Dana White probably didn’t sleep much after signing that Paramount deal. The UFC president just fundamentally changed how millions of fans watch UFC. Gone are the days of shelling out $79.99 for PPV events. Now everything streams on Paramount+ for one monthly fee, which means more people watching and definitely more people betting. If you are wondering how to bet on UFC fights in 2026, you are in the right place because this year brings massive changes alongside some absolutely stacked fight cards.
Paramount dropped $7.7 billion for seven years of UFC content, making it one of the biggest media rights deals in combat sports history. All 12-13 numbered events and around 30 Fight Nights now come with your streaming subscription. No additional charges. The business model flip makes UFC betting more accessible than ever, especially for casual fans who previously watched highlight clips on social media instead of ponying up for full events.
Here, we have complied a list of all the known UFC events in 2026 along with the early odds for these events.
UFC 324 – January 24
January 24 marks the debut of UFC on Paramount+, and the promotion isn’t holding back. UFC 324 at T-Mobile Arena brings two championship fights to Las Vegas. Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett are set to scrap for interim gold while Ilia Topuria deals with personal matters away from the sport. The betting lines, according to FanDuel, show Pimblett as the favorite at –230 with Gaethje coming in as the +176 underdog.
Gaethje turns 37 this year and has been in some absolute wars. His leg kicks can cripple opponents, and his counter-punching has ended several careers abruptly. What makes Gaethje dangerous as an underdog is his actual record when playing that role. He’s gone 3-0 as the underdog. People keep doubting him and he keeps proving them wrong, usually violently.
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Pimblett brings a perfect 7-0 UFC record. The Liverpool native has been favored in all seven UFC appearances, and his current -230 line represents his biggest odds since fighting Tony Ferguson in 2023. The youth factor and lower accumulated damage favor Pimblett, but Gaethje has cracked a lot of tough nuts.
The co-main event was supposed to be for the women’s bantamweight title between Kayla Harrison vs Amanda Nunes. However, Harrison had to withdraw from the fight due to neck injury.
For more betting odds, visit FanDuel.
UFC 325 – January 31
Just one week after UFC 324, the promotion travels to Sydney, Australia for UFC 325 on January 31 at the Qudos Bank Arena. Alexander Volkanovski defends his featherweight title against Diego Lopes in an immediate rematch that raised eyebrows across the MMA community. According to BetMGM, Volkanovski sits at -172 with Lopes at +134, numbers that closely mirror their first meeting at UFC 314 back in April 2025. Volkanovski won that fight on all three scorecards, out-landing Lopes 158-63 in significant strikes despite getting dropped once.
Lopes knocked out Jean Silva in the second round at Noche UFC in September, which apparently convinced UFC matchmakers that he deserved another crack. He brings dangerous power and improved boxing at 30 years old with a 27-7 record. He’s seven years younger than Volkanovski, which matters when both guys have been fighting at the elite level for years.
The fact that Lopes already dropped Volkanovski in their first fight proves the champion is hittable, and power like that doesn’t disappear between fights. Lopes needs to land that knockdown again and finish it this time, because Volkanovski’s superior volume and five-round cardio will likely decide another five-round decision.
For more betting odds, visit BetMGM.
UFC Fight Night: Bautista vs. Oliveira – February 7
The first Fight Night of the year lands at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on February 7. Mario Bautista and Vinicius Oliveira square off in a bantamweight main event that should deliver fireworks. Bautista brings well-rounded skills with solid wrestling and consistent striking volume. Oliveira hunts finishes with dangerous Brazilian jiu-jitsu and aggressive grappling transitions.
The supporting card includes a flyweight co-main event between ranked contenders Amir Albazi and Kyoji Horiguchi. Two elite grapplers going at it means technical scrambles and high-level jiu-jitsu exchanges. The February 7 card also features heavyweight action between Ryan Spann and Rizvan Kuniev, plus middleweight battles and women’s flyweight contests rounding out the lineup.
UFC Apex events like this one typically feature competitive matchmaking across the entire card. The promotion uses these smaller venue shows to build future contenders and test prospects against veteran competition.
For more betting odds, visit FanDuel.
UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Hernandez – February 21
Houston gets UFC action for the first time in four years when the promotion rolls into the Toyota Center on February 21. This middleweight showdown between former champion Sean Strickland and surging contender Anthony Hernandez headlines a card that could reshape the 185-pound title picture. BetMGM has Hernandez as the favorite at -250 with Strickland listed as the +185 underdog. Those odds might seem disrespectful to a guy who held UFC gold recently, but the betting markets have their reasons.
Strickland sits at 29-7 overall and returns after a year away from the cage. His last fight was a championship rematch loss to Dricus Du Plessis, and that layoff raises questions about ring rust. Hernandez brings an 8- fight winning streak with six finishes during that run. The #4 ranked contender has looked unstoppable lately. His submission victory over Roman Dolidze last August showed he can finish elite middleweights when things hit the mat. The betting markets favor him because youth, momentum, and finishing threat create a compelling case.
