UFC Betting in Canada (2024) - Best Bets & How Odds Work

Q: Is betting on the UFC legal in Canada?

Sports betting has been legal in Canada in various forms for three decades. Offshore sportsbooks have become extremely popular for Canadian sports bettors of legal age looking to wager on their favourite UFC event. Recent changes to federal legislation have opened the door for Canadian sportsbooks to offer single-event betting. This provides Canadian sports bettors with an increasing variety of sportsbook options, and a greater opportunity to shop around for the best odds.

Q: What are the best UFC betting sites?

The rapidly expanding Canadian betting industry enables sports bettors with a growing choice of sportsbooks. Here is a look at the top 10 UFC betting sites in Canada: Betway Casumo Sports Interaction 888sport Pinnacle Stake 22Bet 10bet Unibet Sports Mr.play

Q: What are the best UFC bets?

Moneyline (bet on who wins) Method of victory (bet on how the winner will claim victory) Round betting (bet on when the fight will be won) Props bets (bet on fine details of a fight) Futures betting (bet on the results of a future event)

Q: How do you bet on the UFC?

Follow these steps to get started on UFC betting in Canada: Sign up with one of our recommended tried and tested sportsbooks listed above. Take advantage of one of the many welcome offers available that will enable you to add bonuses along with your first deposit. Look for the UFC or MMA section at the sportsbook, and review the odds for upcoming events. Determine the size of the stake you would like to wager, keeping in mind that you should never bet more than you can afford to lose. Click ‘Place Bet’, and keep track of the open wagers in your account while you enjoy the UFC action.

Q: How does UFC betting work?

With UFC betting, you can wager on the outcome of specific fights, as well as other aspects of the fight such as method of victory, and the how many rounds the fight will last. The payout on a winning bet is determined by moneyline odds, which fluctuate based on how much money is wagered on a particular fighter or outcome.

Q: How many rounds are there in the UFC?

Typically UFC fights last three rounds, with each round lasting five minutes. Championship fights and fights designated as the main event on a UFC card are typically scheduled to go five rounds, with the fourth and fifth rounds commonly known as ‘championship rounds’.

Q: Can I bet on the UFC on mobile?

Yes. Some of the best UFC betting apps for wagering on fights from the convenience of your smartphone are available from the high-quality sportsbooks listed above.

Best UFC betting sites in Canada

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How UFC betting odds work

The most important first step for rookie sports bettors getting into MMA action is to gain an understanding of how to read UFC odds. Here’s an example of UFC fight odds, and how to determine your potential payout.

Khabib Nurmagomedov

1.33

Conor McGregor

3.50

UFC betting odds are based around every fight. Each one features two fighters from the same weight class, and one will usually be favoured over the other. In the above example, Khabib Nurmagomedov has much lower odds than Conor McGregor. That makes him the favourite, with McGregor the underdog.

In this case, the number in brackets beside each fighter’s name refers to decimal betting odds. To find out what your total return would be, simply multiply the amount of money you plan to wager by the number in brackets.

For example, if you were to place a C$100 bet on Nurmagomedov, you would take home C$133 (100 x 1.33) if he won. Alternatively, a C$100 bet on McGregor would yield a C$350 return (100 x 3.50). The higher the risk, the higher the reward. Remember, the underdog wins 30% of the time. Sometimes, taking the higher odds pays off.

UFC best bets & betting options

The true beauty of UFC betting odds is in their versatility. There are few aspects of the game that can’t be wagered on, meaning there’s always a reason to get engaged. Let’s look at what’s different between various types of UFC best bets.

UFC fight odds / moneyline

UFC fight odds are the most common and popular betting options. They enable you to simply wager on which fighter will win their bout. For example, the clash between Holly Holm and Irene Aldana is pegged as a virtual pick ‘em, with both fighters listed at 1.90 on the UFC fight night odds.

That means a successful C$10 bet on either of these fighters to win will produce a payout of C$19, including C$9 profit and your original C$10 betting stake.

Round betting

Round betting is done using the classic over/under format. This is another traditional method of sports gambling that isn’t specific to UFC betting, but it’s certainly common in MMA betting in general. You may be wondering – how does UFC round betting work?

The over/under format used in UFC round betting refers to guessing whether a fight will last over or under a certain number of rounds. The initial amount is set by the sportsbook. For example, if the over/under is 3.5, betting the under would be betting on the fight lasting less than 4 rounds. Alternatively, betting the over would be betting on the fight lasting 4 rounds or more.

