UFC Betting: The Best UFC Betting Sites in New Zealand 2024

Written by Lincoln Trembley Last updated: 12/02/2024

Over the past few years, UFC events and mixed martial arts (MMA) have gained increasing popularity in New Zealand. And MMA betting is taking off, too. There are plenty of options for fans to engage in UFC betting. But finding the right UFC betting site can be challenging.

That’s why we’ve put together a list of the best-rated UFC betting sites in New Zealand. We’ll explain UFC betting markets and different bets you can make. And provide some tips to help boost your chances of being a winner.

Let’s start with the top rated sites…

Best Rated UFC Betting Sites

What is UFC?

UFC stands for Ultimate Fighting Championship. Created in 1993, it’s an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company. There are 12 different weight divisions (eight men’s and four women’s) with events produced worldwide. It’s held over 600 events and is a global multi-billion dollar enterprise watched by people all over the globe.

UFC Fights

Regardless of whether the fighters are from the New Jersey division or the Auckland division, the UFC brings together the best mixed martial arts practitioners from all over the globe, pitting them against one another in weight classes with a monthly main event. Each year, there are about 40 events.

Mixed Martial Arts

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact combat sport that allows athletes from a variety of combat sports to compete using a wide range of fighting methods and talents.

The regulations permit the use of striking and grappling maneuvers from both a standing and a seated position. Athletes from a variety of backgrounds can compete in competitions.

A modern UFC fight is fought in an Octagon, with three rounds for non-championship fights and five rounds for championship fights.

There are quite a few ways that a UFC bout can end, including:

• Submission: When a fighter taps the mat three times or says they’re submitting.
• Knockout: Known as KO, this occurs when a fighter is unconscious, usually from a punch or a kick from their opponent.
• Technical Knockout: The referee (or a trainer or doctor) decides the fighter is no longer fit to continue the fight.
• Disqualification: When a competitor deliberately or unintentionally disobeys a competition rule.
• Forfeiture: When a fighter chooses to opt out of the fight before it’s finished, usually because of an injury.
• No Contest: When a fighter can’t compete for the total rounds required by the judges to reach a decision.

UFC vs. MMA

MMA is the sport, while UFC is the entity that runs and promotes the events. All UFC fights and events are MMA match-ups, but not all MMA fights are UFC events. There are other organisations that promote and arrange MMA fights around the world, including Bellator MMA, BAMMA (British Association of Mixed Martial Arts) and MFC (Maximum Fighting Championships).

How To Find UFC Events

Fortunately, there are heaps of ways in which you can find out where the next UFC fight is going to happen.

There are many online sports betting sites and information directories that take into consideration the fighters, popularity, odds, picks and any other relevant information that will help a punter keep updated and place the right bets on the outcome of the fight.

For UFC betting in New Zealand, the NZ Herald is a good place to check.

One of the best ways to carry out your UFC betting effectively is to stay updated on each fighter and their next fight to ensure you’re likely to win.

Top 10 NZ UFC Fighters by Wins

UFC Betting Markets

UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) is very popular with New Zealand punters. There is a wide range of UFC betting markets available throughout each event. Punters can predict the outcome of a fight or the outcome of an event and access decent betting odds.

You can choose to bet on a single fight or multiple fights across a few different match-ups. It’s a fun way to take your love of UFC to another level.

UFC Betting in New Zealand

Although UFC is based in Las Vegas, events are held all over the world for NZ punters to make a wager. You can bet on eight different weight categories, ranging from flyweight to heavyweight. UFC betting odds are highly changeable and exciting, just like the games and athletes themselves!

When engaging in UFC betting in New Zealand, keep in mind that all sports betting on MMA are subject to gaming enforcement laws and regulations, and make sure that you only place bets with reputed and industry-recognised bookies, like the ones we list here at CasinoCrawlers.

Types of UFC Bets

When placing a wager on a UFC fight, here are some of the most common bets:

Moneyline

This is the most common type of UFC bet, where you choose a fighter you think will win. Typically, these bets feature a favourite and an underdog because it’s a 1:1 match-up. The favourite is considered more likely to win, while the underdog is more unlikely to win.

This is reflected in the odds by the online sportsbook. Sometimes, fights will have no clear favourite, so you’ll get equal odds with whoever you choose. You can place a moneyline bet before the fight begins or during the fight. Betting odds for live bets constantly change based on what’s happening in the fight, so you may get better odds if you hold off placing your bet.

Winning Method

This method is also a common bet for MMA match-ups. It’s when you make a wager on how you think the win will occur. For example, win by decision, submission, knockout, finish etc.

If you choose ‘win by finish’, the fighter needs to win by knockout, submission or disqualification to win your bet.

