researched the fighting styles and there's a complete fighter going off at +350 or better, this is certainly worth putting $10 or so down on, maybe even $20 or more. This is a way to leverage against your other bets. You want to do some quick math here so that, for instance, you're not losing money if you end up losing your underdog bets and only win your favorite bets.
You want to simply leverage out on a couple of key underdog bouts. With a sport like basketball, you can win 60% or better by taking the favorites every time. This isn't the same in the UFC. Fighters are constantly getting beat while they're the favorites, and you will eventually have to bet on some dogs to win.
At USA Sportsbook Sites, we really try to deliver to you the most thorough, accurate and updated information online. We take pride in becoming your go-to resource for such information, and we sincerely hope that this UFC information helps you win some cash the next time a big event rolls around. With this betting info, hopefully you can become a skilled gambler in the genre and can start winning big bucks on some of the world's top UFC match-ups.
The Start Of MMA Fighting and the UFC
Ufc Betting Sites
Mixed martial arts have a much longer history than you may initially think. When people think of martial arts, they typically think of Asiatic cultures and things like karate and kung-fu. However, MMA actually dates back to Greece with their male wrestlers.
Yes, you might not recognize that sort of Greco wrestling as anything like Jiujitsu, but that sort of grappling was actually the start of MMA. Of course, once fighting styles did start pouring out of ancient Asian cultures, the rest of the world started to adopt a lot of unique fighting styles, such as kickboxing and other variations of the ground game, and this would eventually give birth to the large, yet sporadic, MMA field.
At first, MMA didn't have much organization. There were dozens of small factions, which you could barely even call 'leagues,' and fighters would duke it out for little money, even less fanfare, and the sport was incredibly dangerous. Stoppages typically resulted only when someone was knocked completely out; there were no refs stepping in to keep things calm in the early days.
In the 1990s, as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was first bursting onto the scene, this is what caused some in government, like John McCain, to staunchly oppose the fights. They called the fighting barbaric and claimed that the fights were nothing but blood-lust, modern-day gladiatorial spectacles. So, the UFC was faced with a dilemma.
They wanted to become as popular as boxing, but they also couldn't afford to have government attempting to shut them down. After naming Dana White as their president, the UFC underwent some serious changes, starting a reality show, getting world-class referees who protected fighters, etc. They really cleaned the sport up and made it mainstream, and today the UFC is exponentially larger than boxing.
One reason the UFC stands out to so many is that you can bet on the fighters. Every UFC event has dozens of quality fights, and gamblers can end up making some serious cash if they know what they're doing. Throughout this guide, we're going to explain to you how you can bet on the UFC legally and from a solid sportsbook, while even giving you some tips to help you win.
Update: UFC 258 is set to go Feb. 13, 2021, at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. Kamaru Usman will be defending his welterweight championship agains former teammate Gilbert Burns at UFC 258. Bets are being taken right now at US online sportsbooks. Jump straight to the top UFC betting apps to get your action down.
As the premier brand in the sport of MMA, the UFC has experienced a massive growth spurt since its inception back in 1993. The growth has kicked into overdrive in recent years. It’s safe to say that the rise of the UFC has been one of the biggest stories in the sporting world over the past decade.
Betting on the UFC is in the midst of its own surge. What was once the domain of Las Vegas and risky offshore operators is now within reach for many folks across the US. The legalization of sports betting in a number of states has opened the doors for scores of folks, many of whom are starting their own love affair with UFC.
Our betting guide details how to bet online, upcoming fights and UFC odds as well as the top betting apps with UFC lines.
Best UFC Betting Sites in the US
Those in legal sports betting states looking to get in on the action, we’ll cover everything you need to know right here. We’ll begin by taking a look at the top spots to place your bets.
Top UFC betting apps for 2021
The legal sports betting environment continues to take shape. A number of operators are battling for their piece of the pie in legalized states, but some are emerging as the leaders of the pack.
