Complete Guide On UFC Round Betting: How To Make Money On Round Betting In The UFC

TOMSK, RUSSIA - February 12, 2017: GRAND PRIX Power Club on MMA.

From the most popular UFC round betting markets to some handy tips, here is everything you need to know about how to wager on UFC round betting

Wagering on round betting has attracted UFC acolytes since the promotion was formed in 1993. While moneyline is clearly the most popular wager among UFC punters, UFC round betting gives you more bang for your buck and can pad your pockets out nicely.

You might be wondering what round betting is and how to wager on it. SinkorSwimSports is going to break down all the fundamentals of these exciting markets and how to wager on them.

Round Betting Overview

In combat sports, round betting is any wager that on a particular round a fight might end in or the total number of rounds in the fight.

Over the years sportsbooks have offered more variety in UFC round betting and there’s no limit to the ways you can wager on any given round in MMA. Below we have listed the most popular markets.

Exact round
Exact round + method of victory
Total number of rounds (over/under)
Fight goes the distance
Grouped round betting

Above are the fundamental markets in UFC round betting. Let’s get more specific on how to bet on these markets and make money on UFC round betting.

Method Of Victory 

This market offers you a chance to bet on how you think the fight will finish and in what round. There are three main methods of victory in combat sports:

  • KO/TKO
  • Submission 
  • Judges’ Decision

This is a huge market that has proved to be very popular with UFC bettors. You can bet on what round you think a fight will end in, but predicting the round and how it will end is how you really line your pockets.

Please take a look at the table below for an example of the odds and prices of method of victory betting.

Method & Round Combination

Alexander Volkov KO/TKO Round 1:  ➕4️⃣0️⃣0️⃣

Alexander Volkov KO/TKO Round 2: ➕7️⃣0️⃣0️⃣

Alexander Volkov KO/TKO Round 3: ➕1️⃣5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ 

As you can see from the table above, many sportsbooks name this market as Method & Round Combo. If you manage to predict the right combination, then you will be handsomely compensated for your wager – but these markets can be very hard to hit. 

For example, if you successfully bet $100 on Alexander Volkov winning by KO/TKO in the third round, you would win $1,500 including stake making it a grand total of $1,600. 

Will The Fight Go The Distance?

Another exciting market is if the fight will go the distance or not. This is simply a wager on whether you think all rounds will be completed or the fight will finish before the final horn. Check below for another example.

 Fight To Go The Distance

Yes ➕2️⃣6️⃣0️⃣

No: ➖3️⃣0️⃣0️⃣

If you believe the fight will see the judges’ cards then you’d back the yes bet at +260, but if you think the fight won’t see all three rounds then you’d bet the no bet. For example, if the fight goes to the horn and you bet the yes for $100 then you’d see a $360 return including stake. 

It’s a simple equation. First divide 260 by 100 (without the positive “+”), which yields 2.6. Then multiply that number by your $100 stake to arrive at (2.6 x 100 = $260). Including stake, it returns $360. 

STOCKHOLM - OCT 8, 2016: Winner Simon Skold against Christopher Sengele at Superior Challenge 14 at Eriksdalshallen in Stockholm.

Exact Round 

Exact round is a basic round betting bet. You can bet on the exact round you believe a fight to finish in without specifying the method of victory. 

  • Betting on the round and the winning fighter 
  • Betting on the round without specifying the fighter

Rafael dos Anjos Round 1 - ✚ 1600

Rafael Fiziev Round 1 -✚ 650

Rafael dos Anjos Round 2 - ✚ 2000

Rafael Fiziev Round 2 - ✚ 900

Rafael dos Anjos Round 3 - ✚ 2200

Rafael Fiziev Round 3 - ✚ 1200

Rafael dos Anjos Round 4 - ✚ 2800

Rafael Fiziev Round 4 - ✚ 1800

Rafael dos Anjos Round 5 - ✚ 3500

Rafael Fiziev Round 5 - ✚ 2500

Draw ✚ 5000

See the above table, you can wager on what round you think a bout will finish in. Rafael dos Anjos is technically the underdog in the table above, and choosing what round you think a fight will end in is a difficult task. The “✚” usually indicates an underdog while a “➖” refers to a favorite.

For example, if you think that Fiziev will finish the battle in the second round, then you’d wager $100 on a round 2 finish. $100 returns $1000 including stake if the favorite was to end dos Anjos in the second frame. 

Total Number Of Rounds

Total betting – also known as (over and under betting) is regarded as one of the most popular wagers in the US. Especially now that the MMA has exploded in popularity, many punters have transferred their betting knowledge on other sports to MMA. 

When you’re wagering on total rounds betting, you’ll see odds that list a specific round. You will then proceed to decide if the fight ends before or after that specific number. Here’s another example below.

Toal Rounds 

Over 1.5 Rounds 

Under 1.5 Rounds

 ➖ 450

✚ 300

The over and under in this market are listed at 1.5 rounds. If you bet $100 on the under at +300, and the fight doesn’t go over 1.5 rounds, you would pocket $400 including stake. 

Rounds in MMA are five minutes long, so half the round or (1.5) in the markets will occur at the 2.30 mark in the second round. 

The Best Sportsbook For Round Betting 

Most major sportsbooks will offer these markets, but if you really want some bang for your buck we’d suggest BETUS. 

This bookmaker has a locker-full of MMA markets and a fluid sportsbook to navigate. To get started we’ve added a banner below to sign up with an exclusive offer.

Other Things To Consider In Round Betting 

Here are a few other variables to consider when wagering on round betting. 

  • Weight Class – heavyweight fights tend to more often than not end in a knockout before all rounds can be completed. 
  • Check Fighter Style And Record – If a fighter is known for their knockout attributes (i.e. Derrick Lewis) there’s a good chance they’ll finish the fight in the first round. 
  • Check the referee’s record – some referees are known to let a fight go on longer than it should, letting fighters take more damage before calling a bout.

It’s helpful to consider all these factors before wagering on round betting and SinkorSwimSports is always in your corner when it comes to UFC round betting.