Learn how to bet on MMA and UFC with moneylines, round totals, and type of victory bets. You’ll also learn about MMA props and parlays. Always compare sportsbook moneylines to find the best value. Review moneyline odds for upcoming MMA matchups.
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Chapters
Current Matchups
Markets|
Game |
 BetRiversBet |
 BetMGMBet |
|---|---|---|
Israel Adesanya
Alex Pereira
UFC 287 - 4/08/23 6:00pm EDT | ||
Lupita Godinez
Cynthia Calvillo
UFC 287 - 4/08/23 6:00pm EDT | ||
Christian Rodriguez
Raul Rosas Jr
UFC 287 - 4/08/23 6:00pm EDT | ||
Santiago Ponzinibbio
Kevin Holland
UFC 287 - 4/08/23 6:00pm EDT | ||
Adrian Yanez
Rob Font
UFC 287 - 4/08/23 6:00pm EDT | ||
Luana Pinheiro
Michelle Waterson-Gomez
UFC 287 - 4/08/23 6:00pm EDT | ||
Joseph Pyfer
Gerald Meerschaert
UFC 287 - 4/08/23 6:00pm EDT | ||
Jaqueline Amorim
Sam Hughes
UFC 287 - 4/08/23 6:00pm EDT | ||
Chris Curtis
Kelvin Gastelum
UFC 287 - 4/08/23 6:00pm EDT | ||
Shayilan Nuerdanbieke
Steve Garcia
UFC 287 - 4/08/23 6:00pm EDT | ||
Jingliang Li
Michael Chiesa
UFC - 4/08/23 6:00pm EDT | ||
Lupita Godinez
Cynthia Cavillo
UFC - 4/08/23 6:00pm EDT | ||
Chase Sherman
Chris Barnett
UFC 287 - 4/08/23 6:00pm EDT | ||
Nikolas Motta
Ignacio Bahamondes
UFC 287 - 4/08/23 6:00pm EDT | ||
Jorge Masvidal
Gilbert Burns
UFC 287 - 4/08/23 6:00pm EDT | ||
Li Jingliang
Michael Chiesa
UFC 287 - 4/08/23 6:00pm EDT | ||
Arnold Allen
Max Holloway
UFC Fight Night - 4/15/23 6:00pm EDT | ||
Azamat Murzakanov
Dustin Jacoby
UFC Fight Night - 4/15/23 6:00pm EDT | ||
Tanner Boser
Ion Cutelaba
UFC Fight Night - 4/15/23 6:00pm EDT | ||
Bill Algeo
TJ Brown
UFC Fight Night - 4/15/23 6:00pm EDT | ||
Billy Quarantillo
Edson Barboza
UFC Fight Night - 4/15/23 6:00pm EDT | ||
Daniel Zellhuber
Landon Vannata
UFC Fight Night - 4/15/23 6:00pm EDT | ||
Matheus Nicolau Pereira
Brandon Royval
UFC Fight Night - 4/15/23 6:00pm EDT | ||
Gillian Robertson
Piera Rodriguez
UFC Fight Night - 4/15/23 6:00pm EDT | ||
Zak Cummings
Ed Herman
UFC Fight Night - 4/15/23 6:00pm EDT |
How MMA Betting Works
This tutorial has two sections. The first contains common MMA straight bets. These include the moneyline, round total, and type of victory bets. We recommend sticking to moneyline and round total bets. They’re the most profitable in the long haul. The type of victory bet can also be profitable if you choose a fighter that consistently wins a particular way.
The second section discusses exotic MMA bets. These include fight props and parlays. These bets come with a substantially higher house edge compared to straight bets. Bet on MMA props and parlays for fun unless you’re really confident about the particular outcome.
MMA Straight Bets
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How a MMA Moneyline Bet Works
A moneyline bet is placed on a fighter to win the fight outright.
Favorite
The favorite will have a minus number. A minus number indicates how much you risk to win $100.
Underdog
The underdog will have a plus number. A plus number indicates how much you win for risking $100.
Placing a Moneyline Bet
Select “Moneyline” from your sportsbook’s betting menu. It may also be abbreviated as “ML”. Finally, select either the favorite or the underdog.
Sportsbooks include the juice in each moneyline. They usually add 10 cents commission to each side. A -170 true odds favorite would get a -180 line, while a +160 true odds underdog would get a +150 line.