- DraftKings Sportsbook: The industry leader in the world of DFS is making huge strides in the sports betting industry. Users who sign up via our exclusive links get $50 free plus up to $1,000 in bonuses. Use DraftKings Sportsbook online in: NJ, CO, PA, WV, IN, IA, TN, NH and IL
- FanDuel Sportsbook: FanDuel is another company that made its bones in DFS. They’re taking the sports betting world by storm as well with a user-friendly platform and enticing promos. Signing up for an account via our exclusive links gets you a risk-free bet up to $1,000. Use FanDuel Sportsbook online in: NJ, CO, PA, WV, NV, IL, IA, TN and IN
- BetMGM Sportsbook: The mobile platform for gaming giant MGM Resorts International, BetMGM is making tons of headway in legal and regulated sports betting markets. Click on our exclusive links to create an account, and you’ll be rewarded with an up to $600 deposit match bonus. BetMGM Sportsbook is legal in: NJ, CO, IN, TN, NV and WV
Each of these operators offers UFC betting among a wide array of other markets. You can keep it simple and just bet on fighters to win, or explore a wide range of prop betting choices. In addition, live betting opportunities are available on each, and mobile is a perfect complement to take advantage of all that’s offered.
UFC 258 odds
UFC 258 is next on the table and scheduled to go Feb. 13 in Las Vegas. The long awaited headline bout looks will be a thriller with a welterweight title bout between former teammates, Kamaru Usman (Champion) and Gilbert Burns.
Both DraftKings and FanDuel will have current lines for all confirmed bouts. Lines being offered include total rounds, to go the distance, ending in a particular round and winning method.
Latest Odds on UFC 258
- When: Feb. 13, 2021
- Where: UFC APEX, Las Vegas
- Main Card: PPV, Prelims: ESPN/ESPN+, Early Prelims: ESPN+
Main Card Fights announced + current odds at DraftKings (as of Jan. 28):
- Welterweight Title Fight: Kamaru Usman (-250) vs. Gilbert Burns (+200)
- Middleweight: Uriah Hall (-134) vs. Chris Weidman (+110)
Check the full card as it’s updated and get up-to-the-second odds right at FanDuel or DraftKings. Available in all legal online sports betting states (NJ, PA, CO, IN, WV, IA, IL, TN).
How UFC betting works
The most basic UFC bet will look familiar to those who are experienced with the moneyline, but there are also several other bets that are unique to the sport.
Let’s take a look at the standard ways that you can bet on the UFC.
- Moneyline: A bet on which fighter will win outright. The favorite will be designated with negative odds, while the underdog’s will be positive, e.g., Khabib Nurmagomedov -155, Conor McGregor +135
- To go the distance: A wager on whether the fight will go the distance, e.g., Yes +120, No -140
- Over/under on total rounds: A bet on how far you think the fight will go, e.g., Over 2.5 Rounds +130; Under 2.5, Rounds -110
- To win in specific round: A wager on a fighter to win in a specific round, such as Jose Aldo to win in Round 1 +140, Round 2 +120, Round 3 +110
- To win in range of rounds: A bet in which you’re trying to pinpoint in which round the fight will end, e.g., Round 1-2 +130, Round 2-3 +110
- Winning methods: A wager on how the fight will end, e.g., Knockout +140, Submission +120, Stoppage +150, Decision +110
How to bet the UFC live online
The betting doesn’t stop once the bell rings in UFC. Live online sports betting affords users the opportunity to place wagers as the action unfolds in real time. Odds and markets move fast, but that only helps to enhance the appeal.
During a UFC fight, you’ll see a number of opportunities to take advantage of, such as how long the fight will last and updated moneyline odds for the outright winner based on what has happened so far.
Beyond being potentially profitable for those who have a good feel for momentum, live betting also allows you to hedge your bets. For example, let’s say that you dropped a wager on Jon Jones to win in advance of his upcoming fight.
After round one, Jones just doesn’t look like himself, and you wouldn’t be surprised if he wound up losing. You can mitigate the damage of your original wager by placing a new bet on his opponent. If the odds and stake are in range to your original wager, you’ve somewhat covered your position instead of just taking an outright loss.
