King of the Cage, or KOTC for short, is in many ways the minor leagues of the MMA world. Fight cards consist of the best up-and-coming MMA stars and veterans fighters who still have a love for the sport and willingness to get in the ring. With online betting, Canadians can bet on the future of the MMA world and start winning big off a fighter before they make it to the UFC or Bellator, or pick their favourite fighters from the past and watch them go out in a blaze of glory.
Top Online KOTC Betting Sites in Canada
Whether you are interested in betting on some future MMA stars or picking what veterans will go out on top in the twilight of their careers, we have found the best sites for you. Click on your favourite and start betting (and winning) today!
Betting on King of the Cage
Opening the gates to its ring in 1998, King of the Cage is known for a roster filled with many future MMA stars and experienced veterans. Started by Terry Trebilcock, he sold KOTC in 2007, to later reacquire it in July of 2009. Since reacquiring it, KOTC has experienced a much larger increase in content and broadcasting range. Partnering with Mark Burnett Productions (yes the same production company responsible for "Survivor" and "The Apprentice"), KOTC began airing a reality show called "Bully Beatdown" where bullies challenged KOTC fighters for a chance to win $10,000. Many famous current and former MMA stars began their careers in King of the Cage including Ronda Rousey, Forrest Griffin and Urijah Faber.
How to Bet on KOTC
The main difference in betting on KOTC comes from a large amount of up-and-comers who may be able to dominate in KOTC with slightly different strategies than what works in the UFC or Bellator when the quality of competition is greater. Instead of always looking to contrast fighting styles, it can be a better betting move to simply pick what fighters is more dominant in his/her respective specialty. A young fighter may be able to survive and even thrive without an impressive wrestling resume or a go-to submission technique.
It is still important to remember that the higher the weight class, the higher the probability of a knockout. Also to remember that styles such as Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Judo win matches through submission, well kicking-boxing and taekwondo win matches through knockout or decision. So even if anyone can win any match, for picking how they will win it, weight classes and fighting styles still carry some levity.
Moneyline Bets:
When wagering on the fighter you believe will win the match, you’ll notice that the most popular way to show the odds are through moneylines. Positive moneylines tend to be underdogs while the favourites usually have a negative line. In addition to the number of people who bet on either fighter, moneylines are determined by a variety of other factors, including the past history of the fighter and recent trends such as winning streaks. Betting on the fighter you think will win is by far the most popular type of KOTC betting.
KOTC Prop Betting Options
While King of the Cage follows most of the standard rules, there are a few differences that should be noted before you start betting, specifically in the Total Rounds section.
- Total Rounds: Undercard matches are scheduled for either 2-3 five-minute rounds and title or super fights consist of 3-5 five-minute rounds, adding a bit of complexity to the standard over/under bet. Make sure to check the length of the match before placing your bet.
- Method of Victory: Often an easier bet in KOTC when picking veteran fighters with a larger fight database and a long history of using a particular style, then-rookie fighters who may still be developing their repertoire. As usually the method of victory is clustered into three groups. The betting options are -- Win by Knockout, Technical Knockout or Disqualification -- Win by Points or Technical Decision -- Win by Submission.
- Round of Victory: What round will the match end in, or will it go to decision. Parlay with the fighter you expect to win and a method of victory to maximize potential winnings.
- Draws: A rarity, but with the greatest payoff. Picking draw is usually not a smart strategy but is an available option in times of complete uncertainty (or you are completely confident it will end in a draw/no decision).
The odds on King of the Cage events change with each fight, reflecting the deep pool of competitors that flock to this league to prove their worth. Lines also vary according to the type of wager that you wish to commit to, which may change according to the fight card taking place on any given night.
Potential Prop Bets For King of the Cage:
Proposition bets are usually reserved for those who have a bit more experience placing wagers on a particular sport. For MMA events like King of the Cage, one of the most popular types of side bets is predicting how the fight ends, whether it’s through a knockout, TKO, decision or a submission. Sometimes, you’ll also be able to bet on how long you believe the match will last. Since prop bets involve specific aspects of a sport, there are many different ways of putting money down on these types of side wagers.
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Tips On King of the Cage
Despite the fact that King of the Cage has been around for quite a while, the level of talent that competes at these events usually aren’t the same as the biggest organizations, such as Bellator and the UFC. Nonetheless, over the years, there have been many superb MMA practitioners who flexed their muscles and skills in the cage to great effect, adding to the momentum of their careers.
Grapplers vs. Strikers: The main type of split between fighting styles tend to be the difference between strikers and grapplers. As a general rule, strikers tend to dominate long-range fighting while grapplers are most comfortable twisting a knot around their opponent with their own limbs. Grapplers always risk catching a fist or a knee to the face on their way inside, which completely turns the momentum of a match in a split second. However, once a grappler penetrates the perimeter defence, strikers end up wasting energy to avoid a submission, which drains their power later on in a bout. As a result, placing a wager on a striker who gets more decisions than knockouts is likely to be a greater risk than a grappler who plays the long game.
Weight Class: Some fighters compete in multiple weight classes, with a select few talented individuals able to dominate at multiple weights. If a fighter is joining a new weight class for the first time, you might want to avoid placing your wager on them until they’ve proven their mettle in their new division - unless they happen to be one of those uber-talented gladiators who dominate all opponents, regardless of size.
