Sports

Boxing vs UFC: What's the difference for sports bettors?

By Frank Monkhouse on Mar 12, 2025

Reviewed by Keisha Singleton on Mar 12, 2025

Boxing and mixed martial arts are two of the world's biggest and most popular combat sports. But what's the difference for sports bettors?

Let's find out.

Whop brings you the sports betting experts

As ever, Whop brings the experts to you. Whether you’re looking for sports betting picks, information on the latest markets, details of the best bonuses, or the standout sports, we have everything you need in one place. Gambling gurus run the best-performing whops, while the Whop blog boasts some of the most respected names in the field.

Today, we call on former professional fighter and current sports betting gambling writer Frank Monkhouse. Frank, a regular contributor to Whop and owner of a whop that explains how you can use your sports knowledge to pursue a career as a sports writer, is well-placed to offer his opinions on all things boxing, UFC, and betting.

Why UFC and not MMA?

You may have noticed we chose to compare boxing with the UFC rather than against MMA. The UFC is a promotion, and MMA is the sport.

When selecting the UFC, we’re picking mixed martial arts’ main attraction, where you’ll find the elite fighters, the best bouts, and the most coverage.

UFC isn’t the only MMA competition worth following, of course, and if you’re looking to read more about it, you should check out these exciting MMA platforms.

PROMOTION	DETAILS
Bellator MMA	Found 2008 in the United States.
Professional Fighters League (PFL)	Founded in 2018 in the United States.
ONE Championship	Founded in 2011 in Singapore.
RIZIN Fighting Federation	Founded in 2015 in Japan.

Why bettors love combat sports

Combat sports is one of the most popular attractions for online gamblers, and that fascination shows no signs of waning. There’s nothing quite like enjoying the big fight live on television while cheering on your wager.

Bet on your favorite fighter, and you could have two reasons to celebrate: one for the win and the other for the profits headed toward your balance.

Here are the five reasons we love combat sports betting:

There are so many ways to bet and win. The top betting apps offer dozens of pre-fight and live markets, including fight-winner, total rounds, method of victory, fight to last the distance, and more.
Big fights in boxing and MMA can change in the blink of an eye. We’ve seen many major bouts won or lost with a single punch. It doesn’t matter if your pick has lost every round and there’s just seconds remaining. A fight isn’t over until the final bell.
The modern combat sports schedule has many high-stakes fights, and thanks to the cash injection from Saudi Arabia, there are more unification bouts in boxing than ever. You can be sure of at least one big-stakes fight per month.
Bettors love the simplicity of combat sports, and, unlike football or soccer, the rules are easy to understand. You want your pick to beat their opponent into submission with big punches or use their skills to impress the judges and win on points.
Boxing and UFC are more accessible to fans today than at any point in history. Major broadcasters cover the biggest bouts but also spotlight the undercard and the best rising talent.

Bet on professional boxing or the UFC and enjoy a fast-paced, unpredictable sport that offers bettors a chance to wager at attractive odds.

Boxing vs UFC: What's the difference?

To better understand the similarities and differences of boxing and the UFC, we’re going to highlight some important areas and highlight how the sports perform in each.

Gloves

The gloves used in boxing and the UFC serve different purposes.

Boxing gloves protect the hands but soften the blows.

The gloves used in professional MMA are designed to allow grappling, but knockouts and injuries are more likely. Cuts and stoppages are more frequent in the UFC due to the smaller gloves used.

Rounds

The number of rounds in a professional boxing bout range from four to 12, depending on the importance of the bout. New professionals often begin on four rounds of three minutes each before progressing to six and eight. They then fight ten rounds for minor titles and the championship distance of a dozen rounds for major titles, like world championships.

Just two options exist to professional fighters competing in the UFC. Non-title fights are usually scheduled for three rounds while high-class and championship bouts are five rounds long.

Each round lasts five minutes, and the rest for both UFC fighters and boxers lasts 60 seconds. An entire MMA fight lasts for 25 minutes, while in a boxing match there’s 36 minutes of fighting.

