If you’ve ever watched a UFC fight live, you may have noticed that some are marketed as “Fight Nights” while others are titled “UFC 310” or “UFC 315.” But what’s the reason for this? Are these fight nights different from one another?
Here, we explain the difference between UFC Fight Nights and numbered fights in the promotion and show you how to bet on the biggest MMA fights each year at talkSPORT BET Sportsbook.
What Do the Numbers Mean in UFC?
The UFC promotion uses numbers to market its events in chronological order. For example, the first-ever UFC fight – UFC 1: The Beginning – was held at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado, in November 1993. In the main fight, Royce Gracie defeated Gerard Gordeau by submission.
Ever since this event, the promotion has run about one major event per month, often known informally as title fights or high-ticket bouts, though titles aren’t always up for grabs.
Helpfully, these fights are numbered in chronological order. At the time of writing, the next numbered UFC fight is scheduled for March 9, 2025. We’re up to UFC 313, with the headline bout between Pereira and Ankalaev at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
It will be followed by UFC 314 between Volkanovski and Lopes at the Kaseya Centre in Miami, Florida, on April 13, which itself precedes UFC 315 between Muhammad and Della Maddalena on May 11 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.
The numbered events in the UFC promotion tend to feature the highest-profile fighters. And as mentioned above, titles are usually up for grabs in the main and co-main events. On the stacked undercard, we can watch up-and-coming fighters Dana White believes will challenge for a title in the coming months or years.
For example, at UFC 312 between Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland, the South African defeated Strickland in their middleweight title fight by unanimous decision. As a result, du Plessis retained his middleweight championship belt.
UFC numbered bouts are pay-per-view events that are not included in standard subscriptions. So, if you want to watch the main events, you must pay a one-time fee.
What Are UFC Fight Nights?
While numbered UFC events feature title bouts and the promotion’s leading fighters, UFC Fight Nights are slightly different. These are weekly rather than monthly events, and they tend to feature lesser-known fighters and up-and-coming future stars within the promotion.
Some UFC Fight Nights also offer defeated champions the opportunity to rebuild their careers after falling from the top. For example, UFC Fight Night: Adesanya v Imavov featured former two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, who has recently suffered several high-profile defeats.
On Fight Night, Adesanya lost again, this time to the combative Nassourdine Imavov, who landed a TKO in the second round and earned a Performance of the Night award.
Given his recent run of form, it’s unlikely that we’ll see Adesanya in a headline fight on any UFC numbered card in the coming months. But Imavov, on the other hand, will be eyeing a shot at the middleweight title and may be given the chance to show what he’s worth as a challenger.
Therefore, you can look at Fight Nights as a springboard. They feature fighters on their way up or on their way down. Occasionally, a title might be up for grabs, but this is rare. More often than not, these nights feature fighters with something to prove before stepping up to the biggest fights in the promotion.
Fight Nights are broadcast on TNT Sports in the United Kingdom and available as part of your standard package. If you’re a huge UFC fan, you might consider signing up for the UFC Pass, which gives you access to all live UFC prelims, early prelims, and various other fights from around the globe.
Numbered Fights v Fight Nights: Which is Better?
It’s difficult to say which type of UFC fight is better, depending on what you’re looking for. If you only want to see the best fighters in the promotion, numbered fights are for you.
That said, watching every numbered UFC fight on the calendar will become expensive, as you will need to pay for each fight in addition to your streaming or cable TV package.
However, if you love the thrill of the fight and don’t mind which fighters are involved, UFC Fight Nights are highly engaging and enjoyable. They’re included in your standard TV subscription, so you can watch them without forking out a PPV fee each time.
Bet on All UFC Fights This Year at talkSPORT BET
Whether you tune into a PPV numbered UFC fight or watch the weekly Fight Nights, you can bet on all the UFC action from your talkSPORT BET account. If you’re not currently a member, click the “Sign Up” button on the homepage and complete the registration form in seconds.
We then invite you to our UFC betting offers promotions page, where you will find details of the latest sports offers that you can use to access a bankroll boost before betting on MMA.
With your account up and running, you can then explore the latest UFC odds at talkSPORT BET. Decide who to bet on and which bets to place, including who you think will win and their method of victory.
Finally, please gamble responsibly when betting on MMA at talkSPORT BET. Visit our Safer Gambling Portal to learn how to use our responsible gambling tools and to discover tips and advice that will help you bet within your means.