The Best MMA Betting Sites for 2024
Know the difference between a rear naked choke and an arm bar but lost when it comes to betting on MMA? Don’t worry, we’ve created the ultimate MMA betting guide to explain how and where you can bet on your favourite fighters in major mixed martial arts promotions such as the UFC and Bellator.
Our guide includes a list of the best MMA betting sites, expert tips and strategies for betting on MMA fights, and much more.
Best MMA Betting Sites – October 2024
Average Payout Speed
0 – 24 HoursCurrencies
- AUD
- CAD
- USD
- Competitive sign-up and promotional offers
- Excellent statistics section to aid customers
- Pain-free deposit options
- Accepts both high and low limit bettors
- Lengthy and expensive withdrawal procedure
Average Payout Speed
0 – 24 HoursCurrencies
- BTC
- LTC
- ETH
- Premier destination for US bettors
- Racebook covering daily races
- Esports and virtual sports markets
- In-depth sports stats and tips
- Intuitive live betting markets
- Limited withdrawal options
Average Payout Speed
0 – 24 HoursCurrencies
- BTC
- LTC
- XRP
- Deposit and bet using BTC
- Choose from 25,000+ markets
- Bet in-play on a huge range of sports
- Get paid quickly with no fuss
- Friendly customer support agents
Average Payout Speed
0 – 24 HoursCurrencies
- LTC
- USD
- Generous bonuses and promotions
- Great range of betting markets
- Extensive racebook
- Very good customer service
- Only a few withdrawal options
- Fees for withdrawing funds
Average Payout Speed
0 – 24 HoursCurrencies
- BTC
- Trusted by publications such as ESPN
- Access a dedicated racing section
- Crypto-friendly sportsbook
- Adjust odds format and time zone
- Support options include call back
- Quite low sportsbook limits
Average Payout Speed
0 – 24 HoursCurrencies
- USD
- Accepts players from all over the world
- Known for their live betting offers
- Lots of secure banking options
- Great bonuses and promotions
- High fees for some deposit options
- Support agents are often slow to reply
Average Payout Speed
0 – 24 HoursCurrencies
- BTC
- Top-rated US online sportsbook
- Mobile site for iOS and Android users
- Diverse range of betting markets
- Excellent customer support options
- Lines come out very late in the day
- Odds not as favorable as other books
Average Payout Speed
0 – 24 HoursCurrencies
- BPS
- CAD
- EUR
- Popular book that accepts large max bets
- Huge focus on football and basketball
- High-spec live in-play platform available
- Downloadable client for Windows & Mac
- Odds are not amazing on non-US sports
- User interface could be improved
A Beginner’s Guide to MMA Betting
Whether you’re an experienced punter or new to the world of online sports betting, you’re going to enjoy betting on mixed martial arts.
MMA is already one of the most exhilarating sports to watch. In mixed martial arts competitions all over the world, two highly skilled athletes battle each other inside a cage with no teammates and no timeouts.
The stakes for every mixed martial artist get higher and higher with every bout, and that’s precisely why more fans are gaining an interest in the UFC, Bellator, and many other promotions.
We appreciate sports due to the unpredictability and excitement, but there’s nothing more unpredictable or exciting than mixed martial arts. Just like boxing, a fight can end at any given moment. One destructive punch to the liver, a spinning back kick to the head, or a tight rear-naked choke can stop the fight in a matter of seconds. This is a primary reason why betting on mixed martial arts has proven to be profitable as it is exciting for MMA experts.
Because mixed martial arts is a relatively new sport, bookmakers are yet to establish ways to accurately predict outcomes using advanced predictive models in the same way they would for a basketball game or football game. This means that bookmakers are yet to lock down on mixed martial arts and remove value from the market. This is why we bet on mixed martial arts.
How to Bet on MMA Online
Thinking about betting on MMA for the first time but don’t know where to begin? Don’t worry, it couldn’t be any easier. Follow our step-by-step guide below to bet on MMA fights online.
