As UFC betting has become increasingly popular among sportsbook users, prop bets are a favorite option. These bets allow you to wager on things like the method of victory in a fight. You can also bet on which round a fight will end in. Below, we’ll take a closer look at what UFC prop bets are and how the odds work for these types of wagers within the sport of MMA.
You can also check out UFC odds on every upcoming fight, as well as potential future fights.
Top sportsbooks with UFC prop bets
Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn't Win*
*Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l terms. 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET
Get $250 in Bonus Bets When You Wager $5 for 5 Days ($50 Bonus Bets Per Day)
Available on Desktop, Android & iOS
Easy Deposits, Fast Withdrawals
Get a 100% Bet Match up to $100 in FanCash for 10 Days
Earn FanCash & Spend it on Team Swag or More Bets
Daily Odds & Profit Boosts on Select Games
Spend $5+ Get $150 in Bonus Bets Over 14 Days
Plus Get up to $1,000 Deposit Bonus
Bet on All Your Favorite Sports With America's Top-Rated Sportsbook
Bet $10 Get $200 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose
30% Extra on Same Game Parlay Profit
T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (AZ, CO, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA). 21+ only. Please gamble responsibly. Must be present in AZ/CO/IA/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA(select parishes) /MD/MI/MO/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA/WV.
UFC props explained
A prop bet (short for proposition bet) is a wager on a specific thing or things that may happen during a sporting contest, such as a UFC fight. Instead of betting simply on the outcome of a fight, this type of wager allows bettors to be more specific, which can lead to longer odds and bigger potential payouts. Prop bets are a key part of how to bet on MMA. MMA fight props can take many forms, but the most common focus on how and when the fight will end. There are a few basic types of prop bets for UFC fights.
Method of victory props
These are bets on the way the fight will end. UFC fights primarily end in one of three ways: knockout (for betting purposes, this includes TKOs and any referee stoppage due to strikes), submission (when one fighter submits or taps out), or decision (when the fight comes down to judges’ scorecards at the end of all scheduled rounds). Fights can also end via disqualification, though many sportsbooks also include that result along with KOs and TKOs. Fights can also result in a no-contest when the fight cannot be completed and neither fighter is declared the winner, though this is rare. And fights that go to decision also occasionally end in a draw, which sportsbooks also offer odds on.
Example of a method of victory prop: Jon Jones via TKO/KO (+140)
This is a bet that would cash if Jon Jones wins his next fight by TKO or KO. Essentially, that means any outcome that ends inside the distance with Jones winning due to a stoppage that’s not the result of a submission. At many sportsbooks, the TKO/KO prop also covers disqualifications, while bets on a victory via submission typically don’t. At the above odds, a bet of $100 would pay $140 in profit (plus the return of the original $100, for a total of $240) if it wins.
Round props
These are bets on which round the fight will end in. Most UFC fights are scheduled for three rounds. Main events and title fights are typically scheduled for five rounds. Some sportsbooks may offer lines that only require you to correctly predict in which round the fight will end, without picking which fighter will be the winner. Other sportsbooks offer bets in which you choose the round, the winning fighter, and the method of victory. These usually offer longer odds and bigger potential payouts, since they require you to predict three elements of the finish correctly.
Example of a round prop: Conor McGregor in Round 2 (+210)
This is a bet that would cash if Conor McGregor won the fight by any method in the second round. This covers everything from knockouts to submissions to disqualifications to doctor stoppages. As long as the fight ends in the second round with McGregor as the winner, this bet hits. At the above odds, a bet of $100 would net you $210 in profit.
Decision props
These are bets on what will happen if or when the fight goes the full scheduled rounds. Most sportsbooks will offer odds on whether the fight will “go the distance,” meaning reach the judges’ scorecards at the end of the scheduled rounds. But there are also different types of decisions that MMA judges can render. The most common is the unanimous decision, in which all three judges agree on which fighter won the bout. A split decision is when one judge scores the bout for one fighter while the other two score it for the other fighter. A majority decision involves one judge scoring the bout a draw while the other two judges score it for the same fighter. For betting purposes, majority and split decisions are usually lumped together into one wager.
