We’re glad that you’ve found our way to our guide to UFC betting in South Africa. In this expert review, we’re going to analyse the top UFC betting sites, so you know where to set up an account. We’ll start with a table of our favourite sites for UFC sport betting, which includes information regarding their generous welcome bonuses.
- All
- Reload bonus
- Live streaming
- Bet builder
- Acca Boost
- Enhanced odds
- Acca Bonus
- Free Bet
- Best Odds Guaranteed
- Acca Insurance
- Betting Tournament
- Cashout
- VIP Programme
- Cash out
- More Filters
Top Rated
R300 First Deposit Bonus
07/09/23R300 First Deposit Bonus
- Unbeatable UFC section
- Huge range of regular bonuses
- Bet on eSports UFC
9.8
NO CODE REQUIREDClaim BonusLearn More11Register with 1xBet. Fill in your personal profile in My Account and enable the function "Take part in bonus offers". Deposit any amount from 1$. The bonus is automatically credited to a customer's account after they make a deposit.
Up to $100 in Bet Credits
22/04/22Up to $100 in Bet Credits
- 70% multi-sport acca bonus includes UFC
- UFC news and tips
- Get Bet Boosts on UFC
9.7
NO CODE REQUIREDClaim Bonus11Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.
100% Bonus Up To R1,000
22/04/22100% Bonus Up To R1,000
- Get 50% extra on MMA multiples
- Cash out and partial cash out keeps you in control
- UFC tips at Bet Central blog
9.6
NO CODE REQUIREDClaim BonusLearn More11The bonus amount must be wagered 6 times (Sports bets must be taken at single bet min odds of 7/10 or 0.70, Multiple Min Odds of 12/10 or 1.20 and each leg must be 2/10 or greater) prior to bonus funds and associated winnings becoming withdrawable.
First Deposit Bonus 100% Up To $100
22/04/22First Deposit Bonus 100% Up To $100
- Acca boost on UFC Multiples
- 50% Reload Bonus
- Free bets every week
9.5
NO CODE REQUIREDClaim BonusLearn More11This offer is only available to new customers, who have registered and made their first real-money deposit at Sportaza. THe Bonus is 100% of a player's first deposit bonus up to 8,000 INR. In order to qualify for the bonus, hte player nmust play through the full amount of hte first deposit at least once with odds no less than 1.50. All bets must be settled.
Up to R1,000 welcome bonus
07/09/23Up to R1,000 welcome bonus
- Welcome offer gives 4x your deposit
- Free multibet on UFC with Acca Loyalty
- Cash out and bet builder
9.4
NO CODE REQUIREDClaim Bonus11T&Cs apply. 18+
R25 Sign Up Offer
22/04/22R25 Sign Up Offer
- Multiple betting competitions
- Use bet builder on UFC
- Three different tipping sites
9.3
NO CODE REQUIREDClaim BonusLearn More11Once you activate your Hollywoodbets account and you will receive a R25 Sign-up Bonus! For more information, contact our helpline on 087 353 7634. Terms and conditions apply.
100% Bonus Up To R10,000
07/09/23100% Bonus Up To R10,000
- Insurance on UFC Accas
- Playa Bets VIP
- Double your winnings with multi bet bonus
9.2
NO CODE REQUIREDClaim BonusLearn More11Make your first deposit. Rollover your first deposit 5 times with bets where the odds are greater than 7/10 (0.7). Only bets placed on pre-match and in-play sports will count to the Welcome Bonus rollover requirements. Once you have fulfilled the rollover requirements, we will then match your first deposit with a 100% bonus. The maximum bonus amount that can be claimed in this promotion is R1 000.
100% Up To $100
22/04/22100% Up To $100
- Slick Website Design
- Collect and spend Yonicoins
- Strong MMA Section
9.0
NO CODE REQUIREDClaim BonusLearn More11Bet on multiple games (total minimum betslip : 1.85 ; 2 items minimum ; one item must be at minimum 1.40 odds). Wager 10x on the bonus amount. If the wager is not reached after 14 days, or if the bonus is cancelled, the bonus winnings and the associated bonus are deleted. - The minimum bet is 1 to be counted in the wager
R50 Sign Up Bonus
07/09/23R50 Sign Up Bonus
- UFC Cashback Offers
- Solid Live Section with streaming
- Huge Jackpot Lottery games
8.8
NO CODE REQUIREDClaim BonusLearn More11R2,000 welcome bonus. Please note that stake will not be returned to your bonus wallet.