Here's why you should play the total rounds in boxing.

Space

Boxers compete in a ring, while UFC battles happen in an octagon. Just to make things a little more complicated, the boxing ring is shaped like a square.

Boxing rings allow for footwork and defensive movements, while the octagon limits movement, encouraging takedowns and grappling. It’s more difficult to avoid attacks in MMA.

Rules

There’s a long list of differences between the rules of boxing and the UFC. That makes sense as they are different sports with different tactics, although the aim to finish an opponent as early and safely as possible remains the same.

Here are five important differences in the rules of boxing and MMA.

Boxing allows punches only, while the UFC permits punches, kicks, elbows, knees, and grappling.
When knocked down, a boxer gets ten seconds to recover. There’s no counting in MMA. A fight continues until the referee halts the onslaught.
Clinches are broken quickly in boxing. In MMA, clinches are common and an important part of some fighters' game.
It is illegal to strike a boxer anywhere below the beltline, while UFC stars can attack the legs and feet freely.
Coaches working the corner of a boxing bout can end things early by throwing a towel into the ring, signaling their surrender. It’s extremely rare to see a UFC corner throw a towel into the octagon.

Revenue

Boxing creates much higher revenue than MMA, especially in the super fights. The UFC has a more consistent and reliable business model, creating a solid and reliable revenue stream.

The biggest fights in boxing can generate $500m while the UFC consistently attracts over a billion dollars a year.

The biggest pay-per-view fight in boxing - Mayweather vs Paquiao - made $600m. Khabib vs McGregor is the biggest draw in the UFC, ending with $200m in revenue. The top five boxers in the world earn more than the top five UFC fighters.

Popularity

Boxing has a richer history and global appeal than the UFC. That comes as little surprise as the sport is over 100 years old and has given the world famous names like Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather. Many major nations, like the USA, Mexico and Philippines consider boxing a national sport.

The UFC isn’t as popular as boxing, but the gap is narrowing, especially with younger followers of professional combat sports. The weekly schedule of MMA keeps engagement high while fighters like McGregor, Khabib and Adesanya dominate social media.

Broadcasters

There’s little between the two here, with both boxing and the UFC enjoying widespread coverage on television and live streaming apps. Here’s how to watch the biggest fights.

Boxing is live on DAZN, ESPN, Sky Sports, and Showtime.

The UFC is live on ESPN, BT Sports, DAZN, Globosat, and Sony Sports Network.

Betting on boxing vs betting on UFC

So which is best, betting on boxing on UFC?

They both have their own advantages - let's check them out.

Advantages of betting on boxing

Boxing has fewer variables.
Fewer upsets in the big fights.
More readily available and reliable data.
Fewer stoppages due to injury.
More established online betting markets available.

Benefits of betting on UFC

More ways to win.
Better odds for the underdogs.
The best fight the best more often.
Fewer controversial decisions.
More competitive bouts.

The decision to bet on boxing or UFC is ultimately yours. If you want more straight-forward fights on a more regular basis, then bet on boxing. But if you're after more competitiveness and higher odds, then choose UFC.

How to place informed bets on combat sports

No matter which combat sport you choose to bet on, the key to making money as a sports gambler is to place well-researched bets. While there is no guaranteed way to beat the bookies every time you gamble on combat sports, there are a few things you can do to increase your strike rate.

Here are two popular options available to online bettors.

Handicappers

Visit Whop Discover and click on sports betting to reveal a long list of gambling resources. Browse the options, and you’ll find several respected handicappers concentrating on combat sports.

You can check the stats, study the handicapper's past performances, and read the reviews to help you choose the best whop to follow. When subscribing to a sports betting handicapper, you’ll receive researched picks from the professionals.

Research

If you’d prefer to follow your judgment and you have time to commit to studying, you can use your knowledge of combat sports to take down the top betting apps.