Fight Props

Fight prop bets can offer better odds. They allow you to bet on more random elements of a fight, such as whether the fight will go the distance, the time of finish, etc. For example, if you select a time of finish between 01:00-01:59 in the 1st round, the fight needs to be within that timeframe to win the bet.

Over/Under Rounds

This is when you place a bet on how many rounds you think the fight will last. For example, an online bookmaker may set the over/under round at 2.5. If you choose over, and the fight goes longer than 2:30 you win the bet. If the fight finishes before then, you lose.

Parlays

Parlay is a type of bet that can also lead to big payouts. It’s when you place a bet on multiple outcomes, such as choosing three different fighters on a UFC card to win. You can also place parlay bets within the same game. For example, choosing a fighter to win by knockout and also selecting the most knockdowns in the fight and most significant strikes. These bets can offer some of the best UFC odds and can be a good option for UFC fight night.

UFC Weight Classes

How To Bet on UFC

When you’re ready to place a bet on a UFC match, here’s how to get started.

1. Visit your chosen site (take a look at our recommended list) and register for an account.
2. Complete all the required information, which will vary slightly depending on the bookmaker. You will most likely need to provide a relevant ID and verify your account via email.
3. Once you’ve opened and verified your account, visit the cashier’s page of the site to make a deposit.
4. Once you’re ready to bet, visit the sports area of the betting platform and select UFC/MMA.
5. Place your bets!

Quick Facts about UFC

UFC Betting Tips

Here are some helpful tips from our expert team to consider before placing your UFC bets.

Only Wager on Things That Have Value

This advice is generally applicable to betting on all sports. Sometimes, less well-known fights contain a lot of value since the bookies lack the information or expertise necessary to set the best odds.

For example, if you’re watching a new up-and-coming fighter at the start of their career and an old favourite at the twilight of his career, this is a good opportunity in the UFC.

The UFC very often pits young fighters against fighters past their prime as a way to give them a leg up. Keep an eye out for these, as they often win the fight and offer great UFC odds for bettors.

Pick Your Fights Carefully

Before you place a bet, do your research. Analyse the fighter records from previous matches, checking for things like total rounds a fighter lasted in their last fight, KO rates and different fighting rates. You can make a more informed wager by spending time studying the form of competitors. Also, study the UFC odds available at different sites.

Make sure you also spend time watching fights. You’ll gain a better understanding of how fights work and different competitors’ fighting styles. It’s also a great way to learn about the various elements of a match you can bet on.

Bet on UFC with Reason, Not Emotion

The media often release sensationalist headlines to generate hype and controversy around upcoming UFC fights. However, it’s important not to let emotion or external factors affect your judgement.

Because MMA is such a dynamic sport, surprises do occur. Don’t abandon your entire betting strategy if you have achieved success with it because of a few unsuccessful wagers. Just consider how many bizarre fight outcomes, such as draws, no-contests, and knockouts, there have been in recent years.

Try to avoid dwelling too much on erratic results and concentrate on retaining your profit. Passing on a fight also has no negative effects, so don’t feel like you’re missing out because you didn’t place a bet on a fight.

Find A Niche

Try to focus on a specific area of expertise to help you with your betting strategy, such as particular fighters or weight divisions. You gain a deeper and more complete comprehension of what you’re learning when you specialise. We strongly advise specialising in specific fight styles and competitors, as you can earn a nice return at the next UFC event.

Seek Out the Best Odds

Look around multiple sites to find the best odds for your bet. Try registering on multiple betting sites so you can easily compare UFC odds. Placing your bets on the site that offers you the best value.

Sometimes, backing the underdog can get you a big win and offer the best UFC odds. When a betting site gives the favourite status to a fighter who you know is experiencing a recent dip in performance, it’s a great strategy to back the underdog. They’ll have better odds and a decent chance of winning.

Alternative Sports for Betting

There are several other sports to bet on, have a look at our alternatives below and choose your favourite sport:

References

Facts about UFC, “https://medium.com/martial-arts-unleashed/crazy-facts-you-didnt-know-about-modern-ufc-top-10-49a729e94942”

Understanding UFC weight classes, “https://www.ufc.com/news/understanding-ufc-weight-classes-and-weigh-ins”

Highest Payouts in UFC history, “https://www.sportco.io/article/highest-payouts-ufc-history-paydays-conor-mcgregor-fight-purse-719843”

Lincoln Trembley

Betting Expert

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Lincoln is an expert in sports betting. With his skill and passion for trying our new brands in the iGaming industry, he frequently reviews sports betting sites and writes news about sports betting. Being a former sports trader, there’s not much he doesn’t know when it comes to sports betting.

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