UFC betting guide – How to bet on every UFC weight class

Over the past 30-plus years, the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) has rapidly become the premier organisation for MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) bouts. This full-contact fighting league has grown in popularity with sports bettors thanks to its impressive roster of talent across several weight classes and disciplines, and there are more markets than ever to bet on.

In this UFC betting guide, we take you through why understanding fighters, their classes, and their current form is important before making wagers. If it’s your first time learning how to bet on UFC, use this guide as a launching pad for exploring UFC betting odds and watching matches at your own pace.

Key factors in UFC betting

Before looking into LeoVegas UFC betting odds, it’s crucial to remember five key factor categories that greatly influence the outcome of your wagers. These are:

Fighting styles (for example, are you betting on a striker or a grappler, and how do they perform against other fighters of the same type or different?).
Form (how have fighters performed in recent bouts, are they fully fit, and how do they match up against the youngest, fittest contenders?).
Physical advantages (how do fighters match up on their physical reach, what are the differences in height, and how do they stand/which hands are dominant?).
Training camps and fight camps (how and where have fighters trained, how extensively have they trained, and what are they specialised in?).
Weight cutting and weigh-in results (are fighters physically healthy after undergoing weight loss or gain, how rapidly have they changed bulk, and have they been penalised?).

The best UFC bets are those that are carefully measured and take into account a wide range of statistics and form. The next step in our UFC betting guide, therefore, is to consider different weight classes and how they impact betting strategies.

UFC weight classes and betting insights

There are eight official UFC weight classes for men, and four for women. These classes, much like in boxing and other competitive combat sports, help to balance the roster and make outcomes fairer. For sports fans and bettors, balanced weight classes sometimes help to make fights closer in terms of UFC betting odds.

Let’s explore each of the weight categories and what they are known for, and break down some MMA betting tips to consider in each case.

Heavyweight (265 lb / 120.2 kg)

Heavyweight bouts tend to be fairly unpredictable thanks to fighters’ tendencies to lean into one-punch finishes. It’s in these UFC matches that you will commonly see knockout punches win bouts, meaning that they are some of the shortest fights on the calendar.

Betting Tip: All heavyweight combatants have the power to end fights quickly with single, heavy punches. Therefore, if you typically lean towards betting on the underdogs, this weight class may offer the most value across the board.

Light Heavyweight (205 lb / 93 kg)

Light heavyweight combatants still carry tons of power and have the ability to land match-ending blows, but these bouts tend to run longer as there is more of a balance with athletic speed. Typically, you’ll also find that veteran fighters compete in the light heavyweight category.

Betting Tip: Prioritise researching fighters in this category who can keep up with the pace well and who have strong cardio fitness. These attributes mean that they have higher stamina than most and can balance well with heavy strikes.

Middleweight (185 lb / 84 kg)

Middleweight fights in the UFC are often tough to call, with many combatants being technical brawlers who are specialised in submissions. This can make for some of the most interesting fights in the championship, though they’re not always beginner bettor-friendly.

Betting Tip: Look carefully at the difference between fighters and grapplers. Consider that a middleweight fighter’s ground defence can be advantageous against even experienced grapplers.

Welterweight (170 lb / 77 kg)

It’s argued that welterweight fights go even deeper and are more complex, with bouts going on longer than most.

Betting Tip: Look carefully at defensive form, an asset for longer battles – stamina is key here. Always prioritise contenders who can withstand five rounds.

Lightweight (155 lb / 70 kg)

Lightweight combatants are fast on their feet and often highly skilled when it comes to landing blows, making these bouts some of the most competitive on the docket.

Betting Tip: Look closely at cardio fitness and choose combatants who have clear winning streaks. You ideally need a contender with confidence and skill at this level.

Featherweight (145 lb / 66 kg)

Featherweight combatants are some of the most technically proficient, which, again, can make for fast-paced but still long-lasting matches.

Betting Tip: When studying form, prioritise how combatants defend and their accuracy when landing blows.

Bantamweight (135 lb / 61 kg)

Going even lighter, the male bantamweight league is high on technical output and super-fast flurries and exchanges. These are some of the most frantic fights in the UFC.

Betting Tip: These bouts frequently go all the way, meaning that it’s worth considering over/under markets as so many go to decision.

Flyweight (125 lb / 56 kg)

The lightest men in the UFC are the fastest and most frantic around, meaning that the action is non-stop, and not always easy to call.

Betting Tip: Given that flyweight contenders tend to land more blows than most, it’s vital to consider the role of judging decisions as matches burn on. Consider control form alongside successful strikes and technique.

Women’s Featherweight (145 lb / 66 kg)

The heaviest female league has some of the most interesting stylistic matchups, frequently because the talent pool is smaller than most.

Betting Tip: Given the prevalence of specialist skill gaps between competitors, it’s wise to lean into the favourites.

Women’s Bantamweight (135 lb / 61 kg)

Female bantamweight fights tend to play host to extensive technical displays, and it’s more likely that you will find grappling here than at featherweight.

Betting Tip: Technical skills are vital here, so it’s worth prioritising contenders who move to the UFC from other sports, such as judo or boxing.

Women’s Flyweight (125 lb / 56 kg)

Female flyweight fights tend to offer a good balance of power and speed, meaning that they are fast, furious and frequently tricky to call.

Betting Tip: Focus on submission technique and form in this weight class, as they’re more common here than in heavier divisions.

Women’s Strawweight (115 lb / 52 kg)

The lightest and fastest fights in the UFC, these bouts see high volumes of strikes and exceptional stamina, which again makes them tough to call.

Betting Tip: Never count out the judge’s decision, as many strawweight fights are decided on points.

Popular UFC betting markets beyond the winner

To close our UFC betting guide, let’s consider a few markets and UFC betting odds you can find at LeoVegas beyond outright winners:

Round Betting (choose how long a match will go on for – i.e., which round will see the victory).
Distance Betting (decide whether or not the fight will go the entire distance, or if it will fall short).
Double Chance Betting (choose whether or not you think a combatant will win on decision, or if they will land a KO or TKO).

Make sure to explore LeoVegas’ extensive range of UFC odds and markets, and always bet responsibly while doing so.