MMA Betting
| Updated: November 10, 2025
MMA (short for mixed martial arts) is one of the most popular full-contact combat sports in the world, and events promoted by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) have recorded impressive viewership numbers over the past decade.
In 2017 alone, there were 39 UFC events that prompted millions of spectators to tune in or pack arenas around the world to cheer for their favorite fighters. Although other organizations, such as the Santa Monica-based Bellator, also promote this exhilarating sport, none can match the UFC’s popularity.
And how could it be otherwise when the UFC showcases many of the sport’s most prominent names? We are talking about elite fighters such as Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, Georges St-Pierre, and Jon Jones.
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The sport has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, giving bettors countless opportunities to win serious cash. Odds for MMA events are available across hundreds of sportsbooks, but this abundance makes it all the more difficult for fans to separate the wheat from the chaff.
If you enjoy watching MMA fights and want to place your bets online, you have arrived at the right place. Sportingpedia’s team has put together this guide to help you find the right MMA betting site and assist you in becoming a more successful bettor. We walk you through the key features of MMA sportsbooks, the different odds formats you will encounter there, and the bet types common for this sport.
Features of MMA Betting Sites
The internet is crowded with online sportsbooks, and MMA fans who are new to sports betting often make the mistake of choosing the websites that advertise the largest sign-up bonuses. While bonuses are important, an MMA sportsbook needs several other essential features to provide a worthwhile experience.
To start with, high-quality MMA betting sites tend to run on stable software. They offer a well-designed interface that is easy to use and navigate. All the information you need to make an informed bet is right at your fingertips.
You can view results from the past few days, weeks, or even months. Upcoming events are listed along with their start times and the bet types available for each fight. Stats are provided for those interested in comparing the form and performance of different MMA fighters.
A decent betting site boasts a solid lineup of MMA markets for all Bellator and UFC fights, including match betting lines, method of victory, round betting, double chance, and point deduction. The best MMA sportsbooks will allow you to wager on the main event as well as on the undercards and smaller events such as UFC Fight Night.
Early lines and in-play betting are also handy because they can increase the value of your wagers. Often, live streaming services are available as well. The bookmakers move the lines for in-play markets frequently, giving punters the chance to accept or decline the updated odds.
The online bet slip works the same way as those in land-based bookmaking shops, only it is more convenient since there is no need to leave the comfort of your home. You can add one or more single bets, and the software will calculate your winnings based on the odds and the amount you have staked.
Building parlays with multiple selections is also an option. The bet slip enables you to track all your betting activity since it contains information on your open bets, parlays, and settled bets. Pretty much everything you need to stay in control of your MMA wagers is right there in one place.
Some MMA betting sites even support a “group bet” feature where you can create a group and invite other fans of the sport to join you. The people you invite can help you build your parlay by adding new selections. You select the market and specify the number of selections each group member can add.
MMA fans who bet online also benefit from the cash-out feature. This important functionality enables you to secure a profit or cut down on your losses before a fight is resolved.
This is usually the best course of action if you feel the tables have turned during a live fight and your chances of winning have dropped significantly. You can normally find the button for the early cash-out in your bet slip, displayed right next to the qualifying unsettled wagers. You may accept an early payout at adjusted odds or cash out part of your wager and let the rest run.
MMA enthusiasts who like to bet online can choose from different odds formats, namely fractional, decimal, and moneyline. You can switch the default format from the drop-down menu, which is normally positioned either next to the bet slip or below the available MMA markets. Below, we explain how each format works.
Odds Types at MMA Betting Sites
MMA fans normally have a choice of three odds formats, but each form of expression reflects the same thing: the probability of a given outcome and the stake-to-win ratio of your bets.
Of course, MMA betting sites also need to profit, which is why the odds they post never reflect the true probability of a fighter winning. The bookmakers adjust the odds in a manner that allows them to pocket a commission (also called vigorish or juice) from each bet they accept.
Additional factors may also affect the odds for MMA events. If a betting site takes too much action on one of the two fighters, it will change the odds for the other side to balance the betting volume. Now that we are done with the preliminary explanations, let’s look at how the three most common odds formats work.