Prop bets

There are many different types of UFC prop bets. The term refers to a proposition bet which hinges on whether a certain occurrence will take place. The three most popular prop bets in UFC betting relate to the three awards that are given out following the conclusion of every bout at UFC events – ‘Fight of the Night’ (FOTN), ‘Knockout of the Night’ (KOTN) and ‘Submission of the Night’ (SOTN).

Other prop bets focus on the probability of something specific happening, with the flip side being ‘any other result’. For example, Anderson Silva fought Daniel Cormier at UFC 200. One of the prop bets was ‘Silva wins by KO (knockout)/TKO (total knockout)’, while the other wager option was listed as ‘any other result’. If you were to bet on ‘any other result’, and Silva did not win by KO/TKO, you would win - regardless of what else ended up happening.

Futures bets

UFC futures offer the opportunity to bet on the future fortunes or misfortunes of specific fighters. In our UFC futures bet example, you can bet on whether Conor McGregor will reclaim a UFC title by the start of 2022.

Futures bets can also refer to betting on a fight that will take place well into the future. In UFC betting, some futures bets can even be made on fights that may never happen. For example, one sportsbook is taking bets for a match between Brock Lesnar and Gable Steveson.

Parlay betting

UFC parlay betting is also popular among sports bettors. With the UFC and MMA offering a full slate of fights most weekends, there are plenty of opportunities to combine your favourite picks into a single parlay wager, with the potential payout getting padded by enhanced moneyline odds.

In addition to combining wagers on a fight winner and their method of victory, UFC parlay betting also enables you to combine you wagers on the winners in multiple fights typically on the same card.

The only stipulation is that every single part of the bet must come true for the entire parlay to cash in. For example, if you were to bet on four different fighters to win their individual fights, all four must win.

Live betting

UFC live betting can be in the form of almost any type of UFC betting mentioned above. The difference is that these bets take place during the action, whereas traditional bets must be placed before a fight starts.

For example, a typical moneyline bet on McGregor would be made prior to round one. Once the bout begins, any moneyline bet (or other kind of bet) made on the fight is referred to as UFC in-play betting or live betting.

During UFC live betting, the odds are constantly fluctuating. So, if McGregor’s odds of winning the fight were 3.50 at the beginning of round one, they can go up or down throughout the round depending on his performance.

OGCA’s UFC betting tips

Do your homework

Every UFC fan has their favourite fighters, but don’t let your biases get in the way of the necessary task of doing your homework. The best UFC predictions are determined by learning as much as you can about each fighter in a matchup.

How do they stack up statistically? Which fighter has demonstrated an ability to go deep into a fight, as opposed to building their record on one-punch knockouts? Are injuries a factor? Building a strong profile of each fighter based on their skill set and past performance can help you better handicap a matchup.

Search for value

Big favourites are common in the UFC. As a result, there are always plenty of opportunities to find betting value among lesser-known UFC fighters. That said, you must still look beyond the odds when including longshots among your UFC picks.

Undefeated fighters can add a lot of value to their opponents’ odds. Consider these underdogs carefully while handicapping, particularly among matchups on the undercard, where knockouts are more common, and a greater number of underdog fighters enjoy unexpected breakthroughs on the road to UFC ranking.

Keep focused

With so many fights available to bet on each week, the task of handicapping can be a daunting one. That is why it makes a lot of sense to focus on specific classes of fighters, whether it be weight class or gender.

By focusing exclusively on welterweights and middleweights, for example, you can develop a wealth of knowledge about individual fighters, their fighting style and their history in the octagon. This can be particularly profitable if you are able to identify an up-and-coming fighter early in their career. Fighters on the rise often enjoy lengthy win streaks on their way to a UFC rankings berth.

Go beyond the stats

It can be easy for a sports bettor to fall into the trap of relying too heavily on stats. That’s why one of the most important UFC betting tips is is simply to watch the fights.

Spending the time enjoying the weekly UFC Fight Night cards is not only a lot of fun, but it can also help you gain a better understanding of the fighters you are following, and provide insight into a fighter’s temperament and weaknesses.

