Best MMA Betting Sites 2024 – Where to Bet on Mixed Martial Arts?
In this article, we’ll start by revealing the best MMA betting sites in the United States. But that’s not all we have in store for you! We’re going to give you as much information as we possibly can to help you bet on Mixed Martial Arts.
We’ll talk about the most commonly played lines and explain some of the top promotions to watch out for. Discover our top five tips to improve your betting results, as well as a step-by-step walkthrough to registering at MMA betting sites.
Ready to rumble? Let’s do this!
Best Online MMA Sportsbooks 2024
As promised, we’re kicking things off with a list of America’s top MMA betting sites. Our team of gambling industry experts continuously checks online sportsbooks to find the very best sites. We only recommended licensed and reputable brands, with competitive odds and lucrative bonuses.
Here’s the verdict of our well-informed panel when it comes to bookies which offer MMA betting.
Contents
This is what’s coming up in the rest of our Mixed Martial Arts betting article. Feel free to skip ahead to the bits that interest you the most!
- Best Online MMA Sportsbooks
- What is Mixed Martial Arts?
- Understanding MMA Odds
- Popular MMA Betting Lines
- Live Mixed Martial Arts Betting
- MMA Betting Apps
- Our Top 5 MMA Betting Tips
- Common MMA Bonus Offers
- How To Start at MMA Betting Sites
- Conclusion
- FAQs
What is Mixed Martial Arts?
MMA, or Mixed Martial Arts to use its full title, is a relatively new sport. The original idea was to try and identify the fighting style which was best for unarmed combat in the real world. To begin with, there was no name for such events and all kinds of terms were used. Extreme Fighting, Cage Fighting and Ultimate Fighting were just a few of the earliest names.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship launched in 1993 and quickly became one of the most successful organizations in this sphere. But fighters soon began to move away from using a single style, blending the most effective elements of multiple approaches. In other words, “mixing” these various martial arts together.
There is some debate over exactly who was the first to coin the term “Mixed Martial Arts”. But this was the name upon which the sport collectively settled and today there are multiple MMA organizations. Alongside the UFC, the likes of Bellator MMA, the ONE Championship, Rizin FF and AMC Fight Nights all host regular events.
Understanding MMA Odds
In order to use MMA betting sites, you’ll first need to understand how the markets work. And the biggest part of that is the odds themselves. They show us what we stand to gain financially, if the bet is a winner. But they also reveal the relative probability of each fighter emerging victorious.
Here’s an example of an MMA moneyline from the popular online sportsbook DraftKings, to help us explain how the odds work.
Belal Muhammad (+110) vs Sean Brady (-130)
So what exactly do these numbers mean? First of all, let’s take the negative (-) value, as this indicates the favorite. The smaller the number, the lower your potential returns from the bet will be. That’s because there is a greater chance that this fighter wins the event, so naturally the payout is lower.
Negative odds tell us what we must risk in order to make a profit of $100. In this case, a winning bet of $130 on Brady will generate a $100 profit. Since the stake is always returned with a successful wager, it means a total return of $230.
On the other hand, positive odds tell us the profit made if we were to bet exactly $100. Continuing with our example then, a successful $100 wager on Belal Muhammad would mean a profit of $110. Combined with the original stake, that’s a return of $210.
Different International Odds Formats
Since this is a guide to the best MMA betting sites in the USA, our example above used the American odds format. But Mixed Martial Arts is a popular global sport, so it’s very possible you’ll see prices displayed in other ways. That’s because many different types of odds exist around the world.
For instance, in the United Kingdom, odds are traditionally shown as fractions. Throughout Asia, there are several ways to display betting odds, examples of which can be seen in our table below.
But perhaps the simplest method is the European system of decimal odds. Simply multiply the stake by the odds value to calculate your overall returns. This system makes calculating a parlay’s potential return especially simple.
How are MMA Odds Compiled?
Most modern bookmakers use a combination of statistical models and expert opinions to form their initial markets. Then the prices are refined by the demand for bets, just like the stock exchange.
