UFC vs Bellator Betting Guide

AGCO required Ontario Gaming Operators to stop offering and accepting UFC bets due to betting integrity concerns. More info here

Follow this post to stay up to date on this matter.

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UFC 278 fight card, Kamoru Usman vs. Leon Edwards UFC Welterweight Championship fights will kick off by 2am on Sunday, August 21.

The bout will be held at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. Majority of bookmakers place the winning edge on Usman.

In 2015, Usman won against Edwards via unanimous decision and he has been keeping his head high since then. As it stands, Kamaru Usman has a slightly better chance of winning the UFC Welterweight title.

Right now you will find the best odds for Usman’s Win at Betway. If you would like to bet on Edwards, it is worth doing it at the bookmaker BetMGM.

As bookmakers in Ontario do not currently offer odds on Bellator events, you won’t find them in this article.

However, it’s worth staying tuned and checking here because as soon as these odds are available, we’ll publish them immediately.

 

This UFC vs Bellator betting guide is designed to serve as an introduction to betting on these two promotions’ fights and clear up any confusion.

UFC Online Betting Markets

UFC online betting markets are available at most major bookmakers, and they are mostly the same.

Bookmakers offer a range of different betting options, including betting odds, totals, and handicaps. These allow you to choose which fighter you think will win the match.

Bookmakers also have live odds for each individual fight that can be viewed on their website or app. These are updated as the match progresses and can give you an idea of how your bets are doing.

There is also parlay betting where you can tie multiple UFC wagers (learn more on how parlay bets work here).

Here is a list of the most common and popular UFC bets. You can find them at most Ontario legal online bookmakers like Bet365, DraftKings, Unibet, BetMGM, Betway & more.

  • Fight winner
  • Fight outcome
  • Round betting
  • Total rounds
  • Fight to go distance

If you are truly interested in UFC betting, don't forget to learn more on how to bet UFC fights in Ontario. In the odds section of our website you will find predictions for the most anticipated UFC fights:

Top 3 Bookmakers To Bet On UFC Fights In Ontario

Exceptional customer service, an extensive betting offer, fast payments, and live commentary. Great odds, great in-play betting, and the best mobile app.

Bet365 Review19+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly.
  • It is an internationally recognized bookmaker
  • Different banking options are available
  • The website and app are easy to navigate
  • Live streaming is available for new customers
Bet On UFC

The BetMGM Sportsbook app is the official mobile betting app of MGM Resorts International, one of the world's most recognized land-based casino operators.

BetMGM Review19+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly.
  • A variety of international sports are available 
  • It has the best futures odds amongst other sportsbooks
  • Live streaming is supported on selected events
  • Supported on both desktop and mobile phones
Bet On UFC

The long-awaited online bookmaker is finally legal in Ontario. Superb live betting section, great odds & top-tier mobile app.

DraftKings Review19+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly.
  • well-known & respected US brand
  • very attractive odds
  • great UX and safety measures
Bet On UFC

Bellator Online Betting Markets

The rules for placing bets on Bellator events in Ontario are similar to other MMA events.

Bellator fights can be placed in Ontario by setting up an account with a registered bookmaker. This allows you to bet on the outcome of Bellator fights. However, you must be at least 19 years old to place bets on Bellator fights in Ontario.

The following types of bets can be placed in Ontario:

  1. Winner

    This is for one fighter to win the fight by knockout, submission, or decision.

  2. Winner by knockout

    This is for one fighter to win the fight by knockout (or TKO) without being knocked down.

  3. Winner by submission

    This is for one fighter to win the fight by submission (or arm-triangle choke).

  4. Winner by decision

    This is for one fighter to win a decision (i.e., scorecards).

The odds are available for all events on the several Ontario betting websites, but they are usually not available until a few days before an event begins. The odds are updated frequently throughout the week leading up to each match.

The rules for placing bets on Bellator fights are still very similar to UFC. In addition to the usual betting options such as straight bets, round-by-round picks, and parlays, bettors can also place side bets on specific fighters or rounds via their preferred betting platform.

Top 3 Bookmakers To Bet On Bellator In Ontario

Exceptional customer service, an extensive betting offer, fast payments, and live commentary. Great odds, great in-play betting, and the best mobile app.

