MMA Betting

After the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) in 2018, residents in states with legal sports betting were given the all-clear to bet on mixed martial arts. Of all the combat sports, mixed martial arts is among the most popular in the world and is broadcast in 150 countries across the globe. With so many different MMA circuits out there it can be quite intimidating to figure out where to start. If you’re looking to get clued up on MMA betting before taking a punt on an upcoming bout, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s take a look at the basics of MMA betting including betting markets, top events and how odds work.

Looking to bet on MMA contests in the state of New Jersey? We’ve got a selection of some of the best sports betting sites available to punters in the Garden State. Compare our expert reviews, scores, and the bonuses on offer to pick out the bookie that suits you best. All of our featured sportsbooks are legal and regulated in the state of New Jersey. All that’s left for you to do is pick your favorite, sign up, and start betting.

US States with Legal MMA Betting

Although the Supreme Court of the United States repealed the federal ban on sports betting, the activity is not yet legal in every state. The following states have legalized sports betting and allow bettors to take a punt on MMA events:

•     New Jersey
•     Pennsylvania
•     Delaware
•     Rhode Island
•     Mississippi
•     West Virginia
•     Nevada
•     New Mexico
•     Arkansas
•     New York

Remember, each state has different rules and regulations in place when it comes to sports betting. Some of these states limit sports betting to land-based casinos, as is the case in Mississippi, Arkansas, New Mexico and Delaware, whereas other states such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania offer full-scale sports betting across online and mobile platforms.

Major MMA circuits

Next to boxing, mixed martial arts is one of the most popular combat sports on the planet. There are more than 40 MMA circuits, each with a huge following around the globe. But, at the moment, legal online sportsbooks in New Jersey and Pennsylvania are only offering odds on UFC events. However, other states such as Indiana will allow wagering on multiple MMA circuits, not just UFC. Here is a rundown of the most popular MMA circuits you can expect to bet on as more states legalize sports betting:

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

The UFC is the largest MMA organization on the planet and schedules fights all year round. With over 40 major events each year and several fights every month, there are plenty of UFC betting opportunities available. The biggest UFC events are numbered e.g. “UFC 250” and feature the sport’s most elite fighters. The numbered events usually feature 10 fights and generally feature a headline title fight.

Bellator MMA

The Bellator MMA circuit is the second most popular MMA organization in the world. Just like UFC, Bellator serves as a platform for some of the top tier fighters on the planet to compete for the top spot in their respective weight classes. In terms of events, Bellator hosts several numbered events every month, which has now reached the 200s. On top of this, the circuit runs several special events which include international tours such as “Bellator Birmingham” in the UK.

Professional Fighters League (PFL)

The Professional Fighters League is one of the most interesting circuits as it’s the first-ever professional MMA organization in which fighters compete in a regular season. The PFL sees fighters compete for the number one spot in their respective weight divisions. Depending on their season rankings, fighters will then compete in a set of “win-or-go-home” postseason fights(play-offs). The season culminates in a championship fight held on New Year’s Eve. The PFL may not have the same reputation as the UFC, but it has managed to gain an incredibly large following in a short space of time after its first-ever season began in 2018.

ONE Championship

ONE Championship is the leading MMA circuit in Southeast Asia and is quickly establishing itself as the next big name in combat sports. ONE is broadcast in 140 countries across the globe and has over 550 athletes on its roster across multiple fighting divisions. Fighters on the circuit can compete in a variety of martial arts disciplines which include:  Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Mixed Martial Arts, Karate, Silat, Sanda, Lethwei, Taekwondo, Submission Grappling, Kung Fu, Judo and Kun Khmer. From moneyline bets to parlays, there are plenty of betting opportunities with ONE Championship.

Picking a Winner

Just like any other form of sports betting, selecting a fighter to bet on is easier said than done. There are countless MMA betting tipsters and sites out there, but none of them can guarantee you a winning bet. While it doesn’t hurt to take advice from a tipster, it is essential that you do your own research before betting. This ensures that you are making an educated bet and are happy with your decision.

