UFC events are very popular among bettors in the United States. There is something about the hype and unknown surrounding the big UFC fights that make them very appealing to bet on.
On this page I will outline the best sportsbook for Florida residents, while touching on the basic legal questions surrounding sports betting in the state, and also look at the different bets you can make on a UFC fight, while providing a simple 3 step guide you can follow to get your UFC bets placed online quickly and easily.
Best Sportsbook for Florida Residents
Bovada.lv is our top rated betting site for Florida residents interested in betting on UFC fights. Bovada has been one of the main players in the United States sports betting market since 2012 and they are committed to continuing to grow their brand in the USA by providing a safe and secure platform for Americans to bet on sports.
Bovada adds fair odds for every UFC fight early in the week, and they also add a variety of props such as method of victory and total rounds a few days before the fights.
Sports Betting in Florida
Sports betting is once again legal in Florida. Hard Rock Bet relaunched in Florida in December of 2023 after the Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Seminole Tribe earlier in the year, once again making sports betting legal in Florida. The Seminole Tribe also launched in-person sports betting at their six casinos in December of 2023.
The Seminole Tribe has a monopoly on the regulated sports betting industry in Florida, so Hard Rock Bet is the only regulated betting site available to Florida residents.
That said, Florida residents can also place bets online through offshore betting sites that are licensed and regulated outside of the United States. Bovada falls into this category by being licensed and registered by the Union of the Comoros, while accepting players from most US States, including Florida.
UFC Betting Options
The most common and popular bet on a UFC fight is wagering on who wins the fight. Here’s a look at the odds from the Ilia Topuria vs Max Holloway featherweight title fight at UFC 308:
In this example, Ilia Topuria is the favorite. You would have to bet $235 on Topuria to win $100.
Holloway is the underdog with odds of +195. You would win $195 from a $100 wager on Holloway to win.
These bets are simply “to win”, so as long as the fighter has his hand raised following the fight, whether it’s by knockout, submission or DQ, a bet on that fighter is a winner.
There are also a variety of prop bets you can make on each UFC fight. Here’s a few of the prop bets you can make with quick descriptions:
- Spread (as shown above) – A spread bet on the number of points earned by each fighter on the judges scorecards if the fight goes the distance. It’s important to note that if a fighter wins inside the distance that fighter wins the spread bet regardless of the scorecards at the time of the finish. For example, if Topuria wins in round 1 the -5.5 spread bets on Topuria win. But if Topuria wins a 49-46 decision, the spread bets on Max Holloway +5.5 would win.
- Total Rounds (as shown above) – An over/under bet on the length of the fight. The oddsmaker will set an over/under number (3.5 rounds for example) and you can wager on whether the fight will finish before or after that number.
- Method of Victory – A bet on how the fight will finish. This is a bet on which fighter will win + how they will win. For example, you could bet on Ilia Topuria to win by decision.
- Round Betting – A bet on when the fight will finish. This is a bet on which fighter will win + when they will win. For example, you could bet on Topuria to win in round 3.
How To Bet On The UFC From Florida – 3 Step Guide
Follow these three steps to get your bets placed on the UFC from Florida.
Step 1. Open a Bovada.lv Account
Click the above link to visit the Bovada website. Once there click on the ‘Join’ button in the top right corner of the screen and fill out the “Create An Account” form.
Bovada is the most popular betting site serving the United States market and our #1 recommended sportsbook for Florida residents.
Step 2. Deposit
After logging into your Bovada account click on the ‘Deposit’ button in the top right corner of the screen. Choose your preferred deposit method and follow the instructions to fund your account.
New sign ups receive a 50% matching bonus up to $250 on your first deposit. You can opt in to claim this bonus on your “My Rewards” page.
Step 3. Place Your UFC Bets
Click on ‘Sports’ from the top navigation bar on the Bovada website, open the ‘All Sports’ link and click ‘UFC/MMA’ to bring up the UFC betting lines.
Select the fighter you want to bet on, and enter your risk amount on the Bet Slip in the right sidebar. When you are happy with the risk and potential winnings click ‘Place Bet’ to lock in your wager.
That’s it! Ready to bet on the UFC? Click here to visit Bovada.lv.
If you’re a new bettor I would also suggest checking out our betting guide for some great articles to help you understand the ins and outs of betting online.
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