When betting, you must do your homework, including trawling through the recent stats and form, watching interviews, checking head-to-head results, finding the best odds, setting the correct stake, and placing your bet.

Finding standout bonuses and free bets on boxing and UFC

When looking for your next sports betting app, you’ll quickly notice it’s a competitive market. The top companies must stand out from the crowd and encourage you to join them over the competition.

There are several marketing tricks used to achieve this, but the most effective is the welcome bonus. But what is a welcome bonus, where do you find one, and which are the best types of promotions?

A welcome bonus, or new customer promotion, is a free bet or special offer that rewards you for registering with a bookmaker. You’ll automatically land your share when you join, deposit $10 or more using a card, and bet on a qualifying sportsbook market.

Here are the three most popular welcome bonuses available today:

Deposit-matched free bet

Bookmakers offering this type of deal will give you a free bet that’s equal to your first stake, usually capped at $200. Join, deposit between $10 and $200, then bet on sports. When your first pick results, the free bet credits appear in your balance and are ready to use on the next fight from anywhere in the world.

Risk-free bet

Similar to the previous offer but a little simpler and easier to follow. Gamble on any sportsbook market at any price, and if your pick wins, you will collect the profits as normal. But if your bet loses, the bookmaker’s marketing team will refund your stake as a free bet, giving you another chance to land a winner.

Enhanced odds

The trading and marketing teams often unite to catch your eye by boosting the odds of a popular prediction. They may ramp up the offer on a favorite to win by a small margin to ensure they are the best in the betting market. Another approach is to inflate the odds and add a maximum stake to the small print.

Find knockout sports picks on Whop

I’ve been involved in the sports betting industry for my entire adult life, and, in that time, I’ve seen many handicappers and experts come and go. Finding reliable sports betting picks, whether you’re gambling on boxing, UFC, soccer, or NASCAR, is no mean feat, and you’ll likely waste your time following more than one unreliable source.

Thankfully, Whop has modernized the game, making it easier than ever to find strong sports picks from reputable handicappers. Here’s how:

Visit Whop Discover.
Filter for sports betting.
Browse an extensive catalog of experts.
Research the options and choose your favorite.
Click Join to get the latest sports betting advice and picks.

Get researched picks at the best odds direct to your smartphone, allowing you to wager in seconds, knowing the selections are based on the facts, stats, and trends.

Follow the picks as a single bet or add multiple selections to your bet slip to create a parlay, targeting big wins off a small stake.

Find sports picks on Whop

FAQs

Is boxing more popular than UFC?

Professional boxing is far older than professional mixed martial arts. For generations, boxing stood alone as the number one combat sport in terms of popularity and revenue.

But things are changing as the UFC attracts a huge global audience, makes fights for big-money and attracts some of the best athletes from boxing, wrestling and other sports.

Is the UFC more dangerous than boxing?

Both sports are equally dangerous. If a fighter takes a heavy kick or punch to the head, damage is done to both the head and body. Competing in either brings numerous potential risks to the fighter.

Who would win, a boxer or a UFC fighter?

That depends on the fight. If it was a boxer vs a UFC fighter with boxing rules, the boxer should win easily. If the fight takes place in an octagon, the MMA specialist’s experience would see them collect a simple win. If they were to meet in a no-holds-barred bout, it’s anyone’s guess.

Where will I find winning picks?

You’ll find winning picks on a long list of sports, competitions, and athletes at Whop. Visit Whop Discover, and click on the sports betting tab to view all handicappers, costs, success rates, and more, all in one place. Whop has you covered.

Can I get a free bet on the next fight?

Yes, the best sportsbooks and betting apps offer all new customers a welcome bonus, which is a free bet when you create an account, deposit funds, and make your first wager. Join several bookmakers and collect the bet credits.

Frank Monkhouse

From throwing punches at TRAD TKO Gym in London to penning insights on sports betting, Frank is a former professional boxer - now a respected writer, pundit, and podcast voice. @FMonkhouse on X.