MMA Betting
We've put together a complete guide to betting Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), including a list of the top sportsbooks covering the MMA market, exclusive welcome bonuses for those sportsbooks when you sign up, expert betting tips for all the top fights and a guide on what to consider when considering your MMA betting strategy.
Recommended MMA Sites
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Min deposit £/€/$10 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £/€/$10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days • To withdraw bonus/related wins, wager the bonus amount 40 times within 14 days • Casino Bonus expires after 60 days • Withdrawal restrictions, payment methods, country and full T&Cs apply. - Full Terms Apply - 2
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Promo Code: H30Play safe. New customers using Promo code H30 only, Min £10/€10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x £15/€15, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. - Full Terms Apply - 5
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18+. Full T&C’s Apply. New customers on mobile only. 7 days to claim and stake £10 minimum bet at odds of 1.5 or greater to qualify. Free, void, cashed out or partially cashed out bets do not qualify. Max 3x £10 free bets credited on bet settlement. Free bets must be used on 4 or more selections with selection odds of 1.3 or greater. Free bets are non-withdrawable and stake not returned with winnings. 7 day expiry. - 7
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New customer offer; Place first £10 bet on sports with 3 legs at odds of 1.3 or greater per leg; Free Bet and Extra Spins credited after the qualifying bet has settled; Free Multiple Bet must contain 3 legs at odds of 1.3 or greater per leg; Free Bet and Extra Spin stakes not returned; No wagering requirements on winnings; £200 max win; T&C’s apply; 18+. Gamble responsibly. www.begambleaware.org - 9
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The Promotion operates as a £/€20 Surprise Bet when you place a bet of at least £/€10 on any market with odds greater than or equal to 1.50 as your first bet. The Promotion runs from 09/08/2021 / 12:00 (BST) until 31/12/2021 / 12:00 (BST) (the “Promotional Period”). The Promotion is only valid to: (a) new customers; (b) customers aged 18 years or over. To qualify for the Promotion, participant must deposit and place a £/€10 bet as their first bet on any market (excluding each way) in the sportsbook with odds greater than or equal to 1.50. Only original odds count toward the promotion. Supercharged odds do not count towards the promotion. An accumulation of smaller stakes will not count. Cashed out bets do not count towards this promotion. Only available once per customer. Rewards will be credited to qualifying participants within 48 hours after placing the qualifying bet. Potential winnings from the Surprise Bet are paid in withdrawable cash, excluding the stake. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. - 10
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MMA Betting Tips
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.
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.
| Brand | In-Play Sports | Cash Out In-Play | In-Play Multis | Live Streaming | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Visit Site |
| 31 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Visit Site |
| 40 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Visit Site |
MMA Online Betting Tips
Unlike stick-and-ball sports, betting on MMA has a limited number of factors to consider. After all, there are only two fighters competing and only a few possible outcomes to each fight. With so few variables, MMA betting is much easier to attack, assuming you know follow a few simple rules.
- You don’t always need to bet on the winner. Many fights are true “toss-ups,” so laying money on negative odds is a bad plan. Instead, look for the more reasonable prop bets. Both fighters are big finishers and it’s just a matter of who lands first? Take the under.
- Know what ways each fighter can win to maximize your value. Fighter A is one of the most feared strikers in MMA. Why bet him straight up at a negative number when instead you can get him by KO/TKO at plus money?
- More fights are won with dynamism than with strategy. The margin between victory and defeat is small in MMA and it’s incredibly hard to fight perfectly for 15 minutes. More often than not, the superior athlete/the dynamic finisher will beat their more well-rounded opponent.
- Who does the UFC want to win? If the UFC has a vested interest in a fighter, the smart money will be on that fighter to walk away with their hand up -- not through skullduggery but because the UFC knows how to preferentially matchmake.
- Watch the weights. Weight cutting is a pervasive part of MMA, as is missing weight. As the margins between elite fighters continues to shrink, an extra few pounds of advantage can give a huge edge, both physically and psychologically. If you were planning to bet on a fighter and their opponent blew weight, reconsider the bet.
Top MMA Circuits to Bet On
UFC | The granddaddy of them all. The biggest MMA organization in the world with every fight being eligible for MMA betting.
Bellator | The second biggest MMA organization in the world. Has tons of elite fighters and big names and every main card has mma betting options.
Rizin | A Japanese organization seen as the spiritual successor to Pride FC.
ONE Championship | The MMA leader in Southeast Asia, ONE recently made a number of high profile acquisitions and is looking to become a global player in MMA.
PFL | The Professional Fighter’s League debuted in 2018 with $1M prize tournaments to crown their champions.
KSW | The premier MMA organization in Poland, KSW has exceeded their regional roots on the basis of a strong viewer experience.
Invicta | An all-female organization that is primarily a feeder league to the UFC.
Where to Bet on MMA Online
When choosing an online sportsbook, it’s important to do your homework. Not all sportsbooks are equal. Some books don’t provide lines for every fight and some put restrictions on the amount you can wager on fights.
The best way to successfully bet on MMA is to find the best value in fights, be that through straight bets, props or over/unders, so finding a sportsbook with comprehensive odds on every fight available is a must to maximize your bets.
When making a decision about which sportsbook to use, make sure you are wagering with a reputable book, such as the ones you find here at gambling.com, that provides the most comprehensive odds possible.
Related: Check out New Betting Sites For bonuses and offers.
Related Betting Guides
| Brand | Free Bet Value | Loyalty Programme | Free Bet Expiry | Bonus | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| 30 | Yes | 7 Days | £30 In Free Bets + £10 Casino Bonus | Visit Site |
| Min deposit £/€/$10 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £/€/$10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days • To withdraw bonus/related wins, wager the bonus amount 40 times within 14 days • Casino Bonus expires after 60 days • Withdrawal restrictions, payment methods, country and full T&Cs apply. | |||||
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| 10 | Yes | 7 Days | Bet £10 Get 20£ in Free bets | Visit Site |
| *New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets bets won’t apply. Payment method restrictions. Available 12:00, 4/5/2021 until 11:59, 11/5/2021. One Free Bet offer per customer, household and IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs apply | |||||
| No | NA | Double the Odds, Paid in Cash | Visit Site | |
| 18+ New Customers Only. Bet must be placed using real money in combination with the Odds Boost Token. Offer applies to Sport bets only. Maximum total stake is £10. Each way bets are a maximum of £5 each way (£10 total stake). Customers have 60 days after registration to use the Odds Boost token. T&Cs apply. BeGambleaware.org | |||||
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