If you are getting into UFC betting and keep seeing terms like KO, TKO and DQ pop up in the method of victory markets, here is what they all mean and how they affect your bets.
KO – Knockout
A KO is what most people picture when they think about a fight ending early. One fighter lands a clean shot and the other fighter goes down and cannot continue.
Lights out, fight over.
In a KO the referee does not need to step in and make a judgment call because the fighter on the ground is clearly done.
Think of a huge head kick that puts someone flat on the canvas or a right hand that switches the lights off mid round. That is a KO.
TKO – Technical Knockout
A TKO is a bit different and this is where it gets important for bettors. A TKO happens when the referee decides that a fighter is taking too much damage and stops the fight even though the losing fighter has not been knocked completely unconscious.
This could be a ground and pound situation where one fighter is on top landing unanswered shots and the ref jumps in.
It could also be a doctor stoppage because of a bad cut or a corner throwing in the towel between rounds because their guy is getting beaten up.
The key difference between a KO and a TKO is that in a TKO someone made a decision to stop the fight. In a KO the fight stopped itself.
Why the KO vs TKO distinction matters for bettors
Here is where you need to pay attention. Some sportsbooks group KO and TKO together as a single betting option in the method of victory market.
You will see it listed as “KO/TKO” as one selection. Other sportsbooks split them out into separate options so you can bet on a KO specifically or a TKO specifically.
The odds are obviously different when they are split out because a pure KO is less common than a TKO.
Always check how your sportsbook categorizes these before you place the bet so you know exactly what you are backing.
DQ – Disqualification
A DQ is when a fighter gets disqualified for breaking the rules. This could be repeated illegal strikes like headbutts, elbows to the back of the head, groin shots, or knees to a grounded opponent.
It does not happen very often in the UFC but when it does it can completely change the outcome of a fight and more importantly the outcome of your bets.
Most sportsbooks include DQ as a separate method of victory option and it usually pays long odds because it is so rare.
Some bettors sprinkle a small bet on DQ when they see a fight involving a guy who has a history of fouling or fights dirty. It is a long shot but it does come in every now and then.
How this affects same game multis and prop bets
If you are building a parlay that includes a method of victory leg, make sure you understand whether your sportsbook is using KO/TKO as a combined option or splitting them.
Getting this wrong is one of the most common mistakes newer UFC bettors make. They back KO thinking it covers both and then their fighter wins by TKO and the bet loses because the book had them listed separately.