To fully take advantage of all that live betting has to offer, a mobile sports betting app is the way to go. You can bet from your phone at any time during the fight as long as you’re in a legalized state.
There’s no need to be at a sportsbook or locked in front of your computer. You’ll be able to go out and enjoy fight night and know that you can quickly take advantage of opportunities as they arise throughout the card.
Is it legal to bet on the UFC?
Ufc Betting Odds Sportsbook
It wasn’t too long ago that legally betting on the UFC online was a mere fantasy. Today, it’s a reality. You don’t need to take a trip to Vegas to get in on the action, nor do you have to take any unnecessary risks with an unregulated and risky offshore operator.
You can find all of the UFC betting action you need right from the comfort of your own home in legal sports betting states. The lines are just as good as what you’ll find in Sin City, and you’ll find many more wagering opportunities than you would find at an offshore operator.
State | Online / Mobile | Retail |
---|---|---|
New Jersey Sports Betting | Yes | Yes |
Pennsylvania Sports Betting | Yes | Yes |
Colorado Sports Betting | Yes | Yes |
Indiana Sports Betting | Yes | Yes |
Iowa Sports Betting | Yes | Yes |
West Virginia Sports Betting | Yes | Yes |
Virginia Sports Betting | Yes | No |
New Hampshire Sports Betting | Yes | No |
Illinois Sports Betting | Yes | Yes |
Michigan Sports Betting | Yes | Yes |
Tennessee Sports Betting | Yes | No |
The legalization of sports betting not only means that more folks have access to a safe means of wagering, but it also translates into better product offerings. That means there’s real customer service to deal with if any questions come up, a number of different ways to fund your account and awesome platforms that are a breeze to navigate around.
Perhaps most importantly, the legal sports betting environment provides users with real protection and regulation. Operators that have hit the ground running in the US market are well aware of what they need to do from a legal standpoint.
For sports bettors, that results in some extra peace of mind that allows them to focus on betting without worrying about legal gray areas. For more niche sports you can bet on at legal US sportsbooks, check our guide here:
Is UFC available for Daily Fantasy Sports players?
Sports betting isn’t the only way to get in on the action with UFC. DraftKings and FanDuel both offer DFS games that have proven to be quite popular with users.
There are a number of different ways to play daily fantasy sports, such as tournaments and 50/50s, which are all made available at numerous price points to fit any budget. On the tournament front, a big fight night can attract thousands of users gunning for some eye-popping prizes.
The object of the game is to pick a lineup of fighters from those scheduled to compete on the card. Each of the fighters has a salary attached — ranging from high for top stars to low for unknown commodities — and your final lineup will need to remain under the cap.
Best Vegas Betting Sites
Fighters earn points based on how they perform, and scores are tallied up as the action unfolds. Once the final fight on the card is in the books, the highest scoring lineup wins. DFS is completely legal and safe to play in 40+ states. Outside of Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada and Washington, you’ll be good to go.
5 betting tips for MMA / UFC betting
There’s a learning curve for betting on any sport you may be unfamiliar with, but it’s far from insurmountable. When beginning with UFC, stick to the basics and work toward devising a strategy that fits your style. Here are five simple tips you can use to get the ball rolling.
- Understand what the odds are telling you: Oddsmakers are quite good at what they do. There’s plenty of data behind the numbers they release to the public, so trust what they are telling you. For example, a big favorite indicates a skill gap that you simply have to factor into your decision. That said, don’t let that scare you off from betting on the underdog when you can justify it.
- Know your fighters/styles: As you learn more about UFC, you’ll come to see that the fighters come from all kinds of backgrounds. Some are great grapplers, others are fantastic strikers and plenty excel in some areas and come up short in others. When breaking down a card, take some time to understand the styles of those involved to help spot any potential matchup advantages.