Almost all of the fighters are performing at the highest level in their respective divisions and so it can be hard to figure out who to put your money on. Before placing a bet, we recommend checking the fighter’s stats online. Each of the major MMA circuits has profile pages for each of their fighters. On these profiles you can view and compare several stats such as wins by KO, wins by submissions, overall wins, losses, winning streaks, and losing streaks.

MMA Betting Markets

The best MMA betting sites take bets on a variety of betting markets. It’s worth mentioning that markets can vary between operators and states, but here are some of the most popular ones:

Moneyline bets

Moneyline bets are the most popular and straightforward MMA bets out there. A moneyline wager is just a bet on a certain fighter to win a matchup.

Over/under

When placing an over/under bet on an MMA fight, you are wagering on whether a fight will last more than or less than a certain number of rounds, such as 3.5 rounds.  

Round betting

Round betting is simply a wager on a fight to be won in a certain round.

Method of victory

Method of victory bets are bets on how a certain fighter will win the match. The methods of victory include knockout (KO), technical knockout (TKO), disqualification (DQ), submission, decision from judges (points based).

To go the distance

To go the distance bets are wagers on whether a fighter will last the full number of rounds in a fight and be crowned winner by points.

Parlays

Parlay bets allow you to bet on multiple fights in a single wager. A parlay is a single wager placed on a number of different contests. The more events you have selected increase the odds and therefore your total payout, but in order to win a parlay, all of your selections must be correct. Parlays carry much more risk than single bets, this is because you’re relying on several fights going your way, not just one match.

MMA betting odds

Before you can bet on an MMA contest, it’s essential that you have a strong understanding of how odds work. US sportsbooks typically present odds in the American odds format where a bookies’ favorite is indicated with negative (-) odds, and the underdog is represented with positive (+) odds.

Odds are used to reflect a sportsbook’s prediction of how a fight could play out and also give you an idea of how much you stand to win if your bet comes in. The higher the odds, the less likely an event is to occur and the lower the odds, the more likely it is to occur.

Let’s take a look at a real-world example of MMA odds.

The UFC’s Dustin Poirier and Khabib Nurmagomedov are set to face off at a numbered UFC event. The bookies have Poirier to win at odds of +130, meaning the sportsbooks believe him to be the underdog in the fight. A correct wager of $100 on Poirier to win would win you back your initial $100 stake, along with $130 in profit – a total of $230.

Alternatively, Nurmagomedov is priced at -90, making him the bookie’s favorite to win. A successful $100 wager on the favorite would net you less money than a winning bet on the underdog. If the $100 bet comes in you would get $211 back, $111 of which will be profit.

You can check out our odds guide for a detailed breakdown of exactly how betting odds work.

Mobile MMA Betting:

Although more than 10 states have legal sports betting, only a handful of them allow online and mobile sports betting.

Mobile sports betting is legal and live in:

Nevada – Online betting is only available via mobile apps.

New Jersey – Online betting available via apps and browser sites.

West Virginia – Online betting available via apps and browser sites (currently suspended)

Pennsylvania – Online betting available via apps and browser sites.

In these states, mobile sports betting apps are available on both iOS and Android devices. Sites can also be accessed via desktop computers and laptops for in-browser betting.

Each state has different laws and regulations in place when it comes to online and mobile betting. As a result of this, sports betting apps may vary from state to state. For instance, the regulations in New Jersey allow punters to create an account on a sports betting app remotely from anywhere within the state. Nevada, on the other hand, requires bettors to set up an account in person before a bet can be placed on a mobile app.

For more information on picking the right sports betting app for you, check out our mobile betting apps guide.

Online MMA Betting in New Jersey

Online MMA Betting in Nevada

Online MMA Betting in West Virginia

Now you’re all clued in, it’s time to take a punt on an upcoming fight! Don’t forget to check back with Compare.bet US for the latest sports betting news, as well as reviews of the top US sportsbooks – we’ve got you covered.