Bet365 Review19+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly.
  • It is an internationally recognized bookmaker
  • Different banking options are available
  • The website and app are easy to navigate
  • Live streaming is available for new customers
Bet On Bellator

Caesars is undoubtedly the most well-known gaming brand. The brand is a major player for sports bettors who have frequented the Las Vegas sportsbook throughout the years.

Caesars Review19+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly.
  • iOS and Android apps
  • Customer service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Bet On Bellator

LeoVegas Sport is a renowned betting service that offers a wide choice of sports and events to wager on. Niche sports available, good live betting experience.

LeoVegas Review19+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly.
  • Live betting
  • Wide variety of sports betting options
  • e-sports
  • Good customer support
Bet On Bellator

UFC vs Bellator Odds Characteristics

UFC vs Bellator odds are similar, but there are a few differences. Both organizations have high-quality talent and a long history of producing champions. What's different is that UFC has been around for nearly 20 years, and Bellator is still relatively young compared to other MMA promotions.

As a result of this, we can expect higher payouts for fights in the UFC compared to Bellator.

We can also expect more betting action for those fights because there are more people who want to bet on them.

This means that even though there are many different markets available for betting on fights from these two promotions, they will still likely be more profitable than if you were only able to bet on one promotion’s fight.

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It's also worth noting that because Bellator doesn't have as large of a fan base as the UFC does, its fighters are less likely to draw as much attention from fans during their fights which could mean lower payouts for those same fighters' matches if they aren't popular enough outside of their promotions.

Take a look at a brief comparison in that field:

UFC Odds Characteristics

Pros:

  • Highly Popular
  • It concludes with five rounds
  • Decent average odds
  • Holds more events
  • Longer fighting rounds
  • Live betting
  • Multiple sportsbooks

Cons:

  • Unpredictable

Bellator Odds Characteristics

Pros:

  • Supports handicapping
  • Multiple sportsbooks
  • Easier matchups

Cons:

  • Lower betting odds
  • Volatility

UFC vs Bellator Betting Online Strategy

In regards to betting on fights in both organizations, the same tips can be used.

The first thing you have to do is find out which fighter has the most experience in his division and/or weight class. This will help you determine who will win the fight.

The bettor should follow the same criteria they would use when betting on fights in the UFC. They would want to look at the odds of each fighter, as well as their record and other factors.

For example, a fighter who has lost three times in a row will be hard to bet on at a big bet if they have a good record and are coming off of a victory.

Betting on UFC and Bellator is a lot like betting on baseball. You’re looking for the best team, with the best players and coaches and a good manager or coach that knows how to get them to play well together.

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In both organizations, the fighters are not just martial artists; they have skills that go beyond just fighting. For example, Conor McGregor has an amazing ability to read people and predict their next move - he can tell when someone's about to punch him in the face based on their body language alone!

Another thing that matters here is whether or not there are any big names fighting in this fight or not. If there are big names involved, then it's likely they will win because they won't want to risk losing their name by losing against someone who hasn't been around long enough to make any noise yet.

If you're looking for a good betting favorite to win, I would say that Bellator has a higher percentage of winners than UFC. This difference is due to the fact that Bellator has more lower-level fighters and less experienced ones.

The level of competition in Bellator is higher, which means that there are more upsets and unexpected heroes (such as Sidney Outlaw Richman in his fight against Roger Huerta).

This knowledge is useful when betting on Bellator because if you know what an upset looks like or if you know how often an underdog wins, then you can use this knowledge to make better bets.

However, in the UFC, betting favorites win about 75% of the time. In Bellator, this number is closer to 60%.

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UFC vs Bellator Comparison

UFC vs Bellator is a slightly interensting comparison. These two companies are the most well-known promotions in professional mixed martial arts.

However, some MMA bettors may be surprised to discover differences between UFC and Bellator, which can impact their betting strategy.