Moneyline MMA Odds
American, or moneyline, odds are the default format in US-friendly sportsbooks. Along with decimal odds, the moneyline is the simplest form of odds expression to work with. The moneyline odds indicate the return you can generate with a $100 base betting unit. Here is an example of what an MMA line looks like:
- Hernandez, Alexander -215
- Cerrone, Donald +160
The odds for the favorite, Hernandez in this example, have a negative sign and show the amount you need to lay ($215) to earn $100. The positive sign in front of Cerrone’s odds shows he is the underdog and can earn you $160 for every $100 you stake on him.
You are not obliged to place bets in increments of $100. What if you bet $127, for example? There are two different formulas for calculating profit depending on whether you back the favorite or the underdog. When backing the underdog, use: positive odds * (amount staked/100).
Therefore, if Cerrone wins, your profit with a $127 bet will be 160 * ($127/100) = $203.20. If you back Hernandez, where the odds are negative, use: (100/negative odds) * amount staked.
It follows that you can pocket (100/215) * $127 = $59.07.
Fractional MMA Odds
MMA is hugely popular across the United States, but there are also fans throughout Europe where sports bettors have their odds quoted as fractions or decimals. The fractional format reflects the ratio between your winnings and your stake.
Fractional odds are mostly used in the United Kingdom and Ireland, which is why they are often called British or UK odds. They are quoted like this:
- Cejudo, Henry 8/5
- Dillashaw, TJ 4/9
The denominator (the number to the right) indicates how many base units you must stake. The numerator (the number to the left) reflects the amount the stake yields if your wager is successful. The original stake is not included here. Therefore, if you use a base unit of $1 and bet on Henry Cejudo at odds of 8/5, you need to stake $5 to earn $8. The potential winnings from fractional odds can be calculated by using the formula below: [(amount staked/denominator) * numerator] + amount staked.
Here is an illustrative example with a $25 bet on Cejudo: [($25/5) * 8] + $25 = $65.
Decimal MMA Odds
Decimals are the most common format of odds expression used throughout the world. They are even simpler than the moneyline, which explains why they dominate online sportsbooks. Below is an example of an outright winner bet with odds expressed in decimal format:
- Muhammad, Belal 2.50
- Neal, Geoff 1.57
Odds of 2.00 offer an even-money payout, which means your winnings equal the amount you originally staked. Odds under 2.00 return less than your original stake. The rule of thumb is that the higher the decimal number, the bigger the payout you collect, but the smaller the likelihood of your bet winning.
The biggest advantage of decimal odds is that this format makes it extremely easy to calculate your overall returns. Your original wager is automatically included in your profits, which are calculated by multiplying the decimal number by the stake.
In the above example with Neal and Muhammad, Neal is the favorite because he has the smaller odds. If he wins, a $10 stake backing him will yield total profits of $15.70 ($5.70 in net profits plus your initial $10). Muhammad, as the underdog, is assigned higher odds of 2.50. He is less likely to win, but a bet backing him offers you larger total profits of $25.
Mobile Support
When selecting a good MMA betting site, it is critical to check whether it is mobile compatible. Each day, more bettors choose to wager on their smartphones because this comes with a variety of benefits.
For one, you will never miss the chance to cash in on an MMA market with a good price, especially if you are into betting on in-play markets where the odds are adjusted throughout the fights.
Mobile punters generally have a choice of two options. They can load their favorite MMA sportsbook in their mobile browsers or install a downloadable iOS or Android application, if available. The mobile apps of the best MMA betting sites offer roughly the same functionality as the desktop version.
You will benefit from an easy-to-use betting menu and a search bar that enables you to find all MMA markets, fighters, and prices with a few quick taps. You can also punt on dozens of in-play MMA markets while on the go. Funding your account is possible via the sites’ mobile cashiers, while the cash-out feature gives you more control over your live betting activities.