The moneyline is priced up first, factoring in various criteria including recent results, the weight category and fighting styles. A probability is produced for each fighter winning the contest, which is then converted to odds. Many of the other betting lines, which we’ll discuss later in this article, can be automatically derived from these moneyline prices.
Before the basic probabilities are changed to odds values, the sportsbook will make a small percentage adjustment. This is their theoretical profit margin. Much like a roulette wheel, the bookmaker will pay out slightly less than the true probability deserves. And that’s how they make money in the long run. You might hear this referred to as the “juice” or the “vig”.
Popular MMA Betting Lines
Now that you’re familiar with how the odds work, it’s time to learn about the most common wagering opportunities. MMA betting sites offer many different markets, but these are the most popular.
Moneyline
This kind of line is by far the most common with MMA bettors. It’s very straightforward, as you saw in our earlier example, since all you need to do is pick the winner. You might not have an opinion on how long the fight will last or how it will be won. But almost every MMA fan will have a view on which fighter will actually emerge victorious.
Method of Victory
If you want to try a bet with slightly bigger odds than the moneyline, it’s worth taking a look at this particular market. Here the aim is to guess how the fight will end, rather than simply identifying the winner. Will it go to a points decision, might there be a disqualification or will the winner force a submission?
Round Betting
The best MMA betting sites make sure to offer some form of round betting. It might be that you can pick a specific round, but some sportsbooks band them together. This makes it slightly easier to predict, though the odds are slightly lower as a result. Many bookmakers will offer a simple “Will the fight go the distance” market, too.
Total Rounds
Like most sports, it’s common to find totals betting in the MMA world. Here the bookmaker will set a theoretical line and you simply need to guess whether the real outcome will be over or under. The overall number of rounds in the fight is the most common form of totals line.
Live Mixed Martial Arts Betting
Betting during a sporting event is known as live, or “in-play” betting. This form of wagering now makes up the majority of an online sportsbook’s business and MMA betting sites are no different.
The development of technology has led to vast live betting improvements in recent years. There are more data feeds than ever, delivering useful stats in real time to help inform your decisions. Betting sites and apps are more responsive than ever, ensuring that you don’t miss a wagering opportunity while watching the fight.
It’s also possible to stream MMA events through your chosen online bookmaker, making it so much easier to bet in-play. What’s more, this can help save money on expensive pay per view packages, too.
MMA Betting Apps
Technological advances have not only spurred the growth in live MMA betting, but also mobile sportsbook apps. These days, everyone carries the internet around in their pocket in the form of a smartphone. And just like in the world of television, film and music, it’s now possible to have on-demand betting available in just a few clicks and swipes.
The best MMA betting sites offer a native app for all kinds of devices. No matter whether it’s a tablet or mobile phone, or if the operating system is Windows, iOS or Android.
But even if you aren’t a fan of betting apps, most online betting sites today are designed “mobile first”. As a result, the websites function identically whether on a desktop computer or a mobile device. So nobody needs to miss out on the action.
Our Top 5 MMA Betting Tips
It’s now time for one of the most important segments in our guide to the best MMA betting sites. Incorporate the following advice into your betting strategy and you should see long-term improvements to your bottom line.
Tip 1: Dodge the parlays
Bookmakers just love it when you place parlays. Yes, we know that the payouts can be huge and they will do some damage to the bookies when they hit. But there’s a reason that you always hear about those lucky individuals landing their massive prizes. The marketing teams can’t wait to shout about it, to encourage other punters to place parlays too. After all, a parlay multiplies the difficulty of landing the bet, as well as the bookmaker’s built-in mathematical edge.
Tip 2: Take the best price
We cannot stress enough the importance of shopping around for value. If the fighter you like is +220 with one bookmaker but +200 at other MMA betting sites, isn’t it obvious where to bet? So many punters remain loyal to a specific sportsbook, but they’re just leaving money on the table. Compare odds, open multiple accounts and don’t take an inferior price!
Tip 3: Don’t listen to talking heads
Media pundits on the television, internet and radio don’t always know what they’re talking about. And even if they really have done the research, they might not actually believe what they are saying. With so much media hype around MMA today, these people need to generate clicks and engage viewers. They are paid to have opinions, even if they are nonsense. Do your own research, trust your findings and shut out the noise.