UFCBellator
Largest MMA promotion companySecond largest MMA promotion company
Pays more salarySalary is lower
Covered over 550 eventsCovered over 260 events
Expansion and TV deal in Australia, Europe, US states, and AsiaExpansion deals are still under development
The cage is a little bit smaller with cornersBig cage with no corners
Popular fighters include Israel Adesanya, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Anderson Silva, Conor McGregor, Valentina Shevchenko, Jon Jones, etc.Popular fighters include Michael Chandler, Patricio Freire, Eddie Alvarez, Ben Askren, etc.
It has 12 weight divisions with four females and eight men’s divisionsIt has nine weight divisions with two female and seven male divisions

UFC vs Bellator Rules

It is clear that the rules of fights and the organization of fights that prevail in both organizations are very similar. The two organizations have a set of rules that govern the manner in which their fighters compete. These rules include safety considerations, weight classes, and age requirements.

ufc vs bellator infographic

Although there are many similarities between UFC and Bellator, there are also some differences in terms of the number of weight classes allowed for each organization.

For example, Bellator has nine weight classes while UFC has 8.

However, this does not mean that there is any lack of safety standards within either organization; rather, it simply means that Bellator has lesser weight categories than UFC does. 

Fighters must be at least 18 years old to compete in Bellator events, whereas fighters under the age of 18 cannot do so under any circumstances in UFC events either.

This is due to the fact that both organizations want to protect their athletes from injury or long-term damage caused by excessive fighting practices before they reach adulthood (Bellator). 

Regardless of the status of the fight, in the UFC, all duels are five rounds. In Bellator, non championship fights are three rounds, while championship bouts are five rounds. This is one of the major differences between the two promotions.

Overall, both promotions follow unified rules of mixed martial arts, and their rules are a lot more similar. This means they acknowledge the same rules when it comes to illegal and legal strikes.

UFC vs Bellator - Who Has The Better Fight Cards?

The UFC has the better fight cards. This promotion has more than double the number of events as Bellator, and they have a higher average number of pay-per-view buys per event.

The UFC has been dominating the MMA landscape for years, and it's easy to see why. Their fight cards are jam-packed with world-class talent while still managing to keep a level of accessibility that's hard to come by in other promotions.

Bellators' biggest selling point is that they are known for putting on exciting fights between well-known fighters. However, the UFC is also known for putting on exciting fights between well-known fighters, so there is no reason to think that Bellator's fight cards would be better than those put on by the UFC.

The most popular example is their fight card at UFC nights, such as Nurmagomedov vs. McGregor, Holloway vs. Rodriguez, etc.

Although Bellator does have some popular fights from time to time (like Yoel Romero vs. Melvin Manhoef in their September pay-per-view), most of their fights tend to be less action-packed than those put on by the UFC.

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Conclusion

While UFC and Bellator are both leading the MMA world, they each have their pros and cons. As a long time MMA researcher, we have witnessed that it is hard to pinpoint which betting odds is better.

UFC has historically been a slight winner over their rival because of additional support ranging from sponsorships to fighters engaging in activity in the ring, cage, or octagon.

Overall, the knowledge of how each promotion operates can be useful while betting on either one.

If you know what kind of bets they allow or disallow then it gives you an opportunity to make money without spending as much time researching things like what kind of odds each fighter should be given before placing your bet.

While you read this article, you should keep this information in mind when deciding to bet on your favorite fighter(s) in the industry.

Do You Want More Content On MMA?

As a MMA betting fan, you might also like our UFC live free online streaming article as well as the Unified MMA fights and arbitrage betting guides.

FAQ

The UFC is one of the biggest sports organizations in the world, with fighters earning more money than those in any other sport.

In fact, some low-tier fighters are eligible for up to $10,000 to $30,000 per fight. Within Bellator, however, this isn’t true. Bellator’s lowest paid fighter earned as low as $1,500 at an event.

The short answer is no. The UFC is a well-established sports organization that has been around since 1993, while Bellator is a newer MMA promotion founded in 2008. There are many obvious differences between the two promotions.

Both organizations have some of the best fighters in the world – but only one organization can claim to have the best pay rates.

UFC Conor Mcgregor makes $3 million in his fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov. In contrast, Yoel Romero earned $150,000 for his fight against Phil Davis at Bellator 266.

The answer is yes, because both organizations use cages for their bouts. But one difference between them worth noting is that Bellator uses a bigger cage than does UFC; it’s 36 feet with 1020 sq with no corners.

Yes, Bellator fighters can fight in the UFC and vice versa.

The UFC and Bellator have a business relationship, and their fighters can compete with each other. A fighter from one organization would have to sign with the other to compete.