The Complete Guide to MMA Betting: How to Bet on MMA in the UK?
MMA is one of the fastest-growing sports worldwide, so naturally MMA betting is surging in popularity. Our handy guide covers all the top UK MMA betting sites and how to bet on MMA – the best five sportsbooks are below.
| MMA Betting Site | Bonus | Markets | Highlights | Secure Link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bet365 | Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets | 30+ MMA Markets | 5, 30+, Best odds | Visit Site! | Full T&Cs Apply! 18+ Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required. Gamble responsibly. GambleAware.org | |
| 888sport | Bet £10 Get £30 | 24+ MMA Markets | 4, 24+, Cash out | Visit Site! | Full T&Cs Apply! Min deposit £10 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days and expires after 14 days • To withdraw any winnings from the Casino Bonus, wager the Bonus amount 40 times within 14 days • Withdrawal restrictions, payment methods, country & Full T&Cs apply. 18+. GambleAware. | |
| Unibet | Bet £10 Get £30 | 20+ MMA Markets | 3, 20+, In-play betting | Visit Site! | Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+ |
The first step is finding a site you feel comfortable gambling with. Each site is unique and has different strengths and weaknesses, so choosing the right one can go a long way. Looking at the odds offered, number of markets and event selection can play a key role in being a successful MMA bettor. Here are the best MMA betting sites by category.
Best MMA Betting Sites by Category
It’s important to consider what you’re looking for in a sportsbook before selecting one – the odds, the number of markets and the event selection all matter.
MMA Betting Odds and Payout
Finding bookmakers with high odds is the single best thing you can do for your bankroll in the long run. Bookies make money by offering payouts that total less than 100% – the “vigorish”, or commission. Here are the MMA payouts at the most popular sportsbooks:
Notice that UFC fights have the highest payouts – sportsbooks have loads of data and set the lines very accurately. For lesser-known organisations like Bellator they may have less data, allowing you to capitalise through thorough research.
Betting on MMA: Competitions & Events
Though UFC is often used as a synonym for MMA, it’s important to note that MMA is the sport, and the UFC is a promotional company. There are matches from other promoters too, including Bellator, ONE Championship and KSW. The main MMA competitions you can bet on are below.
| Competition | Since | Season |
|---|---|---|
| UFC | 1993 | Year Round |
| ONE Championship | 2005 | Year Round |
| Bellator MMA | 2009 | Year Round |
| KSW | 2004 | Year Round |
| PFL | 2018 | Spring & Fall |
While big fights attract a lot of action, there is a lot of opportunity in the smaller ones. That’s why it’s crucial to find bookies that offer odds on various organisations and not just the UFC.
The MMA Events You Can Bet On
Individual events for most promoters are simply numbers, like UFC 258 or Bellator 233. There’s no playoff system, so each new fight brings something singular and unique. There are weight classes and titles within them which could be up for grabs on any given night – if you’re just starting out, it may help to specialise in one or two weight classes.
| Weight Division | Kg | Lbs | Stone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strawweight | 52.2 | 115 | 8.3 |
| Flyweight | 56.7 | 125 | 9 |
| Bantamweight | 61.2 | 135 | 9.9 |
| Featherweight | 65.8 | 145 | 10.4 |
| Lightweight | 70.3 | 155 | 11.1 |
| Welterweight | 77.1 | 170 | 12.1 |
| Middleweight | 83.9 | 185 | 13.2 |
| Light Heavyweight | 93.0 | 205 | 14 st 9 |
| Heavyweight | 120.2 | 265 | 18 st 13 |
Specialisation prevents you from becoming overwhelmed with decisions. Over time you’ll become more comfortable with the dynamics of each weight class – then you can add a couple more until you can apply your process to all of them.
Markets on Offer
Once you decide the bout you’d like to bet on, you can look up its available markets. There aren’t as many as at the best sites for betting on football, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The main MMA markets are below.
To Win the Bout
Exactly how it sounds – you wager on who wins the match. Typically displayed as a money-line bet, with the draw often available on the 3-way.
Method of Victory
On top of picking the winner, you can wager on whether they’ll do so by decision, DQ, technical knockout or submission. Very hard to get right, but it brings big payout potential.
Total Rounds
The bookmaker sets the number and you wager on whether the fight lasts longer or shorter. Knowledge of fighting styles, past form and fighter quality is imperative here.
Winning Round
If you’re confident enough to pick the exact winning round, this can bring larger payouts. The knowledge needed is similar to total rounds, but it is harder to predict.
Live & In-Play Betting
On top of betting before the match, most operators allow you to bet on fights as they’re happening, often with live streams or updates. This means you can see how the two participants are performing before placing your wager.
Another benefit of in-play MMA betting is it provides an opportunity to hedge your original bet – though this is an advanced strategy best reserved for experienced bettors. Ultimately, the difference between in-play and pre-match betting comes down to personal preference; if you enjoy live betting, check out our list of the best live betting sites.
Bonuses Available
Since MMA is still finding its way into the mainstream outside the United States, it’s rare to find MMA-specific promotions. Occasionally a site will offer enhanced odds or a free bet, and you can always take advantage of an operator’s welcome bonus when betting on MMA.
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
- Excellent live betting suite
- Good odds across all MMA promotions
- Extensive MMA markets available
While there aren’t many specific MMA bonuses, operators sometimes make offers that apply to the entire sportsbook. It pays to be aware of bonuses on specific matchups – when there’s a highly publicised bout, operators tend to compete for MMA betting traffic with promotional offers.
How to Bet on MMA
MMA betting strategy is a lot less complex than many team sports. Most of it comes down to knowing the participants and their styles, and how those styles might affect the course of the bout. You can find this information by researching the past form of competitors.
- Pick a weight class to specialise in.
- Get familiar with each fighter’s style.
- Wager on the market that makes sense for the fight.
- Try to use sites with a good number of markets.
- Live betting can be useful.
Ultimately, MMA betting – and sports betting in general – comes down to your ability to find value over the long term. That might mean betting on different markets for different bouts.
Facts, History, Stats
Though MMA doesn’t have the long, storied history of a sport like boxing or football, it is still quite colourful. Originally founded to find out which form of martial arts was superior, competitors began mixing styles – giving the sport the name mixed martial arts.
Creation of the UFC
The UFC was officially founded in 1993. The company struggled until 2001, when Dana White brokered a deal between the Fertitta brothers and the brand’s earlier owner. Installed as president, he steered the brand into the multi-billion dollar powerhouse it is today.
The Ultimate Fighter
The Ultimate Fighter is a reality show and proving ground for many UFC fighters. It’s notable for perhaps the most memorable fight in MMA history – Forrest Griffin narrowly defeating Stephan Bonnar – a bout widely credited with launching MMA into the mainstream.
Welcoming Women into the Octagon
“Rowdy” Ronda Rousey put women’s MMA on the map by becoming the first ever female UFC champion, going undefeated for over 1,074 days and defending her title six times. Her eventual loss to Holly Holm was the most watched event in the sport’s history at the time.
Final Thoughts on MMA Online Betting
Overall, betting on MMA is a great choice for beginners and advanced punters alike. It’s a lot less complex than team sports and there are multiple markets to find potential value in. While it’s not quite big enough for most major sportsbooks to provide exclusive MMA bonuses, the sport is growing at a rapid rate – it’ll be interesting to see which betting sites in the UK capitalise on its popularity.