Best Runner Boosted Odds Twice A Week
22/04/22Best Runner Boosted Odds Twice A Week
- Win Cash on sports leaderboard
- Acca insurance on UFC multiples
- Price Boosts
8.6
NO CODE REQUIREDClaim BonusLearn More11Opt-in is not required for this promotion. This promotion is available for selected runners each Wednesday and Saturday (Wed 16.30 - 19:00 & Sat 12:00 - 16:00 (GMT+2) Single bets only. Max stake per customer: €10.Winnings have no wagering requirements and can be withdrawn immediately.List of Best UFC Betting Sites
You’ll have learnt a little about our favourite UFC betting sites from our above table. To give you a bit more information, here’s how we’d describe each of the companies on our best UFC betting site list.
- 1xBet – The top choice for UFC betting in South Africa
- Bet365 – Global betting power deliver on MMA
- Bet.co.za – Give some of the best UFC tips
- Sportaza – Great range of regular promos
- BoyleSports – Best choice for acca betting on UFC
- Hollywood Bets – Betting tournament kings
- Playa Bets – Generous welcome offer
- YoniBet – Stylish site for UFC betting online
- SupaBets – Home to big jackpot games
- NordicBet – Win cash on sports betting leaderboard
Reviews of Best Sites for UFC Betting in South Africa
You’ve seen our list of the top ten UFC betting sites in South Africa. Now we’re going to delve a little deeper, with some reviews of the top five sites in that list.
1. 1xBet – 200% Bonus Up To $130
We had no hesitation in putting 1xBet as number one on our list of UFC betting sites. 1xBet just seem to take the sport more seriously than any other bookmaker. This is evident as soon as you look at their UFC section, which is beautifully presented, with pictures of the fighters involved in all of the bouts.
We’re happy to report that it’s not a case of all style and no substance. 1xBet had a deeper range of markets than we found anywhere else, while there is also a statistics section for every fight, that will help you to make your bet selection. If you can’t wait till the weekend for the next big UFC event, with 1xBet you can instead go to their eSports section and bet on the video game version. With 1xBet also able to boast of a great mobile app and a wide range of regular promotions, they are easily the best betting site for UFC.
What We Like:
- Beautiful presentation of UFC section
- Deep market coverage of UFC fights
- Lots of regular promotions
- Bet on eSports UFC
What We Don’t Like:
- Site can feel a little cluttered
2. Bet365 – Up To $100 In Bet Credits
Another huge international sportsbook that we really rate for UFC betting in South Africa, are Bet365. Founded in 2000, the UK gaming giant are one of the biggest names in the industry. Such is the scale of the offering, that they pretty much cover every sport in great detail and that includes UFC. Bet365’s presentation doesn’t tend to be flashy, so their UFC section can’t compare to that of 1xBet, but it’s comprehensive in terms of the fights listed, with plenty of markets available.
If there’s one gripe, it’s that MMA is paired with boxing in the A-Z, which sees a little strange now that the former is such a well-established sport. It’s a minor issue though and one that’s compensated by the promotions on offer. There’s a multi-sport acca bonus in which you can include a UFC bet and in the daily Bet Boosts section, UFC wagers often pop up. With UFC tips and news available on their blog site, Bet365 are a very good choice for any fight fan.
What We Like:
- Gaming giant that do everything well
- Add UFC bet to multi-sport acca bonus
- Daily Bet Boosts can include UFC
- UFC news and tips
What We Don’t Like:
- MMA paired with Boxing in A-Z
3. Bet.co.za – 100% Bonus Up To R1000
Bet.co.za are another site that provide UFC betting tips, with their content site Bet Central being a really impressive resource for betting advice. Another similarity to Bet365 is that Bet.co.za also provide daily Bet Boosts, which can include UFC. There’s a lot of regular promotions available, with their acca boost usable for UFC bouts.
Bet Builder and Cash Out is available, which gives you more control. The site is well designed, with the MMA section featuring all the upcoming fights from the UFC and solid market coverage. Bet.co.za are a well known South African bookie and are one of the best options for UFC enthusiasts.
What We Like:
- Bet Central has UFC betting advice
- Bet Builder and Cash Out
- Include UFC in acca boost deal
- Bet Boosts feature UFC
What We Don’t Like:
- Could have more promos usable for UFC
4. Sportaza – First Deposit Bonus 100% Up To $100
If you like to get the most from your money, then Sportaza are a good option for UFC fans. They have a lot of regular promotions which can be applied to UFC. There’s a sport betting tournament called ‘The Masters’, where you can win cash prizes. Regular promos include a weekly reload bonus, cashback, acca boost and lots of opportunities for free bets.
