Understanding betting odds is the difference between placing blind bets and making informed wagers that actually make money. If you’re new to bare knuckle boxing betting or coming from other sports, BKFC odds work the same way as traditional sports betting, but knowing how to read them properly and calculate your potential payouts is critical.
This guide breaks down every odds format you’ll see when betting on bare knuckle boxing, gives you real examples from actual BKFC fights, and shows you exactly how to calculate your returns. By the end, you’ll know how to read any betting line and understand what the bookmakers are actually telling you.
The Three Main Odds Formats
Sportsbooks display odds in three different formats depending on where you’re betting. Most U.S. books use American odds by default, but many let you switch between formats in your settings. Here’s what each format means.
American Odds (Moneyline)
American odds are the most common format in the United States and what you’ll see at most BKFC betting sites. They’re displayed with either a plus (+) or minus (-) sign followed by a number.
Negative Odds (Favorites): When you see a minus sign, that number tells you how much you need to bet to win $100. The fighter is the favorite in the matchup.
Real example: Austin Trout was listed at -217 against Luis Palomino at BKFC 57. This means you had to bet $217 to win $100. If you bet $217 and Trout won (he did), your total return would be $317 (your $217 stake plus $100 profit).
Positive Odds (Underdogs): When you see a plus sign, that number tells you how much profit you’ll make on a $100 bet. The fighter is the underdog.
Real example: Luis Palomino was listed at +177 in that same fight. If you bet $100 on Palomino and he won, you would have profited $177 for a total return of $277.
Here’s another clear example: Mike Perry opened as a -255 favorite against Luke Rockhold at BKFC 41, while Rockhold was a +215 underdog. To profit $100 on Perry, you needed to risk $255. To profit $215 on Rockhold, you only needed to risk $100.
The larger the negative number, the bigger the favorite. The larger the positive number, the bigger the underdog.
Decimal Odds (European Format)
Decimal odds show your total return per dollar wagered, including your original stake. They’re popular in Europe, Canada, and Australia, and many bettors find them easier to work with for quick calculations.
The format is simple: multiply your stake by the decimal odds to get your total return.
How it works: Odds of 2.00 mean you double your money. Bet $100, get back $200 total ($100 profit plus your $100 stake).
Odds of 1.50 mean you get back $1.50 for every $1 wagered. Bet $100, get back $150 total ($50 profit plus your $100 stake).
Odds of 3.50 mean you get back $3.50 for every $1 wagered. Bet $100, get back $350 total ($250 profit plus your $100 stake).
Real BKFC example conversion: When Austin Trout was -217 in American odds, that converts to approximately 1.46 in decimal odds. A $100 bet returns $146 total.
When Luis Palomino was +177 in American odds, that converts to approximately 2.77 in decimal odds. A $100 bet returns $277 total.
Decimal odds below 2.00 indicate a favorite. Decimal odds above 2.00 indicate an underdog.
Fractional Odds (UK Format)
Fractional odds are common in the UK and horse racing. They show your profit relative to your stake as a fraction.
How to read them: Odds of 5/1 (read as “five to one”) mean you win $5 for every $1 wagered. Bet $100, profit $500, total return $600.
Odds of 2/5 mean you win $2 for every $5 wagered. Bet $100, profit $40, total return $140.
Odds of 6/4 (simplified to 3/2) mean you win $3 for every $2 wagered. Bet $100, profit $150, total return $250.
Converting to calculate payouts: Divide the first number by the second number, then multiply by your stake to get your profit. Add your original stake to get total return.
Example: Odds of 7/2 on a $50 bet.
- 7 divided by 2 equals 3.5
- 3.5 multiplied by $50 equals $175 profit
- $175 profit plus $50 stake equals $225 total return
Most American bettors stick with American odds, but understanding all three formats helps when comparing lines across different sportsbooks or international betting sites.
Converting Between Odds Formats
Being able to convert between odds formats lets you shop lines effectively and understand what different books are offering. Here are the formulas.
American to Decimal: For negative odds: (100 / negative odds) + 1 Example: -217 becomes (100/217) + 1 = 1.46
For positive odds: (positive odds / 100) + 1 Example: +177 becomes (177/100) + 1 = 2.77
Decimal to American: For odds of 2.00 or greater: (decimal odds – 1) x 100 Example: 2.77 becomes (2.77 – 1) x 100 = +177
For odds less than 2.00: -100 / (decimal odds – 1) Example: 1.46 becomes -100 / (1.46 – 1) = -217
Fractional to Decimal: Divide the fraction and add 1 Example: 7/2 becomes (7/2) + 1 = 4.50
Most sportsbooks have odds format toggles in your account settings, so you don’t need to do math every time. But knowing these conversions helps you understand value when line shopping across different books.