MMA Moneyline Example
| Moneyline Fight |
Line & Odds |
|---|---|
|
Jesse Ronson
Joaquim Silva
10/01/22 7:00 pm EDT
|
+125
-157
|
- Jesse Ronson is the underdog. Risk $100 to win $125.
- Joaquim Silva is the favorite. Risk $157 to win $100.
Example Result: Joaquim Silva wins.
All favorite Joaquim Silva bettors win. All underdog Jesse Ronson bettors lose.
Note: If the fight is cancelled or the final result isn’t determined, all moneyline bets push. All bets will be refunded.
More Moneyline Info
Our moneyline video explains this bet completely. The entire moneyline tutorial also includes useful tips and strategies. Use the reference section to convert Moneyline odds to equivalent Fractional or Decimal values. Note required break even percentages for moneyline odds.
UFC/MMA Odds Example
|
Game |
BetRivers Bet |
|---|---|
Israel Adesanya
Alex Pereira
UFC 287 - 4/08/23 6:00pm EDT |
- Alex Pereira bettors risk $100 to win $120 at +120 odds. The implied probability for Alex Pereira is 45.45%.
- Israel Adesanya bettors risk $100 to win $66.67 at -150 odds. The implied probability for Israel Adesanya is 60%.
How a MMA Round Total Bet Works
A round total line estimates the fight’s length in rounds. In MMA the round total represents elapsed or completed rounds as time. You bet on whether the actual result will be Over or Under the sportsbookâs line.
Placing an MMA Round Total Bet
Select “Round Total” from your sportsbook’s betting menu. Finally, select either the over or the under.
Whole Round Total Lines Mean Complete Rounds
A whole MMA round is 5 minutes. Common whole-number round totals include 2 for ordinary fights and 4 for championship fights.
A 2 round total line means 2 complete rounds. If the bout ends on or before round 2 at 4:59, the under wins. 4:59 of the 2nd round isn’t 2 complete rounds. If the bout ends round 3 or after, including a decision, the over wins. The start of the 3rd round means 2 rounds have been fought.
Note that a 2 round line does not mean the start of the 2nd round. Always think of the line as completed rounds.
Half Round Lines Include the First 2:30 of the Next Round
A whole round is 5 minutes. A half round is 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Any half-round total represents the first 2:30 of the round following the previous whole round.
For example, a 2.5 round total means 2 whole rounds plus 2:30 of round 3. If the fight ends on or before round 3 at 2:29, the under wins. If the fight ends round 3 at 2:31 or after, including a decision, the over wins.
Similarly, a 1.5 round total means 1 whole round plus 2:30 of round 2. If the fight ends on or before round 2 at 2:29, the under wins. If the fight ends round 2 at 2:31 or after, including a decision, the over wins.
Note that a 3.5 round line does not mean halfway through the third round! Always think of completed rounds + time. Therefore, a 3.5 line means 3 complete rounds plus 2:30 of round 4.
Round Total Bets Can Push
MMA total round bets can push if the fight ends exactly on the round total line. Consider again a 2.5 round total. If the fight ends exactly at 2:30 of round 3, all total bets would push. This is highly unlikely to happen.
Pick the Over or the Under
Taking the Over
Over will be abbreviated as “o”. A bet on the Over wins if the fight ends after the sportsbook’s round total line. For example, consider a 2.5 round total line. This line is for 2 whole rounds plus 2:30 of round 3. If the fight ends at 2:45 of round 3 the over would win. The over would also win the if fight ends at 0:30 of round 5 or by decision.
Taking the Under
Under will be abbreviated as “u”. A bet on the Under wins if the fight ends before the sportsbook’s round total line. Consider again a 2.5 round total line. This line is for 2 whole rounds plus 2:30 of round 3. If the fight ends at 2:20 of round 3 the under would win. The under would also win if the fight ends at 0:50 of round 2 or 4:40 of round 1.
MMA Round Total Example
| Round Total Fight |
Line & Odds |
|---|---|
|
Jesse Ronson
Joaquim Silva
10/01/22 7:00 pm EDT
|
1.5 o -150
1.5 u +180
|
- The Round Total line is 1.5.
- Over bettors believe the fight will end on or after 2:31 of round 2, including a decision. They risk $150 to win $100.
- Under bettors believe the fight will on or before 2:29 of round 2. They risk $100 to win $180.
Example Result: The fight ends at 1:55 of round 1.
1:55 of round 1 is before the sportsbook’s 1.5 round line. That means all under bettors win.