Tip 4: Bide your time
Mixed Martial Arts has grown enormously in popularity and there are more fights than ever taking place. You don’t need to bet on every event. Pick and choose your battles and don’t be afraid to walk away from a wager. If you’re not entirely sure, there’s no need to try and force a tiny edge. Wait until the next event for a better opportunity. Be patient.
Tip 5: Master your craft
Sadly, although nobody wants to hear it, there is no magic formula to improve your betting results. Only by putting in the time and effort will you start to see results. Watch as many fights as you can, log details and look for patterns. Study the differences in weight classes, seek out trends in the different fighting styles, do whatever you can to find an edge. The more you put in, the more you’ll get out.
Common MMA Bonus Offers
The gambling industry is a very competitive one, so MMA betting sites must work overtime to capture our attention. That’s why there’s no shortage of generous signup incentives and loyalty rewards at the top online sportsbooks.
Here are some of the best deals to watch out for.
MMA Free Bets
A common welcome bonus issued by online bookmakers is the free bet token. Here you’ll be allowed to place a wager without actually deducting money from your balance. If the bet comes in, you’ll keep the profits, but not the value of the free bet itself. Some sites like to award free bets to repeat players, often as part of a loyalty rewards program.
Risk-Free MMA Bets
The key difference between a risk-free bet and a free bet is that the former requires you to spend some actual cash. Place a bet as normal using your real money balance and if it wins, that’s great. But should the wager lose, you’ll receive a consolation prize, which is usually a free bet token equal to the previous stake. Getting your money back for a second try is why these are called “risk-free” bets.
Deposit Match Bonuses
Many welcome bonuses at MMA betting sites come in the form of a deposit match offer. As you’ll guess from the name, you must deposit real money which will then be matched by the bookmaker. For instance, a 200% welcome offer would earn you $100 in bonuses if you made a deposit of just $50.
MMA Bet and Get
The “Bet and Get” is usually used to try and encourage repeat business. But if you are already a regular bettor, they can prove quite lucrative. All betting sites handle these differently, so make sure that you read the rules of the promotion. But it’s usually a case of placing several bets before being rewarded with a free bet. Such as three real money $25 MMA bets resulting in a $25 free bet, for instance.
How To Start at MMA Betting Sites
All set to start betting on MMA fights? Not feeling confident about how to get going? Then the next section of our guide to the best MMA betting sites will be right up your street! Simply follow the below steps and you’ll be ready to go in next to no time.
1: Decide on a sportsbook
With so many great MMA betting sites to choose from today, it can be a little overwhelming. But we’ve made the process a little easier for you, assessing them all to bring you the best choices right here on this page.
2: Open a new account
After choosing your preferred betting site, you’ll need to create an account. This is totally normal as all properly licensed sportsbooks must identify their customers as part of their license agreement. You’ll just need to supply some basic details, such as your name, address, date of birth and phone number.
3: Pick up a bonus
During the registration process, keep an eye out for a place to insert a promo code. Some MMA betting sites ask for it on the signup form, while others will offer you a choice after filling out the form. If neither option is true, you may have to use a bonus code when depositing. Make sure to read the terms of the welcome bonus so that you don’t miss out.
4: Add some real money
Now that you’ve got yourself a fully functional betting account, you’ll need to load the wallet with some cash. Head over to the sportsbook’s cashier page and pay attention to the list of payment methods. Pick your favorite and follow the instructions to complete the transaction.
5: Place an MMA bet
There’s honestly nothing more to it than that. After loading your account, you’re free to browse the betting site and pick out some MMA wagers. Click on the odds to place them into your betslip and strike your first bet. Good luck!
Conclusion
That wraps up our guide to the best MMA betting sites. You should now fully understand how the odds work, as well as having a handle on the most common markets and betting bonuses.
If you’re ready to jump in and start betting on Mixed Martial Arts, what are you waiting for? But if you’re still hesitant, simply follow our step-by-step guide to registering with an MMA sportsbook, as seen above. This has all the information you need to get going. Good luck!
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