Step 1
Open a Betting Account
Step one is joining one of the best MMA betting sites. Take your pick from the options on this page and click the ‘visit site’ button to go to your preferred site. Then click the ‘register’ button and enter personal details such as your name, date of birth, and telephone number to complete the registration process.
Step 2
Make Your First Deposit
Next, you need to add funds to your account. Find the banking section to view a list of accepted deposit methods. Select your preferred option and enter your payment details and the amount you want to deposit. Then click ‘confirm’ to process your payment. Your funds should be available immediately.
Step 3
Find MMA Betting Markets
Now it’s time to navigate to the MMA betting section. Most sites make this step easy by providing an A-Z list of sports. Once you find the MMA section, you will be presented with a list of MMA promotions and their upcoming events. Choose the promotion and event you want to bet on to view the fight card.
Step 4
Bet on Your Favourite Fighters
Now that you’ve found the MMA fight you want to bet on, it’s time to make your selections. You can add fighters (or other bets such as total rounds) to your bet slip and then enter your stake. Then it’s time to watch your fighter step into the cage and sit on the edge of your seat as every blow lands.
Choosing the Best MMA Betting Sites
The process of selecting a mixed martial arts betting site is incredibly important.
While virtually every sports betting site offers MMA betting markets, not all sites are created equal. One site may offer knockout promotions but low odds, while another may clinch top spot for banking options but disappoint in the customer service department.
Luckily for you, we’ve been reviewing the best betting sites since 2011 and we’ve already done the research and listed our top MMA betting sites for you.
Here’s what you will find when betting with one of our highest-rated MMA betting sites:
Generous Bonuses
One of the best reasons to bet online with our top-rated MMA betting bookmakers is that they each have significant welcome promotions for new members. It’s no secret that every bookmaker is competing for your business. Fortunately, that results in generous welcome bonuses and loyalty offers as every site tries to best the offers that are found on other sites.
Competitive Odds
A low-rated bookmaker will negatively impact your profitability over time with low odds. We’ve found many popular betting sites get away with releasing odds for MMA that are 5-10% lower than what you will find at other sites. You might be one of the best MMA punters in the world, but if you’re not betting with a site that maximises your value for every bet, you’re going to end up losing money in the long run.
Stellar Reputation
Would you bet with a bookmaker without a proven track record of outstanding customer service, payouts, and safety and security? We wouldn’t. We only bet with sites that have an industry-leading reputation and are regarded for all the right things and none of the negatives. There are too many good bookmakers out there today for us to bet with one that is asking for a second chance.
Safety and Security
Nothing else matters if an online bookmaker doesn’t take security seriously. The safety and security of your money, data, and personal information should be the top priority of every serious bookmaker. Too many punters are putting their funds at risk by betting with a site that does not have top-tier encryption with SSL technology or comprehensive documentation that explains their security methods.
Banking Methods
There’s nothing good about winning money if a shady bookmaker makes you jump over hurdles before you withdraw it. All our top-rated bookmakers have multiple deposit and withdrawal methods that are quick and free. We don’t want to pay fees to withdraw our money, and we shouldn’t have to. Banking should be simple, and we’re thankful to have found the bookmakers that put their members first.
Mobile Compatibility
Every betting site needs to be mobile-first with their approach to design and functionality. It wasn’t all that long ago when we were placing our bets on our desktop. We then appreciated the convenience of betting on our laptops while on the couch. However, now, a fully functional and lightning-fast mobile betting app is what truly separates the best MMA betting sites from the average ones.
Types of MMA Bets
There’s an option for everybody who wants to bet on mixed martial arts.
Do you want to pick a winner? Go ahead. How about choosing the exact method of victory? There’s a market for that as well. You can even bet on the exact method of victory and the time of the stoppage if you want to boost your odds further.
Here are the most popular MMA betting markets:
Fight Winner (Moneyline)
Fight Winner (Moneyline)
Arguably the best and simplest way to bet on mixed martial arts is just to pick the winner.