Common MMA Bet Types
The great thing about this exhilarating combat sport is that it offers a suitable betting option for everyone looking to wager on it. Want to back your favorite fighter? No problem. Confident enough to predict the method of victory for a given fight? You can do that with zero hassle.
In this section, we provide valuable insights into the most popular bet types at MMA betting sites. This will give MMA betting rookies a good idea of the most common options they can try until they gain sufficient experience. More seasoned bettors can read about different bet types they might experiment with.
The MMA Moneyline Bet
This is the simplest and most common wager you can place on MMA. Also known as the outright winner bet, this wager requires nothing more than picking the fighter you think will prevail in a given clash. There are only two options to pick from per match.
The exact method of victory (for example, by submission, knockout, or decision) is irrelevant here. This makes moneyline bets the perfect option for MMA betting novices. Here is an example of a moneyline bet for an upcoming fight between Ortiz and Benavidez, where the latter is considered the favorite and the former the underdog:
- Ortiz, Dustin 3.05
- Benavidez, Joseph 1.35
The best aspect of the MMA moneyline is that, unlike soccer, draw and no-contest bets are refunded, so you will not lose a cent of your stake. Moneyline bets are available on all main-card and under-card events from the UFC, Bellator, and other organizations promoting MMA.
The MMA Over/Under Bet
Also referred to as total rounds, this market is another great option for less seasoned bettors. You are not required to pick an outright winner, because who wins the fight is irrelevant here. Your task is to predict whether the clash will last longer or shorter than the time posted by the betting site. Here is an example of an over/under MMA bet:
- Over 2.5 (1.82)
- Under 2.5 (2.50)
Bet the over if you believe the fight will end after three or more rounds. If you think the clash will end in fewer than three rounds, you must bet the under. Make the correct prediction and you win the bet.
Method of Victory
This is a slightly more advanced but still very popular type of MMA bet. Your goal is to predict how a given fight will finish. This bet type requires more knowledge of the sport but makes your betting experience more exciting.
Punters have a choice from several methods of victory: knockout (KO) or technical knockout (TKO) also known as stoppage, submission, and decision. There is no need to pick an outright winner here. A typical method-of-victory bet looks like this:
- Teixeira, Glover – Decision (5.50)
- Teixeira, Glover – KO/TKO (3.50)
- Teixeira, Glover – Submission (4.85)
- Cutelaba, Ion – Decision (5.00)
- Cutelaba, Ion – KO/TKO (1.85)
- Cutelaba, Ion – Submission (15.75)
The higher the likelihood of a specific result, the lower the odds the bookmaker offers for that outcome, and vice versa. The odds for a given fighter on the outright winner market rarely coincide with those offered for the same fighter winning by KO or TKO. Often they are shorter than those offered for a KO win, for example. You can really capitalize on method-of-victory bets if you have sufficient knowledge about the fighters and their capabilities.
Round MMA Bets
This bet is more difficult to win because you must guess in which round a match will end. You can further boost your odds by predicting the exact time of the finish or the winning fighter. Place such bets only when you are absolutely confident in the outcome you are backing. They are difficult to get right but carry massive winning potential.
MMA Parlays
If you feel we have listed MMA bet types in ascending order of difficulty, you are absolutely right; we have. Parlays are among the most advanced forms of MMA betting because they involve high levels of risk. On the positive side, punters are generously compensated for their efforts because winning parlays offer significant rewards.
A parlay (which Europeans refer to as an accumulator) is simply a combination of several bets into a larger bet. Each selection is placed at different odds. The tricky part is that all of your selections must win if you want to collect a payout from your parlay. If even one of your selections loses, your entire parlay loses.
This gives you the chance to pick the winners of several fights you are interested in. The more selections your parlay contains, the bigger your potential profits. That being said, your chances of winning decrease with each additional selection. Making a correct prediction about the outcomes of five, six, or more fights is a rare feat, hence the high payouts. All in all, this type of MMA betting is very risky and should be used only by the most seasoned punters.
In-Play Bets
All good MMA sportsbooks give fans of the sport the opportunity to place bets on fights as they happen via an in-play feature. Instead of being forced to place your wagers before an MMA bout begins, you can post your bet after the fight starts.
