The rise of MMA has many people looking to get in on the action from a gambling perspective. UFC dominates ratings with their large-numbered events (282 numbered events through 2022), so most look to put money on multiple fights.
Forming a parlay bet in UFC works the same way as other major individual sports. Knowing what to look for and staying within betting means are keys to coming out on top.
Table of Contents
How Do You Bet Parlays in UFC?
UFC parlay betting works the same way as other sports, combining two or more bets for a bigger payout. For example, a toss-up fight would give each pick a 50% chance of winning. Combining two toss-up fights makes it a 25% chance of picking both winners correctly. Therefore, gamblers get better odds and better payouts.
The UFC is popular enough that people tune in for entire nights of fighting during an event. Even the biggest UFC fights are part of a lineup of fights, making it a perfect opportunity to place parlay bets in one small timeframe.
Sign up for a FREE Consultation to start working with Legendary Sports Bettor Jon Price
UFC Parlay Betting With Multiple Fights
While there’s no set format for a parlay, most will start betting on fight winners only. Betting on a heavy favorite alone won’t win people much, but combining three or four heavy favorites might turn the parlay bet into some decent odds.
Parlay betting also pays extremely well when combining at least one or two underdogs. They won’t hit that often since they’re underdogs for a reason, but some of the biggest payouts come when people take a gamble on underdogs as part of their parlay.
Same-Fight UFC Parlays
Another option for people to make some money off of the UFC fight is to do same-fight UFC parlays. This is when a person makes multiple picks in the same fight on different parts of the fight. For example, a person could bet on a fighter to win, a fighter to win in a specific round, and a fighter’s method of victory. Nail all three, and the payout is much better than individual payouts.
The benefit of going this route is someone only has to research a single fight instead of knowing the entire fight card. People go in with a little more confidence when parlay betting this way.
Is It Better To Place Parlay Bets or Multiple Single-Fight Bets?
UFC parlay betting is an all-or-nothing approach to multiple picks. If just one pick in the parlay doesn’t hit, a person wins nothing. However, when placing multiple single-fight bets, a person could win one and lose two, which means they don’t lose all their money.
With small wagers, parlay bets might be worth it. Think of UFC parlays as designed more for the casual gambler. The thought of hitting big, even with long odds, can be very enticing. However, for a long-term, calculated approach, single-fight bets in the UFC tend to work better.
To maximize returns on a parlay or single bet, always look across sportsbooks to find the best odds. There will always be some variance in odds, especially for smaller fights with limited data out there. Those tend to be the opportunities to cash in. Find a few of those fights, and parlay betting becomes that much more entertaining.
Why UFC Parlay Betting Is So Popular
The rise of the UFC has created popularity with betting. One-on-one sports eliminate variables that scare off some with team sports. Getting a chance to watch the entire parlay unfold in a span of a few hours is also enticing.
As long as UFC is bringing in fans, all types of betting on the sport will remain popular. Parlay bets have a chance to pay out in a big way, but keep in mind that an overall winning percentage likely dips compared to single fights.