MMA Betting

Betting on MMA

For most of the last century-and-a-half, the only real choice for people who liked to bet on fistic violence was boxing betting.

But in 1993, the Ultimate Fighting Championship introduced the concept of no-holds-barred fighting (eventually renamed mixed martial arts) to the western world and since then the sport has exploded into the public consciousness, as has MMA betting alongside it.

MMA betting is now as popular as wagering on boxing and with a smaller pool of fighters to keep track of and events happening nearly every weekend, MMA betting is much easier to get into, so long as you know how to bet, where to bet, and what fights to bet on.

MMA Betting Online Explained

Betting on MMA is simple and often referred to as a “Three-way Money Line.” Odds are released on each of the three potential outcomes for a fight: Fighter A wins, Fighter B wins, or Draw.

Draws are extremely rare in MMA, so betting is mostly focused on choosing winners, and some online sportsbooks do not even offer the Draw possibility. In those instances, if a Draw occurs, the book will just refund the bet entirely or “push” the bet.

The person favored to win the bout will have a negative number, -150 for example, meaning that bettors must wager $150 to win $100 (plus the return of the $150 wager). On the other side of things, the underdog will have a plus number next to them, +275 for example, meaning that a bettor wins $275 for a $100 bet (plus the return of the $100 wager).

There are also a number of other betting markets available in MMA betting, aside from three-way money line bets.

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Top MMA Betting Markets

Moneylines

As discussed above, moneyline bets are the simplest bets in MMA betting: selecting the winner and collecting the associated payout based on the odds.

Over/Under Bets

Bets placed on the duration of the fight. The Over/Under bets will provide a set number of rounds, 1.5 for example, with odds on both sides. If the fight lasts longer than the Over/Under number -- in this example, longer than 7 minutes and 30 seconds - the Over bet cashes. If the bout concludes for any reason before the Over/Under line, then the Under cashes.

Method of Victory Props

A wager on the outcome of the fight, regardless of who wins. Method of Victory props provide odds for Submission, KO/TKO and Decision.

Round the Fight Ends Props

A straightforward wager on what round the fight will be stopped in, regardless of the victor.

Points Handicap

Similar to Over/Under bets, only instead of wagering on fight duration, bettors wager on the number of rounds a specific fighter will win.

For example, Fighter A at 3.5 points means that, should the fight go to a decision, the bet cashes if Fighter A’s scorecards total 4 points (or higher) more than his opponent. Any finish by the fighter automatically cashes the Points Handicap bet.

Parlays

Tying multiple moneyline bets together for greater odds. The payout will be greater than wagering on any one outcome individually but the bet only cashes if all legs of the parlay win.

For example, a parlay of a -200, a -300 and a -500 favorite will payout at +140 but the if even one of those fighters loses, the entire bet is lost.