Mixed Martial Arts, or MMA for short, has grown by leaps and bounds over the past decade and is now one of the most popular sports to bet on worldwide.  MMA is a very exciting, high energy sport, where anything is possible and the winner is in question until the final bell.  This is one of the main reasons why betting on MMA fights has become so popular and should continue to gain popularity in the future.  The rise of MMA took place at the same time that online sports betting was also gaining momentum, so the two go hand in hand.  Online sportsbooks and betting apps are now the most popular way to bet on MMA fights.

After dissolving Strikeforce, the UFC has basically become a monopoly in the world of MMA.  Sure, the PFL (which acquired Bellator in 2023) still has good fighters, and some fighters who have either been cut from the UFC or chose to leave for whatever reason can still draw some excitement for other promotions, but the UFC is by far the top promotion in the world and employs the vast majority of the top fighters.

Click here to visit our dedicated UFC betting page.

Where Can Americans Bet On MMA?

Your options depend on where you live. Here are the main ways to bet on MMA in the United States.

Licensed Sportsbooks

Sports betting is legal in more than 35 states plus Washington, D.C., where licensed sportsbooks such as DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM offer odds on MMA. You must be 21 or older in most states and physically located in a state where the sportsbook is licensed.

Prediction Markets

Prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket let you buy and sell contracts on the outcome of MMA fights. Instead of betting against a sportsbook, you trade with other users, and the price of a contract reflects the market’s view of how likely an outcome is. These platforms operate under federal oversight from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) rather than state gambling law, which is why they are available in most states, including states without legal sports betting.

Offshore Sportsbooks

Offshore sportsbooks are licensed outside the United States and accept bets from across the country. They are not licensed or regulated by any US state, which means Americans who use them have no state regulator to turn to if there is a dispute over a bet or a withdrawal.

Outside the US

In Canada, Ontario has a regulated market of licensed online sportsbooks, and the other provinces offer online betting through their provincial lottery sites. In the UK, use operators licensed by the Gambling Commission. Elsewhere, check the rules in your country before signing up with any betting site.

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MMA Betting Options

The most popular MMA betting option is simply betting on which fighter wins the fight, which is known as moneyline betting.  The odds associated with each fighter dictate how much a bet on that fighter wins if he is victorious.

There are also other MMA bets that can be made such as total rounds (bet on how many rounds the fight will go – usually an over/under of 2.5 for non title fights), method of victory (bet on which fighter wins the fight and how it ends) and round betting (bet on which fighter wins + what round the fight ends in).

MMA Betting Odds

It is important to understand the odds when placing a bet on an MMA fight because you always have to be factoring in the risk vs reward when betting on sports online.  Here is an example of an MMA fight with American odds, which is the most common odds format found online:

Conor McGregor -130
Michael Chandler +110

In this example a $100 bet on Chandler would win $110 if he comes out with a victory, while a bettor would have to risk $130 to win $100 betting on Conor McGregor.

How To Bet On MMA Online – Step By Step

Whichever option you choose, the process of getting started is similar. Here’s a general guide.

Step 1. Choose Your Option

Decide which type of platform fits how you want to bet. Licensed sportsbooks offer the full range of fight bets where they are available, while prediction markets let you trade contracts on the winner. Review the options above before signing up.

Step 2. Check The Age and Location Rules

Every platform has its own eligibility requirements. Most prediction markets require you to be at least 18, while licensed sportsbooks require you to be 21 in most states and physically located in the state where they are licensed.

Step 3. Create and Verify Your Account

Sign up with your legal name, date of birth and address. Regulated platforms are required to verify your identity, so you may be asked for the last four digits of your Social Security number or a photo of your ID.

Step 4. Fund Your Account

Deposit using one of the platform’s payment methods, which commonly include debit cards and bank transfers. Check how withdrawals work, and how long they take, before you deposit.

Step 5. Find The Market and Place Your Bet

Navigate to the MMA or UFC section, select the market you’re interested in, and choose your position. Before confirming, check the price or odds and how much you stand to win, using the bet types explained above as a guide.

Step 6. Set Limits

Decide on a budget before fight night and stick to it. Most regulated platforms let you set deposit and time limits in your account settings. If betting stops being fun, help is available 24/7 by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.

MMA Betting Tips

Here are a few general tips to help you when you bet on MMA the first few times.  After that you will learn your own MMA betting strategy and hopefully start building your MMA betting bankroll.

• Prop Bets Can Pay Dividends – You can often find good payouts on likely events, such as a fight going to a decision with two guys who have tremendous defense, or an early knockout by a fighter who is in a different league than his opponent.
• Understand Strengths and Weaknesses – Certain fighters will match up well against others based on each fighter’s skill set and unique abilities.  Watch past fights and try to figure out what game plan each fighter will have and if it will work.

You should also check out the general betting tips page for more basic tips that can be applied to every sport, including MMA.