Those extra bits of cash and free bets can be really helpful and help you to get the most from your experience. The MMA section covers both UFC and Bellator. It’s nice and clear, with a good range of markets and competitive UFC betting odds.
What We Like:
- Great range of regular promos
- Play ‘The Masters’ betting tournament
- Use acca boost on UFC multiples
- Bellator covered as well as UFC
What We Don’t Like:
- Lacks extra features of other sites
5. BoyleSports – Bet $10 Get $40
BoyleSports hail from Ireland, just like the biggest star of the UFC, Connor McGregor. Unsurprisingly, McGregor’s fights in Ireland are huge events which BoyleSports cover thoroughly, with tips on their blog site and top prices. Having built up a solid UFC fanbase, BoyleSports do a good job of covering the sport, with a full list of fights, plenty of markets and live betting.
There’s a Daily Specials section with enhanced prices, which is split up into different sports and can include UFC. If you’re a fan of UFC multiple bets, then BoyleSports is the place for you. There’s both an acca boost and acca insurance, while the Acca Loyalty promo gives you a free acca for every five you place.
What We Like:
- The best promos for UFC accas
- Good all-round betting product
- Betting tips that include MMA
- Daily Specials can have UFC section
What We Don’t Like:
- Most promos are for horse racing
How to Find the Best UFC Betting Site
You might be wondering what criteria we use to analyse and rank our favourite UFC sports betting websites. In this section, we’re going to break down the main areas that we consider to be important.
- Live UFC Betting
UFC matches can be over in seconds, but while the action is taking place, we expect to be able to place a wager through live betting. With fights able come to a conclusion at any moment, being able to place an in-play bet quickly, is also important. So too is a variety of markets being turned in-play in the live UFC betting section.
- Competitive UFC Betting Odds
When you take the risk of placing a bet, you might as well get the best odds possible. It’s very easy to use odds comparison sites to check out where you can find the most competitive prices. We’d recommend signing up with more than one UFC sports betting site, so you can take advantage wherever you see the biggest odds on offer.
- Range of UFC Markets
Sometimes the result of an upcoming UFC fight is fairly predictable, so additional markets are required, in order to find some value. Being specific on how or when they fight will end, produces a bigger price. We like sportsbooks to offer a wide range of UFC markets.
- UFC Offers & Promotions
A generous welcome offer that allows you some extra funds for betting on UFC fights, is always appreciated. So too are a regular stream of promotions for existing customers. We like bonuses that are specific for UFC, but as they can be quite rare, we’re happy with anything that can be used on the sport.
- Live Streaming & Features
It’s also quite rare to see live streaming of UFC events on sportsbooks, as they’re normally reserved for subscription channels or PPV. We do however, keep a lookout for other MMA being streamed on betting sites. Other features that we like to see include Bet Builder, Cash Out and UFC betting apps.
How Does Betting on UFC Fights Work
Before you start your UFC betting experience, it’s important to know how the sport works. In this section we’re going to detail some of the rules.
UFC matches vary in length. A standard fight lasts for three five-minute rounds, but for a title fight this is extended to five five-minute rounds. Between rounds there is a one-minute break. You’ll note that the round length is longer than in boxing, which is typically three minutes, so it can be harder for fighters to recover when they’re hurt.
Fights take place inside an eight-sided cage known as ‘The Octagon’. Typically it has a diameter of 30 ft (9.1 m), with a 6 ft (1.8 m) high fence.
Bouts can end because a fighter submits, is knocked out, or the referee decides that a fighter shouldn’t continue and awards a technical knockout. If the fight gets to the end of the allotted rounds, then the judges will decide who will win. Three judges give marks out of ten for each round to the fighters. There’s more room for the judges to award a big win in a round to a dominant fighter (10 points to 8, for example), than there is in boxing, which in theory should mean that there are less disputed results in UFC.
UFC Betting Deals
As we mentioned earlier, betting promotions that are specific to UFC are quite rare. Even when they do appear, they’re more likely to be tied to a particular big event, rather than being a long-running offer.
We found that there’s a few sites that provide enhanced odds on a daily basis, across different sports. When there’s a prominent UFC event, you can find enhanced odds on some of the fights.
Fortunately there are plenty of regular promotions that can be used for UFC bets. If you like to add your UFC sport betting picks into an accumulator, then acca boosts and acca insurance will be of use and are available at many sites. Reload bonuses and cashback will also give you more opportunities to place further UFC wagers.