UFC stats & info

UFC rules

Every UFC fight is between two fighters who are in the same weight class (for more on weight classes, please see the ‘UFC Weight Classes’ category below) – much like pro boxing
Each weight class has a current defending champion, and every fighter is ranked within that category. Almost every UFC card has a ‘championship’ or ‘title’ fight, which can last for up to five rounds whereas an undercard (non-main) UFC event can only go a maximum of three rounds
All fights conclude with a winner, unless they’re declared ‘no contest’ or the judges decide it’s a draw. Bouts can be won six different ways – submission, knockout (KO), technical knockout (TKO), judges’ decision, disqualification (DQ) or forfeit
The referee can dock points from, or disqualify, a fighter in the case of a foul. Several different kinds of fouls can be called, per official UFC rules. Some examples include low blows, eye gouging, headbutts, biting and throat strikes
All UFC fighters must regularly undergo testing for performance-enhancing drugs. A failed doping test results in immediate suspension from all UFC fights. Many sports have doping issues, and the UFC is no different

UFC weight classes

UFC champions

Biggest UFC fights in history

If you are new to betting on the NFL, then you may wonder things. For instance, how many teams are in the NFL? How many games in a season? How long are games? How many players are on teams?

Khabib Nurmagomedov v Conor McGregor

Khabib and McGregor’s controversial bout for the UFC lightweight championship made headlines. This was a box office smash hit with a promotion record 2,400,000 pay-per-view buys. The fight, which Khabib won by submission, on October 6, 2018 also drew a gate of $17,200,000 – the second highest in UFC history.
Daniel Cormier v Stipe Miocic

Trilogies are so rare in MMA that Cormier and Miocic’s battles over the UFC heavyweight championship make our list. First facing off at UFC 226 in 2018 with Cormier knocking Miocic out in round one, they met again, and the title changed hands at UFC 241 the following year. The final rubber match came at UFC 252 where Miocic got a unanimous decision. Their three fights drew cumulative PPV buys of 1,700,000.
Conor McGregor v Nate Diaz

The bitter rivalry between Irish fighter McGregor and Diaz in 2016 saw them clash at both UFC 196 and UFC 202. These battles really pulled in audiences. Their first encounter (won by Diaz) had 1,317,000 buys only to be topped by the rematch (won by McGregor) at 1,600,000 pay-per-view sales. Both men made millions from the feud.
Brock Lesnar v Frank Mir

A UFC heavyweight championship unification bout in 2009 featured box office draw Lesnar trying to avenge his promotion debut loss to Mir. With over 1,300,000 PPV buys, UFC 100 was the most successful event the organization had put on to date. Lesnar did defeat Mir the second time around to become undisputed champion.
Georges St-Pierre v Jake Shields

At UFC 129 in 2011, Canada’s own cage fighting great drew the third biggest gate and attendance in the promotion’s history. Some 55,725 MMA fans watched St-Pierre get a unanimous decision on home soil over Shields with the UFC welterweight title up for grabs. The gate in Toronto grossed over $12,000,000.

MMA organizations

The international popularity of MMA fighting allows multiple MMA organizations to (somewhat) successfully co-exist. Here are the top five MMA organizations in the world today:

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC): The UFC was the first major MMA promotion to exist, giving the sport its roots. It began in 1993 and took a huge step forward once current UFC President Dana White, and owners Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, purchased it in 2001. They have held events in 22 different countries, and the company’s valuation is believed to be US$4.2 billion.

ONE Championship: ONE is a very interesting MMA promotion. The company growth strategy revolves entirely around capturing Asia, and it’s working given that it’s currently Asia’s largest sports media business. ONE has five million fans, and its global broadcast reaches over a billion homes in upwards of 118 countries. The appeal of the organization has lured a lot of international superstars.

Bellator MMA: Unlike ONE, Bellator MMA is a direct competitor of the UFC regarding the North American market. Its fighters are still incredibly talented at martial arts, but a lot of their athletes are there because they couldn’t get a UFC contract. A unique aspect of this promotion is its utilization of the tournament format. This is how the Bellator has determined title challengers since its inception in 2008.

World Series of Fighting (WSOF): This organization was founded in 2012 and has held 37 different events since. It’s managed to attract some established fighters, and once had a broadcasting deal with NBC before transitioning to the more common pay-per-view MMA broadcast model. WSOF’s fanbase is still very small, but it’s been successful in growing by one country at a time. At minimum, it’s likely to have a good enough global network to stay afloat (revenue wise).

Jungle Fight: This MMA promotion was founded by former Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world champion and black belt – Wallid Ismali. It began in South America and has traditional broadcasting contracts with Band (a Brazilian TV network) and ESPN. Most of the fighters are Brazilian, and its fan base is already as big as 320,000.

FAQs

What is the UFC?

The UFC is the world’s pre-eminent MMA organization. Founded in 1993, and based in Las Vegas, the UFC has staged over 500 events over its 30-year history, and has played a leadership role in the development of MMA rules and promotions.

Is betting on the UFC legal in Canada?

What are the best UFC betting sites?