Understanding Implied Probability
Every set of odds represents an implied probability – the bookmaker’s assessment of how likely an outcome is to happen. This is critical for finding value bets.
Formula for American odds:
For negative odds: negative odds / (negative odds + 100) x 100 Example: -217 means 217 / (217 + 100) x 100 = 68.5% implied probability
For positive odds: 100 / (positive odds + 100) x 100 Example: +177 means 100 / (177 + 100) x 100 = 36.1% implied probability
Notice those don’t add up to 100%. That’s the bookmaker’s margin (the “juice” or “vig”). In this example, 68.5% + 36.1% = 104.6%. That extra 4.6% is the house edge built into the odds.
Why this matters for betting: If you think Austin Trout has a 75% chance of winning but the odds imply only 68.5%, that’s a value bet. You believe the true probability is higher than what the odds suggest.
If you think Luis Palomino has a 40% chance of winning and the odds imply 36.1%, that’s also potential value on the underdog side.
Value betting is about finding situations where your assessment of probability differs from the bookmaker’s implied probability. Over time, consistently finding value is how you profit.
Real BKFC Betting Odds Examples
Let’s look at actual odds from recent BKFC events to see how this works in practice.
Example 1: BKFC 82 – Perry vs Stephens
Mike Perry was listed around -180 to -200 depending on the book. Jeremy Stephens was around +150 to +160.
At Perry -180:
- You risk $180 to win $100
- Implied probability: 64.3%
- Decimal odds: 1.56
- Total return on $180 bet: $280 ($100 profit)
At Stephens +150:
- You risk $100 to win $150
- Implied probability: 40%
- Decimal odds: 2.50
- Total return on $100 bet: $250 ($150 profit)
Example 2: BKFC 57 – Trout vs Palomino (Actual Fight)
Austin Trout: -217 Luis Palomino: +177
At a $100 bet on Trout at -217:
- You need to risk more than $100 to profit $100
- Actual calculation: To win $100, risk $217
- So on $100 risked: profit = $46.08
- Total return = $146.08
At a $100 bet on Palomino at +177:
- You risk $100 to profit $177
- Total return = $277
Trout won by unanimous decision. If you bet $100 on him, you made $46.08 profit. If you bet $217 on him, you made $100 profit.
Example 3: BKFC 71 Dubai – Trout vs Trinidad
Austin Trout (defending champion): Listed as favorite Carlos Trinidad (challenger): +239
At Trinidad +239 on a $20 bet:
- $20 stake x 2.39 profit multiplier = $47.80 profit
- Total return = $67.80
This real example from NXTbets analysis shows how underdogs in BKFC can offer significant value when fighters have the skills to pull upsets.
Calculating Payouts for Any Bet Amount
Most examples use $100 for simplicity, but you can bet any amount. Here’s how to calculate payouts for any stake.
For American odds (negative): Profit = (Stake x 100) / negative odds Total return = Profit + Stake
Example: $50 bet on a -180 favorite
- Profit = ($50 x 100) / 180 = $27.78
- Total return = $27.78 + $50 = $77.78
For American odds (positive): Profit = (Stake x positive odds) / 100 Total return = Profit + Stake
Example: $75 bet on a +150 underdog
- Profit = ($75 x 150) / 100 = $112.50
- Total return = $112.50 + $75 = $187.50
For Decimal odds: Total return = Stake x decimal odds Profit = Total return – Stake
Example: $60 bet at 2.50 decimal odds
- Total return = $60 x 2.50 = $150
- Profit = $150 – $60 = $90
due to lower liquidity bare knuckle boxing betting lines can move very quickly and be influenced heavily by sharp money
Common BKFC Betting Markets and Their Odds
Beyond the basic moneyline (picking the winner), BKFC offers several other betting markets, each with their own odds.
Method of Victory
This bet requires you to predict not just who wins, but how they win. Options typically include:
- Fighter A by KO/TKO
- Fighter A by decision
- Fighter A by doctor stoppage (sometimes lumped with TKO)
- Fighter B by KO/TKO
- Fighter B by decision
- Fighter B by doctor stoppage
Example odds structure for a hypothetical fight:
- Perry by KO/TKO: +180
- Perry by Decision: +300
- Stephens by KO/TKO: +400
- Stephens by Decision: +600
The more specific the prediction, the higher the payout. These odds are longer because you’re predicting a more precise outcome.
Over/Under Rounds
Bookmakers set a round total, and you bet whether the fight lasts longer (over) or shorter (under) than that number.
Example: Total rounds set at 3.5
- Over 3.5 rounds: -130 (fight goes to round 4 or 5)
- Under 3.5 rounds: +110 (fight ends in rounds 1, 2, or 3)
In bare knuckle boxing, unders often provide value because cuts and doctor stoppages happen frequently. The shorter two-minute rounds and lack of gloves create more finishes.