- Go beyond career record: Fighters with stellar career records always look impressive at first glance, but don’t let that be the final word. Dig a bit deeper and take a look at how they built their record. What was the quality of their opponents? The same applies for those with poorer records, as they may be better than they appear if they gained a ton of seasoning against stout competition.
- Study recent form: Just like athletes in all other sports, fighters trend up and down. Spend time examining how the fighters have fared in their last three fights, but make sure to go beyond the won-loss record. How long did the fights last? Has there been a significant gap since the last time they fought? Did they dominate opponents or escape with close victories?
- Weight, travel and news: In advance of fights, public weigh-ins take place. While these may just seem like press events and part of the show, you need to pay attention. Fighters who are adding or cutting a good deal of weight can be impacted, so pay attention to major fluctuations. In addition, keep an eye on news surrounding the fight and consider the travel aspect. For example, is one fighter locked in while the other is making headlines with out-of-the-ring stuff? Is the fight taking place several time zones away from a fighter’s home base? Little nuggets such as these can make a big difference.
Once you have mastered the basics outlined above, you can begin spending more time on more detailed information such as fighter stats and dive even deeper into the matchups.
Getting up to speed on the UFC is nowhere near as intimidating as it may seem, and you’ll learn lots along the way to boot.
Top five fighters in UFC history
The UFC has a rich and storied history, and there have been a number of impressive fighters who have had lengthy careers inside the octagon. Picking the best of the best is no easy task.
However, there are five who have enjoyed lengthy careers and headlined numerous pay-per-view events along the way. These fighters not only sold tickets and racked up impressive buy rates for fight cards, but also collected hardware along the way.
- Randy Couture: A six-time champion, Couture is one of the most legendary figures in UFC history. He held the heavyweight crown three times, the light heavyweight title twice, and also served as interim champ in the light heavyweight division. Couture’s all-time record in MMA is 19-11, with seven of his wins coming by knockout. He headlined 18 PPV events, competed in 16 title bouts, and made an estimated $3 million in his illustrious career.
- Anderson Silva: Just behind Couture on the list of most PPV events headlined is Silva, who was in the main event at 17 UFC events. His career record in MMA stands at 34-10-1, with 24 of his victories coming by knockout. Silva is a former middleweight champion and holds the record for the longest title reign in UFC history at 2,457 days. He also set a record with 16 consecutive victories over that span. Silva earned over $8 million in the UFC.
- Tito Ortiz: Ortiz was the UFC light heavyweight champion from 2000 to 2003. He received top billing at 16 PPV events, and holds a career MMA record of 20-12-2. Among his claims to fame is a trio of memorable fights versus Chuck Liddell, Ken Shamrock and Forrest Griffin in 2006. Ortiz earned over $4 million in his UFC career and has continued fighting with appearances for Bellator and Combate Americas.
- Jon Jones: The current UFC light heavyweight champion, Jones is considered one of the best to have ever stepped inside the octagon. A career mark of 26-1-1 does nothing but bolster his case. Jones has headlined 15 UFC events, most recently with a unanimous decision over Dominick Reyes at UFC 247. He continues to climb up the career earnings list with over $6 million thus far.
- Georges St-Pierre: A pound-for-pound legend, St-Pierre won titles in both the middleweight and welterweight divisions during his time with UFC. He vacated his middleweight crown due to health issues. A career record of 26-2-1, main event status for 13 PPV events and career earnings of over $7 million are further testament to St-Pierre’s status as one of the best of all time.
Worst five fighters in UFC history
Let’s be clear: if you make it to the UFC, you’re doing something right in your fighting career. That said, there are some fighters who have records that leave a lot to be desired. Here’s a look at some of the worst won-loss records among those with more than 25 fights under their belt.
- Jeremy Stephens: 15-16 record with one no contest over 32 fights.
- Andrei Arlovski: 17-13 with one no contest over 31 fights.
- Clay Guida: 15-13 record for 28 fights.
- B.J. Penn: 12-13-2 over 27 fights.
- Ross Pearson: 12-13 record with one no contest over 26 fights.