Free Bets
Everyone likes a free bet. They’re often given out as part of a welcome bonus, which is a great way to help get to know a new betting account. Free bets give you an extra chance to place a wager, without the risk of losing money. This allows you to perhaps experiment with an unfamiliar market, or to take a risk with a pick featuring big UFC betting odds.
A lot of sportsbooks will also give out free bets to existing customers on a regular basis. Find out where you can get these deals and take advantage.
UFC Betting Odds & Markets
During this guide we’ve brought up market depth and the importance of it. When betting on UFC online, here are some of the popular markets that you should expect to see.
- UFC Fight Betting – Outright Winner
Quite simply, you are betting on the result of a fight. Will it be Fighter 1 that wins, or Fighter 2, or perhaps a draw? The draw is quite rare, so the odds will be pretty big for that option, which makes for competitive prices for backing one of the fighters to win.
- Round Betting
This market allows you to pick out the specific round in which a fight will end. Sometimes you will see variations of this market, with rounds bunched together.
- Method of Victory
With this bet you are not just picking out which fighter will win, but also how. You choose the exact method of victory, whether it’s a decision win or by some kind of stoppage. Naturally, adding this level of detail increases the odds, than if you’re simply picking out the victor.
- Over / Under
The over/under markets focus on how many rounds the fight will go on for. So if you were to bet on over 2.5 rounds, if the fight ended within two round your bet would be a loser, while if it went on beyond three rounds, your bet would be a winner.
UFC Betting Apps in South Africa
Placing a wager on a fight could hardly be more convenient these days, thanks to the plethora of UFC betting app options, that are currently available. Just about every sportsbook company develops a dedicated app for iOS and Android devices, which allows users to place bets wherever they are.
Regular web browsers for mobile devices can do a good job of displaying a betting site, but we prefer an app. It’s much quicker to get going, as you can just click on the icon, rather than having to type an address. Login is also faster, pages tend to load quickly and the whole experience feels more secure.
It’s a lot easier to just get your phone out of your pocket and place a bet when watching a UFC fight, rather than having to pick up a computer. If you attend a UFC event, you can even place a bet from the comfort of your seat.
Our favourite UFC betting app comes from 1Betx. Their app works really nicely and when combined with the UFC coverage that 1xBet provide, they have a winning product.
UFC Betting Online with Live Streaming
UFC betting in South Africa has benefitted from the rise of live streaming. Being able to place a bet on your phone or computer, while also watching a fight that is being streamed live, is convenient for the user.
As we previously stated, it’s fairly rare to see UFC being streamed live directly on betting sites, although lesser MMA promotions can be found. With UFC being so popular around the world, their shows tend to be found on sports channels, either for subscription or PPV. SuperSport is the official broadcaster of UFC in South Africa, with streaming options available.
The UFC also have their own streaming app – UFC Fight Pass. It has an incredible archive of content, which can be used to educate yourself about upcoming fights and how they’re likely to pan out. They also show live coverage of prelims, which are the opening fights from UFC events.
Top UFC Betting Tips
UFC fight betting can be a risky business if you don’t know what you’re doing. Follow this advice when betting on UFC online, to minimise that risk.
Tip 1: Shop Around
You won’t always get the best UFC betting odds if you only use one bookmaker. Even if you choose one that consistently offer good prices, they will be beaten by other bookies on certain fights and markets. Have a portfolio of accounts, so that you can take advantage and go where the best odds are, every time.
Tip 2: Styles Make Fights
MMA is a sport with a dizzying number of fighting styles. Fighters can come from a boxing background, wrestling, or martial arts. That creates an environment where fighters will inevitably go up varying styles across the course of their career. Analyse their record, to see how they fare against different types of fighters, as there could be a style that they struggle against.
Tip 3: Don’t Be Scared of Outsiders
Upsets occur in UFC all the time. It’s a sport where it only takes one punch or kick for it to be all over. Consider whether the favourite really deserves to be rated so highly. Perhaps they have an unbeaten record, which can give an aura of invincibility which may not be warranted, if they haven’t fought anyone of great note. Or perhaps they are a once good fighter, who are now a fading force, due to age or injury. Making weight can become more difficult for fighters as they mature, so check out how the favourite looks on the scales.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed our guide to UFC betting in South Africa. As you will have seen, there are plenty of quality options when it comes to gambling on UFC.
The sport has grown in popularity over the years and sportsbooks are doing a good job of reflecting that with their coverage of MMA. Right now, we think 1xBet is the best betting site for UFC betting.
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Dan Fitch
Dan Fitch