The fight winner market is the most prominent option for punters for a good reason. Most members want to quickly log-in to their favourite MMA betting site and place a bet on whom they think will win the fight. If you’re not concerned with how they win (KO/TKO, submission, or decision), then this is the market for you.
Here’s an example of how the fight winner market looks on our top-rated MMA betting sites:
Khabib Nurmagomedov v Conor McGregor
- Khabib Nurmagomedov: 1.71
- Conor McGregor: 2.50
The fight winner market offers up odds for each fighter to win the contest, regardless of the method of victory. In this example, Conor McGregor is considered the underdog and Khabib Nurmagomedov will enter the fight as the favourite.
One of the best aspects of this market is that unlike betting on football, in the case of a draw or no contest, bets are refunded and you won’t lose a thing!
You can find the fight winner market for every UFC fight (regardless of whether it’s on the UFC Fight Pass Prelims or the main card of a pay-per-view), the main card of every Bellator card, and for significant fights in other high-level promotions.
Remember, all that matters is that your fighter wins the fight!
Total Rounds (Over/Under)
Total Rounds (Over/Under)
The total rounds market is another excellent way to bet on UFC, Bellator, and other MMA promotions around the world.
Unlike the outright winner market, you won’t need to back a fighter this time. Instead, you’ll have the option to predict whether a fight will last longer or shorter than a time specified by the bookmaker.
Here’s an example of the total rounds market:
Khabib Nurmagomedov v Conor McGregor
- Over 2.5 Rounds: 2.20
- Under 2.5 Rounds: 1.83
The bookmaker has set the total rounds line at 2.5 rounds and will now take bets on the fight lasting over or under the midway point of the third round. If a fight ends before 2:30 of round three, that will be marked as under, whereas anything after that time will be classified as over.
This market allows punters to forecast the pace and stoppage potential of every fight. If two heavy-hitting heavyweight fighters are scheduled to fight, you will likely be betting on this fight not lasting very long. Alternatively, most female fights (especially in the strawweight division) make it the distance.
Just like the outright winner market, the total rounds market is a great way to bet on mixed martial arts.
Method of Victory
Method of Victory
This is where MMA betting starts to get very exciting.
The method of victory betting option allows a punter to predict the finishing series of a fight. Will one fighter submit the other? Or will that fighter that always wins by decision do it again?
Punters have the option of predicting these various paths to victory and will enjoy increased odds as a result.
Here’s an example of the method of victory betting market:
- Khabib Nurmagomedov to win by KO/TKO: 4.85
- Khabib Nurmagomedov to win by submission: 4.00
- Khabib Nurmagomedov to win by decision: 5.23
- Conor McGregor to win by KO/TKO: 2.775
- Conor McGregor to win by submission: 27.50
- Conor McGregor to win by decision: 15.75
As you can see, the bookmakers will release method of victory odds for both fighters and all potential outcomes. The more likely it is for a result to occur, the lower the odds will be. Interestingly, although Conor McGregor is the betting underdog in the outright winner market, the odds for McGregor to win by KO/TKO are the lowest of all available options in the method of victory market.
The odds for Khabib Nurmagomedov in the outright winner market were much lower than those found here in the method of victory market. A successful £100 bet on Khabib Nurmagomedov in the outright winner market would return just £71.43, whereas a correct prediction in the method of victory market would yield a profit of over £300.
For a punter with an excellent understanding of both fighters and mixed martial arts, this can be one of the most lucrative betting options.
Moreover, if you don’t consider yourself an expert just yet, you’ll probably need to review what constitutes a KO/TKO or submission finish:
- A KO/TKO occurs when a referee stops the contest (while standing or on the canvas), a doctor stops the fight, a corner stops the fight, or when a fighter retires as a result of an injury.
- A submission is the result of a referee stopping the fight due to tap out or technical submission. A fighter can also submit to strikes or submit verbally.
The method of victory market is usually available for every UFC fight and is released a couple of days before every event. Significant fights in other promotions will also have method of victory odds at our top-rated MMA betting sites.