Stephens is third on the all-time list for most UFC fights. Donald Cerrone and Jim Miller are the current leaders with 34 fights apiece. Cerrone has a career mark of 23-11, while Miller is 20-13 with one no contest.
Most famous UFC fights of all time
There have been a ton of legendary fights inside the octagon during the 27-year history of UFC. Naturally, some of them have stood out as being the best of the bunch. Here’s a trio of UFC fights that quickly come up when the conversation turns to the most memorable and famous fights of all time.
- Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor: The record holder for UFC PPV buy rate, the hype for this UFC lightweight championship tilt was off the charts. The scene was UFC 229 at the T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas Strip, and the event also set records for biggest live gate in MMA history. Nurmagomedov won the battle in round four via submission, taking home $2 million for his troubles. McGregor earned $3 million in defeat.
- Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm: Heading into this fight, Rousey was in the midst of her dominant run and expected to add another pelt on the wall. Things would turn out much differently. Holm shocked the world by defeating the heavily favored Rousey by knockout in round two. Rousey had successfully defended the UFC women’s bantamweight crown six times beforehand with relative ease, so the result was quite stunning.
- Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz: This was the second meeting of the two foes, and the interest level was off the charts. UFC 66 was held on Dec. 30, 2006, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The event produced the largest PPV buy rate to date for the UFC, but the number has since been surpassed several times. Liddell took down Ortiz by TKO in round three in one of the most memorable battles in UFC history.
How to stream UFC live for free
The biggest UFC cards are found on pay-per-view. You can purchase the broadcast from your cable or streaming provider, or head to a sports bar that’s broadcasting the fights.
ESPN has the broadcast rights for UFC. The majority of events will be found on ESPN+, a subscription-based channel that has a slew of UFC content. If you get the UFC Fight Pass via the UFC app, you’ll also be able to stream events on mobile.
Additionally, certain sportsbooks have streaming capabilities and provide live feeds of events. Consult your operator for the events you can stream via the sportsbook app.
History of UFC
The Ultimate Fighting Championship made its debut on Nov. 12, 1993, from the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver. The event aimed to answer the long-standing question of which fighting style was the best.
Initially attracting a niche following, the UFC continued a steady rise before exploding in popularity for good after the turn of the century. Along the way, there were a number of controversies and legal challenges surrounding the violence of the competitions.
UFC managed to weather the storm and is now one of the more popular sports in the land, as evidenced by its broadcast partnership with ESPN. Prior to joining forces with the gang in Bristol, UFC’s TV home was with the FOX Sports family of channels.
Dana White’s influence on the UFC brand
The UFC brand loved by so many could easily have found itself out of business at one time. By the end of 20th century, the UFC was struggling financially, and considered close to bankruptcy. Dana White, along with his business partners – the Fertitta brothers (Lorenzo and Frank III) – formed Zuffa LLC.
White’s investment of $2m within the acquisition package was considered a huge personal risk, but with his business expertise, White was able to justify it. In the early 2000s, following the UFC’s agreement to adopt rules set by the New Jersey State Athletic Commission, the UFC brand grew rapidly, and developed some extremely charismatic, PPV buyout-boosting talents.
Amongst them were Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell, who formed what many consider to be the UFC’s ‘breakout’ rivalry. Ken Shamrock, a former WWE King of the Ring winner, was also a popular figure of note. Shamrock’s bout with Tito Ortiz in November 2002 (at the Las Vegas-held UFC 40) rates as one of the most important in UFC’s entire history.
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White’s determination to make the UFC brand as uncompromising as possible has been unrelenting. This was reflected in his reaction to the mass cancellation of sports events in early 2020, with White stating his intention to hold UFC 249 in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. His talk of hiring an island just to stage the event was met with particular incredulity and amazement from UFC fans, but in the end, the event was postponed.
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Though not the headline of the original card, Ferguson and Gaethje went into UFC 249 as a fascinating, and very evenly-matched pair of opponents. They kept even the most astute of bettors guessing until the starting bell, and did not disappoint on the night.