Betting on MMA
MMA betting shows the growth of the sport and gives fans more to get involved with the events. MMA combines Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, Boxing and Wrestling, so the competition is unique and unpredictable. This unpredictability means there are more betting opportunities than team sports or individual sports.
MMA betting requires a deep understanding of the sport.
MMA betting is more than just the potential financial reward, it’s the strategic depth to make informed bets. You need to look at fighter’s backgrounds, styles, recent form and mental state. As the sport and the big organisations like UFC, Bellator and ONE Championship evolve so does the betting landscape, it’s a constant challenge for experienced bettors and newbies.
Betting on MMA is continually adapting, mirroring the dynamic evolution of the sport itself.
Making a Responsible Bet on MMA
Betting on MMA fights at an online sportsbook is a process that newbies and even experienced bettors should go through to have a smooth and educated betting experience. The process involves choosing a sportsbook, creating an account, depositing, understanding the odds, choosing your bets and finally placing your wagers. Here’s a step by step guide on how to bet on MMA at an online sportsbook:
Choose a Reputable Online Sportsbook
- Make sure the sportsbook is legal in your jurisdiction and licensed by a recognized gaming authority.
Create an Account
- Sign-Up: Go to the sportsbook’s website and fill up the sign-up form, which usually requires you to input your personal information like name, address and date of birth to verify your identity.
- Account Verification: Some sportsbooks may require you to verify your account by uploading documents (e.g. government issued ID) to comply with regulatory requirements.
Deposit Funds
- Payment Methods: Choose a payment method available on the sportsbook, such as credit/debit cards, e-wallets or bank transfers. Consider fees, processing time and convenience.
- Deposit: Follow the instructions to deposit to your betting account. Most sportsbooks offer instant deposit so you can start betting right away.
Understand MMA Betting Odds
- Odds Formats: Get familiar with the odds format used by the sportsbook (e.g. American, Decimal, Fractional). Most sites allow you to change the format to your preference.
- Reading the Odds: Learn how to read and understand the odds for different bets, moneyline, over/under rounds and prop bets. This will help you assess risk and potential returns.
Choose Your Bets
- Betting Options: Look at the available MMA events and the types of bets offered, fight winner, method of victory and whether the fight will go the distance.
Place Your Bets
- Selection: Once you’ve chosen your bets, add them to your betting slip by clicking on the odds next to the bet you want to make.
- Betting Slip: Review your betting slip carefully. Here you can adjust the amount you want to wager and see the potential payout.
- Confirm: Confirm your bets. Once confirmed, your bet is locked in and you can only wait for the outcome.
Bankroll Management
- Keep track of your bets and manage your bankroll responsibly. Never bet more than you can afford to lose.
Withdraw Winnings
- Withdrawal: If you win, you can withdraw your winnings using one of the payment methods available on the sportsbook.
Additional Tips
Responsible Gambling: Always treat betting as a form of entertainment not a means to make money. Use tools like deposit limits and self-exclusion when betting on MMA.
Best MMA Sportsbooks
- Availability across most of US legal states
- Competitive odds & diverse markets
- Attentive customer service
- Extensive list of Same Game Parlay's
- App speeds vary for some users
- Geo locate sometimes unreliable
- Extensive betting markets
- Live betting
- Efficient & secure payments
- Strong security measures
- Mobile app connectivity issues
- Maximum bets on odds boosts are low.
- Promotional restrictions
- Available in many U.S. States and Canada
- Numerous betting markets
- Major partnerships with teams/leagues
- Promotions are timely and change rapidly
- Connectivity issues on betting app
Understanding MMA Odds
MMA betting lines are similar to those found in other sports, typically presented in moneyline format. This means you’re betting on who you think will win the fight.
Moneyline Odds Format
Example: Suppose we have a fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor. The odds might look like this:
Khabib Nurmagomedov: -200
Conor McGregor: +170
Over/Under Rounds
Example: The total round for a fight between Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko might be set at 2.5. If you bet the over and the fight lasts beyond 2.5 rounds, you win. If it doesn’t, you lose.
Method of Victory
This type of bet involves predicting how the fight will be won (e.g., knockout, submission, decision).
Example: Betting on Jon Jones to win by KO/TKO might offer odds of +150, while predicting a win by submission could offer +200.
Round Betting
You can bet on which round you think the fight will end.
Example: Betting on Israel Adesanya to win in Round 2 might provide odds of +400.
Parlays
A parlay bet combines multiple bets on one ticket, which can significantly increase your payout but requires all selected bets to win.
Example: Betting on Francis Ngannou to win his fight and Rose Namajunas to win hers on the same ticket.
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Paruyr Shahbazyan
Paruyr Shahbazyan started his business career as an entrepreneur in 2000. Over 13 years, he learned business and leadership, which laid the foundation for his career.
In 2013, Paruyr entered the sports and betting industry as the founder and president of Bookmaker Rating, an online media platform he led until 2020. The platform focuses on in-depth analysis and insights in sports betting and has gained a reputation for quality content.
In 2022, Paruyr co-founded Azuro, a decentralized betting protocol. This shows his commitment to technology in the sports betting space. Through all these experiences, Paruyr has been shaping and influencing the betting industry, setting new trends and standards.
Innovation in sportsbetting comes from a deep understanding of both technology and the human element of sports.
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Cristina Varela Galan
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“Exploring the association between emotional regulation, alexithymia, stressful life events and gambling in adolescent and young adult women”.
Nick Ashbourne
Nick has been fascinated with sports since he was first taken to a Toronto Maple Leafs game back in 1998, and he's written about them professionally since 2014.
Nick has covered baseball and hockey for outlets like The Athletic, Sportsnet, and Yahoo Sports, and his sports betting expertise has grown since its legalization in Ontario in 2022.
Between 2022 and 2023 he worked for a betting startup called NorthStar Bets, and in 2024 he contributed to Oddspedia before joining the RG team.
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Sergey has been in sports journalism since 2007 as a reporter, editor, and manager. He has covered the Olympic Games, soccer World Cups, the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, the European championships, the Stanley Cup Finals, IOC events, and many others. Sergey interviewed the sport's greatest athletes, coaches, and executives. Since 2016, he has been an Independent Senior Editor of NHL.com/ru.
Anna Kravtcova
Ph.D. in organizational psychology, an internationally certified psychologist (EuroPsy 2022, Cognitive behavioural therapy of mindfulness 2020, International Society for Emotional Intelligence 2017, Russian Psychological society 2014, American Psychological Association(Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychologist) 2011), speaker of many international conferences (USA, Brazil, Portugal, Czech Republic, Russia, etc.). TEDx speaker.