Bet on Major MMA Events
With no seasons and a consistently packed calendar of noteworthy fights on a near-weekly basis, hardcore fight fans rarely have a weekend without watching two mixed martial artists battle inside the cage.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) leads the way as the world’s premier mixed martial arts promotion, but it’s not the only destination for MMA fans. With the rise of Bellator, Cage Warriors, ONE Championship and many other promotions, fight fans can now bet on major mixed martial arts events almost every weekend.
Here’s an overview of the best MMA promotions you can bet on:
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is the leading mixed martial arts promotion in the world today. The UFC has approximately 2-3 regular events and one big-time pay-per-view (PPV) event monthly. The PPV events are stacked with the best and most recognisable names in the sport, such as Conor McGregor and Jon Jones, but even their free-to-air events feature highlight-reel fighters and present lots of betting opportunities.
Read our UFC betting guide to learn more.
Bellator
Bellator
Bellator is another excellent option for those who want to bet on mixed martial arts. They have been adding talent to their roster for many years now and have become almost impossible to ignore. Notable fighters include UFC veterans such as Lyoto Machida, Ryan Bader and Yoel Romero. In 2018, Bellator organised the first of many grand prix tournaments. These tournament-style events have attracted the attention of many fans of mixed martial arts fans.
Read our Bellator betting guide to learn more.
Cage Warriors
Cage Warriors
Established in 2001, Cage Warriors is Europe’s leading and longest-running mixed martial arts promotion. It has cemented its reputation as a breeding ground for elite-level mixed martial artists and UFC talent. Conor McGregor became a two-weight Cage Warriors champions (featherweight and lightweight) at CW51, then achieved the unthinkable by becoming the first ‘Champ Champ’ in UFC history by holding the featherweight and lightweight titles at the same time.
ONE Championship
ONE Championship
Established in 2001, Cage Warriors is Europe’s leading and longest-running mixed martial arts promotion. It has cemented its reputation as a breeding ground for elite-level mixed martial artists and UFC talent. Conor McGregor became a two-weight Cage Warriors champions (featherweight and lightweight) at CW51, then achieved the unthinkable by becoming the first ‘Champ Champ’ in UFC history by holding the featherweight and lightweight titles at the same time.
Understanding and Finding the Best MMA Betting Odds
If you’re new to sports betting, it’s essential that you dedicate some time to learning and understanding betting odds and what they represent.
One of the fastest ways to understand how betting odds are determined is by comparing it to the stock market or popular casino games. As you take on more risk as a punter, the odds and potential payout will increase. Therefore, a bet on the outright winner market will not pay nearly as much as a bet that picks that fighter to win by a particular outcome at a chosen time. As the probability of every option increases, the odds will decrease.
This is intentional, of course. The objective of every bookmaker is to ensure their profitability, so they are never going to boost odds for a favourable outcome willingly.
An Overview of Different Odds Formats
Here are some of the ways that MMA betting odds can be displayed:
- European format (decimal odds, e.g., 2.50)
- UK format (fractional odds, e.g., 6/4)
- American format (moneyline odds, e.g., +150)
In the United Kingdom, you’ll get used to seeing the fractional format on your chosen MMA betting site. If you’re over in Australia, you’re going to be betting with decimal odds. American punters will typically bet using moneyline odds.
What’s the difference?
- Decimal odds show the ratio of the entire payout in accordance with the stake. A successful £100 bet at odds of 2.50 will return £250 in total and profit of £150.
- Fractional odds show the ratio of the amount won from the stake. A successful £100 bet at odds of 6/4 will pay out £250 and a profit of £150.
- Moneyline odds change depending on whether the odds are positive or negative. Positive odds show the amount that a punter will profit if they bet £100, and negative odds reflect the required stake to make a profit of £100.
Fortunately, you don’t need to familiarise yourself with each of these formats. All of the bookmakers that made our list of best MMA betting sites will allow members to change their odds format preference.