Round Betting
You can bet on the exact round a fight ends. These odds are long because you’re making a very specific prediction.
Example structure:
- Fight ends in Round 1: +800
- Fight ends in Round 2: +600
- Fight ends in Round 3: +500
- Fight ends in Round 4: +600
- Fight ends in Round 5: +700
- Fight goes to decision: +200
The middle rounds often have slightly lower odds because that’s statistically where many stoppages occur.
How Odds Change Leading Up to Fight Night
BKFC odds aren’t static. They move based on betting action, news, and other factors. Understanding line movement helps you time your bets.
Opening lines are released when the fight is announced. These often have the most value because bookmakers haven’t seen betting patterns yet.
Line movement happens when one side gets heavy action. If too many people bet on the favorite, the book might move the line to make the underdog more attractive and balance their exposure.
Example: Fight opens at Perry -180, Stephens +150. Heavy betting on Perry might move it to Perry -220, Stephens +180. The underdog odds got better.
News impact: Training camp injuries, weight cut issues, or personal problems can cause odds to shift dramatically. A fighter struggling to make weight might see their odds lengthen significantly.
Sharp money vs public money: Professional bettors (“sharps”) often bet early and move lines. Public bettors (“squares”) usually bet closer to fight night. Watching which direction lines move and why helps you identify value.
For BKFC betting, following fighter social media and BKFC official channels can give you information that affects odds before the general public catches on.
Finding the Best Odds Across Sportsbooks
Different sportsbooks offer different odds on the same fight. This is called “line shopping” and it’s one of the easiest ways to increase your profits.
Real example from BKFC research: Mike Perry vs Eddie Alvarez hypothetical odds varied from -280 to -300 for Perry depending on the book. That’s a meaningful difference on a $100 bet.
At -280: Risk $280 to win $100 At -300: Risk $300 to win $100
Getting Perry at -280 instead of -300 saves you $20 in risk for the same $100 profit. Over dozens of bets, these differences add up significantly.
Major books that offer BKFC betting include BetOnline, Bovada, BetUS, MyBookie, and SportsBetting.ag. According to analysis, Bovada routinely offers the best prices and return on winning bets for BKFC, where odds can vary significantly from website to website.
Open accounts at multiple sportsbooks. Compare odds for every fight. Always take the best available number. This single habit will increase your long-term profits more than any betting strategy.
Understanding Juice and How It Affects Your Bets
The “juice” or “vigorish” is the bookmaker’s commission built into every bet. Standard juice is -110 on both sides of a bet, but it varies.
At -110 odds, you risk $110 to win $100. The implied probability is 52.4%. But in a true 50/50 proposition, both sides would be at even money (+100). That extra 2.4% on each side is the juice.
For BKFC moneyline bets, juice is built into the gap between favorite and underdog odds. The bigger the gap relative to the true probability, the more juice you’re paying.
Example of high juice: Fighter A: -300 (implied 75%) Fighter B: +250 (implied 28.6%) Total: 103.6% (3.6% juice)
Example of lower juice: Fighter A: -180 (implied 64.3%) Fighter B: +160 (implied 38.5%) Total: 102.8% (2.8% juice)
Lower juice means better value for bettors. Books with reduced juice promotions can significantly improve your expected returns over time.
Key Takeaways for BKFC Betting Odds
Understanding odds is fundamental, but applying that knowledge correctly is what separates winning bettors from losing ones. Here’s what matters most.
Shop for the best number. A few points difference in odds adds up over a season of betting. Don’t be loyal to one book when better odds exist elsewhere.
Calculate implied probability. Know what the bookmaker thinks the chances are, then decide if you agree. Value exists in the gap between implied probability and true probability.
Track line movements. Sharp money moves lines early. If you see odds shifting, understand why before placing your bet.
Use the right format for you. American odds are standard in the U.S., but decimal odds make calculating returns easier. Switch formats in your account settings if it helps you bet smarter.
Understand market inefficiencies in BKFC. Bare knuckle boxing is newer for betting markets than traditional boxing. Oddsmakers are still learning how to properly price fights. This creates more opportunities for informed bettors.
The math behind betting odds isn’t complicated once you understand the formulas. The hard part is consistently finding situations where the odds don’t accurately reflect the true probability of an outcome. That takes fight knowledge, research, and discipline.
But now you know how to read any betting line, calculate your potential returns, and understand what the bookmaker is actually telling you. That puts you ahead of casual bettors who just pick favorites without understanding the value proposition they’re accepting.
Master the odds first. Then focus on mastering fight analysis. Combine both, and you’ve got a real edge in BKFC betting.