Example of a decision prop: Kayla Harrison via majority or split-decision (+450)
This bet would cash only if Kayla Harrison won via a decision that was not unanimous across all three judges’ scorecards. If two of the three judges score the fight for Harrison, this bet would win. If the fight ends with any other outcome, the bet would not be successful. At the above odds, a bet of $100 would net $450 in profit if successful, reflecting how uncommon that specific outcome is in an MMA fight.
First-minute finish props
This is a bet on whether the fight will end in the first minute of the first round. UFC fights can end at any point due to knockouts, submissions, injuries, or disqualifications. Fights can and do end in the opening 60 seconds, and this bet covers any outcome that results in the fight ending before the first minute is up. Many bettors like these wagers because they offer a quick resolution early in a bout.
Ready to Bet on UFC Props?
Legal Sports Report features up-to-date UFC odds from top sports betting sites in the US.
Props odds for UFC 331
Here are a few examples of UFC props being offered for the upcoming UFC 331 marquee flyweight title fight between Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja happening at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA, on September 19:
UFC betting apps for prop bets
BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM is now available in several states and has expanded its footprint in the online sports betting space. It offers odds on every scheduled UFC event, including multiple prop bets typically available in the days leading up to each event.
BetMGM Sportsbook is available in the following states: AZ, CO, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MS, MO, NJ, NV, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV & WY. Note: The welcome bonus is not available in DC, MS, NV, or NY.
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel began as a daily fantasy sports provider and has since evolved to become one of the major players in online sports betting. The app offers intuitive navigation and a range of betting options for all UFC fights.
FanDuel Sportsbook is available in the following states: AR, AZ, CO, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VT, VA, WV & WY.
Fanatics Sportsbook
Fanatics covers UFC cards with moneyline, method of victory, over/under rounds, and exact round markets, along with live in-play lines that update as a fight unfolds. Every UFC wager, win or lose, also earns FanCash, which can be converted into bonus bets or spent on Fanatics merchandise.
Fanatics Sportsbook is available in the following states: AZ, CO, CT, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, & WY.
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings is one of the most well-known online sports betting companies. Based in Boston, it offers multiple betting options for UFC fights and bills itself as the official sportsbook of the UFC. DraftKings also has a sign-up bonus for new users.
DraftKings Sportsbook is available in the following states: AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MO, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, TN, VT, VA, WV & WY.
bet365 Sportsbook
One other great option for UFC prop betting is bet365. In fact, bet365 is the official sports betting partner of UFC across the US and Canada, so you’ll see fight odds, live tickers, and same-game parlay options built directly into UFC broadcasts. Beyond standard moneyline, method of victory, and round markets, the book has rolled out partnership perks like a 50% profit boost token on numbered event main cards and a boosted offer for new users on Fight Night cards.
bet365 Sportsbook is available in the following states: AZ, CO, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MO, NJ, NC, OH, PA, TN & VA & WV.
UFC prop bet FAQs
Do all sportsbooks offer prop bet odds on UFC fights?
Most legal online sportsbooks in the US will offer at least a few prop bets for every UFC event. Some have many props for every single UFC fight, while others may only offer the most popular ones, or only for main-card bouts.
What are some of the most popular types of prop bets?
The most popular prop bets tend to be bets on the method or round of finish. Many bettors like to use what they know of each fighter’s strengths or weaknesses to predict how the fight will end and when. Betting on first-round finishes is also a popular choice with many bettors.
What’s the appeal of a prop bet?
For bettors, a prop bet is often an avenue to more favorable odds, especially in matchups that seem to favor one fighter over another. Instead of betting on a heavy favorite to win, which might not yield much of a payout, bettors can get more specific about how or when that fighter might win, getting better odds as the bet becomes more specific.
How often do UFC fights end in TKOs, submissions, decisions, etc.?
Decisions are the most common type of finish to UFC fights. In 2022, the UFC held 538 fights. Of those, 250 ended with a decision by the judges. TKO/KO was the next most common, with 180, and submissions accounted for 106. There was only one no-contest and one disqualification. The last year in which submissions outnumbered TKOs/KOs in the UFC was 2007.