UFC Round Betting Rules and Tips

UFC, Fighters, Gloves, Champion

The UFC right now is one of the largest organizations in combat sports, and it generates plenty of interest in terms of online gambling. A lot of people tend to focus on match winner wagers, but there are many other good opportunities. UFC round betting is one of my favorites.

This is the main subject of this post. I explain how round betting in the UFC works. I also offer a few tips that’ll help guide your betting strategy and simplify the entire process.

Here’s what you need to know about UFC round gambling.

What Is Round Betting in UFC?

It’s a question I get a lot from newcomers to gambling on MMA matches – what is round betting in the UFC? There are several different markets that fall into that category. The most popular one is related to the total number of rounds in a selected fight.

The bookmakers pick a line, for example, 2.5 rounds. You have to decide whether the bout will be over or under that line. If you pick under, the fight has to finish in the first two rounds for you to win. If you go for the over, the third round has to be reached for the wager to be successful.

There are other UFC round betting options, though. For example, you can gamble on the round in which the fight will end.

Live betting also offers you additional options, such as the number of takedowns per round. You can even bet on fighters winning certain rounds.

UFC matches are decided by a point system (points are tallied every round) that is based on strikes landed, takedowns, aggression, and other factors. A fighter that receives more points from the judges in a certain round essentially wins it.

Here’s a summary of the most common round bets for UFC fights.

  • What round the match ends and the method of victory
  • Over/Under for total number of rounds
  • Fights going the distance
  • Grouped round betting

The method of victory simply means the manner in which the fight ends (TKO, submission, decision). When a fight goes the distance, this means that both fighters will complete every round of the bout.

Grouped round betting is when you simply bet on fighters and which rounds they’ll win/lose in their respective matches. However, I should mention that this particular wager is more popular in boxing because fights last for 12 rounds.

Tips for Over/Under Round Betting in UFC

Total rounds betting is the most popular round betting market for the UFC. The key here is to evaluate the probability of someone winning via TKO/submission before the fight reaches its natural conclusion.

I want to provide you with a few tips for over/under round betting that’ll help you determine your predictions. Here are some ideas that can guide you in the right direction.

Look at Previous Records for Finishes

Look at all the fighters and study their fight histories. Try to determine any patterns or trends that stand out to you in terms of when and how the fights come to an end. Someone’s record alone says a lot about their skill-set and their approach to mixed martial arts.

It’s also a good indicator of how long the fight might last. When two good finishers meet each other, it’s unlikely that the match will be decided by the judges.

At the same time, certain fighters are notoriously bad at finishing their opponent, usually because they lack power. You should if that’s the case before you engage in round betting.

Of course, you should also learn how often each contestant has been finished. Fighters that have accumulated a lot of damage throughout their career eventually lose their chin.

Compare Fighting Styles

You should also always compare fighting styles before submitting your picks in UFC round betting markets. The truth is that evaluating a fight isn’t overly complex – MMA athletes usually have specific strong traits. Some are good at striking, while others are excellent grapplers.

Striking deals with punches, kicks, elbows, and knees. The most competitive strikers are also usually well-versed in Muay Thai, boxing, kickboxing, and similar disciplines.

Grappling is quite the opposite – it involves takedowns, holds, clinches, and submissions. Fighters who’re good at grappling also typically understand the fundamentals of wrestling, judo, and similar disciplines.

The best fighters typically excel at both striking and grappling. However, no specific skill supersedes any other. On the contrary – fighters often struggle when they fail to learn how to defend against certain styles.

Check out our page on MMA fighting styles for more information on that topic.

Consider Gas Tanks

Someone’s “gas tank” refers to their endurance levels and how long they can last in a typical fight. Certain MMA fighters can go the distance with ease and efficiency, whereas others will struggle to make it past the early rounds.

Connor McGregor helps illustrate my point – he often expends a lot of energy early on in fights to knock out his opponents right away. However, this strategy has certainly backfired, and the most notable example was when he lost to Nate Diaz and his cardio was an issue.

Fighters that get exhausted quickly are more susceptible to getting finished. That’s why you should always try to figure out whether the contestants have a solid gas tank before betting on UFC round markets.

Follow the Storylines

Keeping up with the news surrounding the MMA world will certainly improve your chances of winning. This can provide you with insights into the fights that no one else knows. A certain piece of information can even influence the way you bet on a fight.

Any fighter potentially could be experiencing a lot of trouble in and out of the octagon. It could be losing streaks, legal issues, or tough weight cuts. Whatever it is that’s going on, it can certainly affect their performances.

Tips for Live UFC Round Betting

You can also take advantage of live markets when it comes to round betting in the UFC. This includes the number of takedowns, who wins the round, if the fight will end in the next round, and more.

Here are some additional tips for live UFC round betting:

  • Watch the Fight – You need to understand what’s going on and watch the fight progress in real-time. Try your best to assess the trajectory of the fight based on what happens round by round.
  • Consider the Score – Anyone who’s losing the fight will typically take risks and give it everything they’ve got in the later rounds. You can never count out someone who’s not having the best fight.
  • Listen to What the Corner Says – UFC broadcasts also include audio from the coaches between rounds. They could disclose useful information that’ll potentially influence how the fight plays out.
  • Pay Attention to Body Language – Do one of the fighters seem uninterested in the match? Is it obvious that they’re not putting in enough effort to win? Body language can give you clues about certain fighters and their mentalities.

Live betting with real money can potentially secure you a nice payday. However, you’ll have to pay close attention to the fights and assess how everything could play out.

UFC Round Betting Online

I encourage you to look at some of the best UFC betting sites if you want to try MMA round betting. They offer various opportunities for all big events and that’s only one of the reasons to give it a go.

They provide you with many different perks to use their gambling services, such as sign-up bonuses, excellent odds, and access to 24/7 customer service.

Jim Beviglia
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About Jim Beviglia
Jim Beviglia has been a gambling writer at LegitGamblingSites.com since 2018. During that time, he’s written just about every type of article related to gambling, including reviews of betting sites, guides to popular casino games, betting tips on both casino and sports betting, sports and casino blog posts, and game picks. In addition to online gambling, one of Jim’s other major interests is music. He has been doing freelance work for various music sites and magazines for two decades. Among his outlets past and present are American Songwriter, VinylMePlease, Treble, and The Bluegrass Situation. Jim has also written five books on music that were published by Rowman & Littlefield.