How to Bet on MMA

Betting on MMA and the UFC has never been simpler! Whether you want to wager on your favorite fighter or learn how to bet on Dana White’s main man, we’re here to show you how to get it done.

So, let’s break down the best options when it comes to betting on MMA.

Things To Know 

MMA title fights last a maximum of 5 rounds. There are occasions where non-championship bouts are only 3 rounds long at most, however most main event matches are sanctioned for the longer variety.

The length of a round is always 5 minutes, unless of course there is a submission or knockout which ends the fight. 

MORE: How do UFC/MMA odds work?

Moneyline (H2H)

The moneyline is the simplest MMA bet to make! Betting the moneyline simply means you are picking a fighter to win outright. 

If a fighter is favored on the moneyline they will have a “-" next to their name. Conversely, the underdog will have a “+.” 

Example 

• If a fighter has a -200 moneyline it means you need to wager $200 in order to win $100.
  
• If a fighter has a “+” moneyline, it's different. The + tells us how much you would win betting $100, if you win of course.
• For example, a +150 moneyline would mean — if successful — a profit of $150.
• Similarly, if a fighter had a +185 moneyline, you would make $185 profit — $285 total — when betting $100. 

MORE: MMA/UFC live betting explained

Round Betting (Over/Under)

Round betting is unique to combat sports like MMA and Boxing. Round betting over/under simply means you are wagering on how many rounds the fight will last, NOT who will win. 

Example: 

If the sportsbook set the total at 3.5 rounds, you have two options:

• Bet the Over (fight to last 17 minutes, 30s or more).
  
• Bet the Under (fight to last 17 minutes, 29s or under).
  
  

There are other round betting options to choose from, including exact round betting. In this instance, you can choose in which round the fight will end, often these types of bets can be quite lucrative given the often long odds.

Depending on your sportsbook you can place what is often described as a double bet — whereby you choose the victorious fighter and which round they will end the fight.  

e.g. Nate Diaz victory over Conor McGregor in 3rd round

MORE: How to use Dimers Bet Hub

Method of Victory 

Similarly to round betting, the method of victory does not necessarily need to involve the choice of a victor, simply how the fight will end — knockout/submission/points decision. 

Although in some cases, depending on your sportsbook, you may be able to choose a fighter to win and their method of victory. 

e.g. Conor McGregor to win by knockout

If you’re lucky your sportsbook will also have a method & round combination. 

e.g. McGregor TKO/KO in Round 2

MORE: How to determine the best sportsbooks

Futures 

Futures bets are exactly what they sound like. You are wagering on an often far away event. If you’re looking to lay down some capital in the hopes of large winnings down the line, this is the bet for you. They’re not too popular within MMA but they do still exist.

The most popular future bet is:

• Fighter to retain a championship in a calendar year

The only downside to futures bets is they can take weeks or even months to occur. If you’re patient, they can pay off big. 

MORE: Is online gambling a scam?

Prop Bets

Prop bets are popular throughout the MMA and enable you to bet on almost anything which may unfold in a game. 

You can wager on fighter props; choosing whether they will achieve over/under a certain amount of aces and so much more.

Common prop bets include:

• Going the distance — whether the fight will last the totality
  
• Draw bet
  
• Which fighter will draw blood first
• Exact time fight will end
• Which body part completes KO/TKO
  

Depending on the sportsbook, there may be options to include props in a mixed parlay. Although most books force you to have a parlay strictly involving props. 

MORE: What sports can I bet on?

Multiple-Game Bets

Parlay 

A parlay simply involves more than one wager combined together for greater odds. You can place a same fight MMA parlay — multiple events from one matchup — or alternatively, events across multiple fights.

You could take the Khabib Nurmagomedov (-3.5) to cover against Justin Gaethje, before could add bets from other matches, say Jorge Masvidal to beat Nate Diaz (moneyline). 

More legs = higher odds and a greater chance at a larger return. Of course though, the more legs you add, the less likely a win becomes.

In any parlay you will need to get each event correct for there to be a payout. Unless your sportsbook has an offer running, there is no refund for getting 7 out of 8 right. 

In the event of one or more legs resulting in a push, your parlay as a whole will be considered a push, meaning your stake will be refunded. 

MORE: Best athletes to bet on

Live Betting 

Live or in-play betting is where you wager on a MMA/UFC fight currently in progress. As odds shift throughout the fight, you can find the bet to suit you whilst the action continues on. 

Example 

• Moneyline
• Round betting
  
• Prop bets
  
• Next round outcome
  
  

Move fast in the live betting space, otherwise you’ll miss out!