The stylistic clash creates real intrigue for bettors. Strickland’s defensive boxing typically shuts down grapplers, but Hernandez has shown improved takedown entries and relentless pressure. If Hernandez drags this to the mat and controls position, his submission game becomes a major factor. If Strickland keeps it standing and dictates range, his volume advantage piles up points over five rounds. In any case, we are in for a treat.
For more betting odds, visit BetMGM.
UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Almabayev – February 28
The UFC heads to Mexico City, landing at the iconic Arena CDMX on February 28. Former two-time flyweight champion Brandon Moreno faces surging contender Asu Almabayev in a main event loaded with divisional implications. This represents a classic clash between a beloved former champion looking to reclaim glory and a dangerous rising contender ready to make his statement on the big stage. Betting odds haven’t been fully established yet, but expect competitive numbers given the matchup dynamics.
Moreno fighting in his home country brings massive advantages. ‘The Assassin Baby’ owns one of the most complete skill sets at 125 pounds. His popularity in his homeland provides extra motivation and energy, though betting markets will likely price in that home-field edge.
Almabayev represents the new generation of flyweight contenders breaking through the division’s established hierarchy. The Kazakhstani fighter built momentum through impressive performances and consistent winning. This marks his biggest test and largest platform yet.
For more betting odds, visit FanDuel.
UFC 326: Holloway vs. Oliveira 2 – March 7
UFC 326 on March 7 brings another rematch with a lot of backstory. Max Holloway defends his BMF title against Charles Oliveira in Las Vegas. As per BetMGM, Holloway sits at -188 with Oliveira at +146. These two actually fought before at UFC Fight Night 74 in August 2015, but that fight ended after just 99 seconds when Oliveira suffered a freak injury. Neither fighter held championship gold back then. Now they’re both former undisputed champions settling unfinished business at lightweight over a decade later. MMA is weird like that sometimes.
The statistics paint a clear picture of Holloway’s overwhelming advantage on the feet. He lands 7.24 significant strikes per minute compared to Oliveira’s 3.48. That’s almost double the output while maintaining 47% accuracy. His 59% striking defense also beats Oliveira’s 51%, and that gap widens over 25 minutes of fighting. If Oliveira can’t get this fight to the ground, he’s forced to win a striking battle where the numbers say he’s badly outgunned.
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Oliveira holds the UFC record for most submissions with 17 in his 24-11 promotional record. His finishing ability in scrambles and transitions can change fights instantly. His recent decision over Mateusz Gamrot showed he can still capitalize on grappling exchanges and maintain offensive pressure for three rounds. But his knockout loss to Topuria exposed defensive holes against elite strikers who can land counter shots with bad intentions.
Oliveira’s aggressive, walk-forward style worked against Chandler and Gaethje because they were willing to meet him in the pocket. Holloway operates differently. He moves laterally, uses angles, and picks opponents apart over time rather than engaging in phone booth brawls. Oliveira needs to find a submission in scrambles or land a knockout blow, both of which Holloway’s durability and defensive awareness make difficult to achieve. The smart money is on Holloway’s volume and pace overwhelming the Brazilian over five rounds.
For more betting odds, visit BetMGM.
UFC White House: A Historic Event – June 14
June 14, 2026 will go down in UFC history books regardless of who fights. The promotion is staging the first professional sporting event ever held on White House grounds in Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump announced this event to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, and it will broadcast on CBS in addition to streaming on Paramount+.
The logistics alone sound like a nightmare. Building an Octagon on the White House lawn. Coordinating security for thousands of fans at the most famous address in America. Making sure nobody accidentally knocks out a visiting dignitary. Dana White earned his money negotiating this one.
No fights have been officially announced yet, which has the MMA rumor mill working overtime. Speculation ranges from Jon Jones fighting for the heavyweight title to Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler and championship fights featuring American fighters to matchups involving former military members. Given the patriotic context and celebratory nature of the event, expect the UFC to stack this card with marquee names that showcase the sport at its absolute peak.
As fight announcements drop over the coming months, betting markets will develop rapidly around this unique spectacle. The pressure on fighters to perform at this venue will be immense, which could create betting opportunities if certain fighters historically crack under pressure or thrive in high-stakes situations.
For more betting odds, visit FanDuel.
Betting Strategy For Fans
Successful UFC betting requires understanding that combat is fundamentally different from team sports. These Individual matchups create opportunities for detailed analysis. A 12-0 prospect facing a 19-5 veteran might actually be the underdog if the experienced fighter faced elite competition while the prospect crushed cans. Records tell part of the story but context and backstory tells the rest. Digging into who fighters beat and how they beat them reveals more than simple win-loss numbers ever could.
Recent form often outweighs career statistics because fighters evolve, age, accumulate damage, or make technical improvements that don’t show in lifetime numbers. A fighter coming off three straight knockout losses might have the same career stats but represents a completely different proposition than during their prime. Understanding these trends is very inportant for successful betting.
(Image Credit: Troy Taormina – Imagn Images)
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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!
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