If the fight ended at 2:40 of round 2, all over bettors would win. Also, all over bettors would win if the fight ended in round 3 or went to a decision.
Total Round Bet Push – If the fight ended exactly at 2:30 of round 2, all round total bets would push. Your bet would be refunded. This is highly unlikely to happen.
Final Note: MMA round total betting is based on elapsed time while totals for most other sports are based on points scored. This is an important difference!
More Over-Under Total Info
Our total betting video makes the over under bet easy to understand. The reference section explains how to calculate the value for the opposite side of the line when sportsbooks charge more than -110 juice. Note, most sportsbooks provide juice for both sides of a line at their websites. Calculating the opposite side is only necessary when viewing condensed third party odds tables.
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How a MMA Type of Victory Bet Works
Choose the winning fighter’s type of victory. Most sportsbooks list three possible outcomes: KO/TKO, Submission, or Decision.
Each outcome will have moneyline odds. In most cases, these numbers will have plus signs. A plus number indicates how much you win for risking $100.
Placing a MMA Type of Victory Bet
Select “Type of Victory” from your sportsbook’s betting menu. Next, select the fighter you think will win. Finally, select your fighter’s type of victory.
MMA Type of Victory Example
| Jesse Ronson Type of Victory |
Odds |
|---|---|
|
TKO/KO
|
+250
|
|
Submission
|
+950
|
|
Decision
|
+300
|
| Joaquim Silva Type of Victory |
Odds |
|---|---|
|
TKO/KO
|
+150
|
|
Submission
|
+550
|
|
Decision
|
+200
|
Example Result: Joaquim Silva wins by KO.
If you chose Joaquim Silva by KO, you’ll win $150 for risking $100. Bets on Silva winning by any other method lose. Also, Bets on Ronson to win by any method lose.
More MMA Type of Victory Info
The Type of Victory bet is a popular MMA prop bet. Review our prop betting tutorial to learn more about how prop bets work.
Exotic MMA Bets
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Bonus |
|---|---|
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MMA Prop Betting
A prop or proposition bet is side bet placed on an event that isn’t necessarily dependent on the fight’s final outcome.
Common prop bets are for whether a particular event will occur or not. With MMA betting, common outcomes include how a fight is won, at what time, or how long the fight lasts. The sportsbook will offer odds for each outcome.
How to Place a MMA Prop Bet
- Select the fight from your sportsbook’s list of upcoming MMA events.
- Each prop bet outcome will have moneyline odds.
- Make a selection and bet your desired amount.
- Your bet wins if you picked the correct outcome.
Note: Some props cannot be added to parlays.
Example MMA Prop Bets
The following are common MMA prop bets. Note that we discussed the Type of Victory prop bet in detail above.
| Round/Result | Ronson Wins | Silva Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1800 | +475 |
| 2 | +2400 | +575 |
| 3 | +3000 | +775 |
| Decisions | +325 | +220 |
| Draw | +7000 | +7000 |
Fight distance in rounds (5 total)
- 1 +425
- 2 +525
- 3 +685
- 4 +875
- 5 +1250
- Decision -115
How will the fight end?
- KO, TKO, DQ +165
- Decisions -115
- Submission +245
- Draw +7000
Will the fight go the distance?
- Yes -115
- No -115
More Prop Bet Info
Read our expansive prop betting article. These bets are popular with knowledgeable sports handicappers if the numbers are right.
MMA Parlay Betting
A parlay bet combines 2 or more selections into one bet. Moneylines, round totals, and some prop bets are commonly combined to make a MMA parlay bet.
How to Place a MMA Parlay Bet
- Select 2-15 moneylines, round totals, prop bets, or a combination of all three.
- Matchups from other sports like football, basketball, soccer, or hockey can be included.
- All selections must be correct to win.
- Each tie reduces a parlay payout by 1 selection. For example, a 3 selection parlay with 1 tie becomes a 2 selection parlay.
More Parlay Bet Info
Our parlay betting tutorial explains this bet in detail with examples and suggested betting options. Learn what happens when one or more parlay selections tie.
The reference section discusses the difference between standard parlay odds and true odds.
Winning bettors should always choose the parlay over separate straight bets. Your +EV (expected value) is much higher for a winning parlay.
MMA Required Reading
| See Also |
|---|
| MMA Betting Strategies: When to Bet on the Outright Winner and Round Total |
| Current MMA Betting Odds and Lines |