Two competitors fighting for a title brings a lot of excitement, particularly when it comes to MMA. These fighters have already established themselves as skilled professionals, with the potential to earn the title of best in their category. With so many things at stake, it’s obvious that fights in these stages would gain plenty of online betting action.
Still, some fights got a lot more hype compared to others. Some of the results were expected by bettors all over the world, whereas others were either close calls or very surprising. In this article, you will learn more about three title fights that got massive action from MMA bettors.
April 13, 2024 – Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill (UFC 300)
In spring 2024, Alex Pereira went against Jamahal Hill to win the UFC Light Heavyweight title. The title used to be Hill’s, but because of his Achilles injury, he was forced to vacate the title.
During his recovery, the vacant title was claimed by Jiří Procházka, who also vacated the title because of a shoulder injury. Pereira went against Procházka during UFC 295, which resulted in the former’s victory.
In the April 2024 match against Pereira, there was a lot at stake. Pereira had to defend his claim to the title, whereas Hill recovered and wanted to get his title back. Hill had plenty of fans backing him up on online betting platforms, but Pereira had a lot of momentum. His knockouts in previous fights became notable, and while relatively new compared to Hill, Pereira was perceived as dangerous.
Given this data, Pereira was seen as a slight favourite, whereas Hill was the underdog. The odds were quite tight, with Pereira checking -130 to Hill’s +110. This suggested that 56.52% bettors believed Pereira would emerge victorious, but the odds fluctuated up until the day of the match.
The fight ended in three minutes and fourteen seconds, with Pereira knocking Hill out during the first round. After receiving an accidental low blow, he sent a left hook in Hill’s direction, ending the fight with a ground-and-pound. Referee Herb Dean stopped the fight, declaring Pereira the winner of the title.
March 8th, 2025 – Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev (UFC 313)
The fight between Ankalaev and Pereira drew a lot of attention, especially since Pereira held and successfully defended his position. Pereira had a lot of momentum after defeating Jamahal Hill, and each fight showed bettors that he could be trusted to win again. He proved great knockout power and an ability to fight, which placed him as a slight favourite in the match against Ankalaev.
We say “slight” because, aside from one draw in recent fights, Ankalaev also had a lot of momentum. His well-rounded skill set had many bettors backing him, painting this UFC 313 fight as something to look forward to.
Still, with around 74% of the bets going to Pereira, almost everyone believed he would win with a KO/TKO or DO. This was a trend in previous fights, and there was little reason to believe it wouldn’t be the case again.
Bettors acknowledged Ankalaev’s strength, but the general belief was that it would make the fight more competitive. In the first round, things seemed to be going this way, with Pereira controlling that portion of the match. However, Ankalaev got his momentum in the second round, dealing a heavy left hand that threw Pereira off.
Pereira tried to regain his footing in the rounds that followed, but Ankalaev used different fighting techniques to tire his opponent. Bets started to slightly change at this point, with many live bettors seeing a new opportunity with Ankalaev. Eventually, the odds were nearly evened out, with the implied win percentage being at 52.38% for Pereira. Despite the support from fans, Ankalaev won the Light Heavyweight Championship title by unanimous decision.
April 9th, 2022 – Alexander Volkanovski vs. Chan Sung Jung (UFC 273)
Spring 2022 also saw a heavily anticipated match between Alexander Volkanovski and Chan Sung Jun. Volkanovski reigned undefeated for three years, having won the title of UFC Featherweight Champion from Max Holloway in 2019. This heightened expectations among fans, who believed he would also emerge victorious this time around.
That said, while Volkanovski was a slight favourite in the match, there was a reason why people called Jung “The Korean Zombie.” He had a lot of fan appeal as a veteran challenger, and while he was still the underdog, many MMA enthusiasts would back him up. The general odds suggested that Volkanovski would keep his dominance, but public trends saw promise in Jung. Because of that, many placed their bets on the underdog.
Volkanovski retained his title after knocking Jung in the first 45 seconds of the fourth round. The referee stopped the match after the title winner overwhelmed his opponent with strikes. Volkanovski dominated the fights from the early rounds, and while Jung tried to keep up, he was significantly outclassed.
MMA title fights have long since drawn people with wagers, with tight fights getting the most popularity. If you’re also planning to make a wager, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the odds. Whether you bet on the favorite or the underdog, may the odds be ever in your favor.
