Best Combat Sports Betting Sites and Full April 2024 Guide

With so many fighters competing across so many different federations, it can be hard to know where to begin when betting on combat sports. Below, we've outlined some of the most popular competitions to bet on, as well as the niche sports that may be available at bigger sportsbooks.

MMA or Mixed Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts or MMA is an all-encompassing term used to describe full-contact sports that utilize striking, grappling and ground fighting. In Brazil - home of the legendary fighter, Anderson Silva - the term Vale Tudo was originally used, but now the definition of MMA events also stretches to No Holds Barred (NHB) and cage fighting.

In most MMA sports, fights last for a pre-determined number of rounds as fighters from different martial arts backgrounds compete against each other to win points from judges or end the match by KO or submission.

UFC Events: Ultimate Fighting Championship

One of the best-known break-away MMA federations is the Ultimate Fighting Championship or UFC. An American MMA promotion company founded by businessman Art Davie and Brazilian fighter Rorion Gracie, the original goal of the UFC was to determine the most effective form of hand-to-hand fighting.

Starting with minimal rules and no weight classes, each fighter brought their own specific style into the ring before contestants began adopting skills from different disciplines to create today's more balanced UFC competition.

Wrestling

Not to be confused with the sports-entertainment brand WWE, traditional wrestling is a grappling-based style of combat that relies on throws, takedowns, locks and pins. These days, there are a wide range of wrestling events covered by online sportsbooks, including Greco-Roman, judo and many others.

While most forms are contested over a series of rounds, the rules vary dramatically from sport to sport. Some require a fighter to pin or throw their opponent out of the fighting area, while others can only be won by direct submission.

Other sports:

While there are literally hundreds of combat sports featured throughout the world, only a select few tend to be offered by online sportsbooks. Unarmed sports include things like boxing, kickboxing, karate and taekwondo, while fencing is easily the most widely-covered armed event.

Unlike UFC - even in its more modern incarnation - the majority of these sports tend to feature pretty strict rules about what a fighter can or can't do, so it's very important to familiarize yourself with the individual differences in each contest before placing a bet.

Types of Bets

These days, most online sportsbooks will offer a variety of markets on UFC and other major combat sports events. Far beyond regular bets on the winner, customers will be able to pick how many rounds a fight will last, the manner of victory and a number of other props.

• Prop Bets:

A prop is a term used to refer to betting on specific actions within a fight. One of the most popular UFC prop bets is to combine the winner of a fight with the manner of their victory, for example, George St-Pierre to win by knockout.

• Round Betting:

There are two major types of round betting available to fans of UFC and other combat-based sports. The first is attempting to guess how long the bout will last and the second is trying to pick which round a specific fighter will claim victory in.

• Victory Bets:

A very specific form of prop, a victory bet asks customers to determine how a fight will be ended. Options here typically include KO/TKO, submission or judge's decision and all can be paired with naming the winning fighter in a two-leg parlay.

• Straight Bets:

The most basic form of betting on the UFC and other competitions, straight bets require customers to pick just one outcome. This could either be "fighter X to win the match" or simply stating that you think a specific fight will go the distance.

• Futures Bet:

Future bets take a longer-term look at a specific event and ask customers to predict the outcome further down the line. An example of this would be to predict a specific boxer to win the heavyweight championship belt before a certain date.

• Moneyline Odds:

Moneyline odds are a system used to price most of the bets listed above. Used at most sportsbooks in the US by default, a positive number indicates the amount bettors will win from a $100 stake, while a negative number is how much you need to wager to win $100.

• Parlays:

This form of wager enables customers to combine multiple outcomes into one bet at even longer odds. As we mentioned above, choosing a fighter to win along with the round or method of their victory would be an example of this type of bet.

What to Consider:

So what sort of things should we consider when looking to bet on combat sports? Well, that largely depends on the event that you're wagering on, but there are certainly a few general pointers that can get you off to a good start for any major competition.

Firstly, it's incredibly important to know your fighter. These days, there are a wealth of stats available after each fight, and keeping tabs on how your favorite fighters have been performing is essential for smart betting. Remember, with so many federations and fighters to keep tabs on, sportsbooks have been known to seriously underprice underdogs who have a fighting chance.

In this respect, you might be better off focusing on the undercard matches rather than the headline fights, as it's here that the most egregious pricing mistakes often occur. It's also very important to consider how a fighting style might affect a particular match-up, with some UFC fighters having exploitable weaknesses in terms of how they deal with grapplers and so on. In boxing, this could be something as simple as how fighters fare against southpaw opponents.

Always remember that as UFC and other MMA matches are incredibly fast-paced, the flow of a fight can change in an instant. As such, keeping on top of the live betting lines - while also watching on a live stream, if available - is a great way to zero in on enticing prices. If you see a competitor start to wobble, don't be afraid to get in there before the sportsbooks have time to act.

Finally, as with all sports betting, bankroll management is incredibly important. Luckily, one of the easiest ways to get a helping hand with this is signing up with multiple sites, as this way you'll have access to a variety of welcome bonuses and ongoing promotions that will make your money go further. Additionally, being active at multiple sportsbooks will allow you to compare odds on various markets and ensure you're only ever wagering at the best prices.

1. Select one or more of our top online sportsbooks on this page
2. Register and include all info such as name, address, login details, social security number (last 4 digits only)
3. Enter our promo codes when requested during sign up form
4. Deposit using your preferred payment method
5. Claim your welcome bonus and read the terms and conditions for use
6. Start placing your bets on combat sporting events and odds

So, when we wrap it all together, what are the most important takeaways when it comes to betting on combat sports? Below, we've outlined five top tips that you should always keep in mind to ensure you know the ropes and give yourself the best possible chance of winning.

1) Learn the odds and know how to compare them

While the odds at most U.S. sportsbooks will use a moneyline format by default, don't forget you can usually switch up your display to decimal odds or fractional odds in the settings. By doing this, you can select a format that enables you to quickly and easily compare the prices being offered by a number of sportsbook sites before deciding which one to go with.

2) Know your fighters better than the sportsbooks

Now we're not saying this will be easy, but when it comes to fighting, there are certainly more unknowns than in other sports. While sportsbooks will have access to bout information and who is currently on a losing streak, if there's a contestant you've been following for some time who is making their first undercard appearance, it's possible you'll be able to find an edge in pricing.

3) Don't be afraid to back heavy underdogs

If you're familiar with the term "having a puncher's chance", you'll know what we're talking about here. No matter how unfancied a fighter may be, it only takes a second to spot an opening and land a knockout blow. If you think a favorite may not be in prime condition for their match-up against a weaker opponent - or that the astronomically long odds against don't accurately reflect their chances - don't be afraid to invest a portion of your bankroll.

4) Manage your bankroll and have a system in place

While the occasional underdog bet is certainly no bad thing, the sportsbooks draw their lines for a reason. As such, it's probably not a good idea to invest too much of your budget on long shots, and instead mix in a few bets on the favorite and other smart props. Doing so will allow you to minimize your exposure and hopefully ensure you keep your bankroll topped up with returns.

5) Bet within your limits and know when enough is enough

A great general rule for all forms of sports betting is to never risk more than you can afford to lose. Remember, no bet is a sure thing and whenever you put a stake down, there are never any guarantees that you're going to see that money back. With this in mind, try to set yourself loss limits and take advantage of the responsible gambling features offered by your chosen site.