In-play bets on MMA markets are typically accepted until the bouts are resolved, which significantly increases your odds of making a well-informed wager. Another peculiarity of the in-play markets is that their odds are never stagnant. The bookies update them throughout the fights depending on how they unfold. You can accept the changes in the odds when you are offered better prices.
Each betting site offers different options for its in-play MMA markets, but some of the most common are the method of victory and round betting.
Payment Solutions at MMA Betting Sites
It is critically important for MMA fans to pick a betting site that enables them to quickly transfer funds to and from their betting balance. Having to wait days for your deposit to clear is a major red flag, and so is not getting your winnings in a timely manner.
One way to facilitate hassle-free payments is by offering a wide selection of banking methods for deposits and withdrawals. Decent MMA sportsbooks support all established brands of credit and debit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Diners Club, and American Express. E-wallet services such as Neteller, Skrill, ecoPayz, PayPal, WebMoney, and Yandex are also commonly accepted.
Methods like Zimpler and Boku enable you to top up on your mobile device and have the deposited sum added to your monthly phone bill. Others, like InstaDebit and Trustly, operate as intermediaries between you and your bank, allowing you to fund your MMA betting account anonymously.
Prepaid solutions like Paysafecard are also widely accepted, but they are more suitable for casual bettors on a budget because of their lower deposit limits. The bottom line is that all these methods have established themselves as reliable and highly efficient, giving you the peace of mind that your betting funds are safe from harm.
Security at MMA Betting Sites
Few things are more gut-wrenching than losing a bet, but having trouble getting paid definitely makes the cut. MMA bettors should never have to worry about whether they can trust the online sportsbook they have registered with.
Before signing up and depositing at an MMA betting site, you should always check its track record and reputation to ensure the operator consistently pays customers’ winnings on time. A trusted sportsbook will also use reliable encryption to prevent its customers’ information from being compromised.
At Sportingpedia, we have selected only MMA betting sites that comply with the requirements of their regulators. These operators boast a solid reputation for protecting punters’ privacy and data. They are all licensed by well-respected authorities in the online betting industry, such as the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority. Any past issues punters have had have been addressed and resolved promptly by the reviewed sportsbooks.
Hallmarks of a Good MMA Betting Site
So, what are the key traits of a decent MMA betting site? To sum up, the most important factors to consider when searching for premium sportsbooks are licensing and consistently quick payments of your MMA winnings. Whether you decide to take Sportingpedia’s recommendations or not, you should always ensure you are making your MMA wagers on a website you can fully trust.
All quality sportsbooks stand out with extensive coverage of both main and undercard MMA events, enabling you to choose from a huge variety of markets and wager types, from outright winner bets to props and futures.
You should be able to experiment with any MMA prediction you can think of. Yet, market and betting diversity should not come at the cost of poor odds. Quality betting sites do not hesitate to boost your value with great prices on the MMA markets.
Transaction limits also need to be considered. They should be flexible enough to accommodate both recreational bettors and serious punters who make a living by wagering on MMA. The size of the bets you are allowed to place matters, too. The last thing a seasoned bettor wants is to sign up with a sportsbook operator that cannot handle their level of action.
The software and the user interface are of equal importance. Both casual and professional punters will appreciate a betting site with a user-friendly, well-designed, and uncluttered interface. All covered MMA events and fights should be quick and easy to find. You should be able to locate and track all your MMA bets with ease as well.
Some MMA fans base their choice of sportsbook solely on the promotional deals on offer. Yet, promotions and bonuses rank last in importance for the following reason:
Many betting sites that fail to meet the above-listed criteria try to lure customers by offering juicy bonuses. Of course, this does not mean sportsbooks with generous bonuses are necessarily unreliable, but what good is a massive sign-up bonus if you experience issues with withdrawing your winnings, depositing, or navigating a poorly designed interface?
Before you register at an MMA sportsbook and opt in for its welcome bonus, make sure the operator covers more important criteria such as quick payouts, licensing, a good track record, betting variety, and decent odds.