The Importance of Understanding Implied Probability
Understanding the odds is a crucial element of betting on mixed martial arts. To beat the bookmakers, you’re going to want to understand the concept of implied probability. While the odds do represent the potential payout for a winning bet, they also represent the implied probability of that outcome occurring as determined by the bookmaker.
That’s why you will receive less money by betting on the superior fighter than you would by betting on the underdog.
You can identify brilliant betting opportunities by comparing your determination of the probability of every outcome against the implied probability that is reflected in the odds.
By understanding implied probability, you can quickly gain an edge over the bookmakers and stick to making smart and consistent bets on mixed martial arts.
Our Top Tips/Strategies for Betting on MMA
While mixed martial arts betting can be wildly profitable for experts and seasoned punters, it does require great discipline and skill.
Betting on your favourite fighter isn’t going to help you profit in the long-term. Instead, you’re going to need to employ several advanced betting strategies to help you gain an edge over the MMA betting site and start profiting from your online sports betting.
Find Value, Not Winners
Find Value, Not Winners
The first mistake we notice with losing mixed martial arts punters is that they only bet on the fighter they think is going to win the fight.
If you only bet on who you think will win, you’re going to lose more than you win. As we explained earlier, mixed martial arts can be very unpredictable and that means some major underdogs can score victories and help punters make huge profits.
The objective of every bet should be to select the high-value selection, and not just pick the winner. Now that you have an understanding of implied probability, you should now be aware that value can be identified by finding scenarios in which your assessment of the fight varies to that of a bookmaker.
For example, let’s review the potential UFC Featherweight Championship bout between Max Holloway and Edson Barboza:
- Max Holloway to win: 1.67
- Edson Barboza to win: 2.50
The odds for this fight indicate that Max Holloway has a 60% implied probability to win and that Edson Barboza has a 40% implied probability to win.
If you believe that Max Holloway is going to win, should you go ahead and bet on him right away? No.
What is your real assessment of the fight? How confident are you that Max Holloway will win? Do you believe Holloway has a 70% chance of winning or a 55% chance of winning? That question alone will determine which fighter you should bet on.
If you have great confidence in Max Holloway (70% chance of victory), then you should bet on Holloway to win because your calculated probability is higher than the implied probability reflected in the odds.
Alternatively, if you are not extremely confident about Holloway winning and consider it to be a close bout (55% chance of victory), the correct bet would be to back Edson Barboza because you find him to have a higher chance of winning (45%) than the implied probability of 40%.
This is just one example of how backing against the fighter you think is going to win can still be a correct betting decision.
Research, Research, Research!
Research, Research, Research!
If you wish to gain an edge over the bookmakers, you need to conduct comprehensive research.
Our MMA experts conduct their research before betting on mixed martial arts fights by investigating both fighters on Tapology, watching fights against opponents with a similar style, and recent fights in general.
Tapology is the ultimate online database for fight fans. A favourite by many experts and analysts in the industry, Tapology allows a user to review information about the career of almost every professional fighter in the world.
For example, if we want to research how a karate-style fighter handles fighting against a wrestler, we can identify this in their record and then search for this fight online.
This is the best way to determine if a striker has exceptional takedown defence (like Jose Aldo) or they are vulnerable to takedown attempts (such as Francis Ngannou).
Watching recent fights is one of the best ways to gain an understanding of the tendencies, strengths, and weaknesses of every fighter.
Set Your Odds
Set Your Odds
Arguably the best way to identify value betting opportunities is to set your odds before you view the markets on an MMA betting site.
If you view the odds for a particular outcome before you research and formulate your own opinion and prediction, these odds can sometimes influence your thinking and create an unwelcomed bias throughout the research process.
We highly recommend the process of writing down your odds for outcomes before logging in and checking the odds.
Ready to Bet on Your Favourite MMA Fighters?
Betting on mixed martial arts (MMA) isn’t just exhilarating; it can also be wildly profitable if you approach it correctly.
We’ve outlined the advanced strategies and techniques we use to beat the bookmakers, and now it’s time for you to apply this same knowledge and cash in by betting on your favourite MMA fighters at one of our recommended sites.