How to Bet on MMA – UFC and MMA Betting Strategies

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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Table of Contents

  1. Current Matchup Odds
  2. How MMA Betting Works
  3. Straight Bets
  4. Exotic Bets
  5. Live MMA Odds

Current Matchups

Markets
Next 25 UFC/MMA Game Odds
+ Displays more odds

Game
BetRivers Sports Betting BetRivers
Bet
BetMGM Sports Betting BetMGM
Bet
Rose Namajunas
Amanda Ribas
UFC Fight Night - 3/23/24 7:00pm EDT
-295+230-275+210
Julia Polastri
Stephanie Luciano
UFC Fight Night - 3/23/24 7:00pm EDT
-137+112-125+105
Julian Erosa
Ricardo Ramos
UFC Fight Night - 3/23/24 7:00pm EDT
+138-175+145-175
Cody Gibson
Miles Johns
UFC Fight Night - 3/23/24 7:00pm EDT
+120-150+110-135
Andre Lima
Igor Severino
UFC Fight Night - 3/23/24 7:00pm EDT
-185+150
Justin Tafa
Karl Williams
UFC Fight Night - 3/23/24 7:00pm EDT
+163-205+145-175
Cameron Saaiman
Payton Talbott
UFC Fight Night - 3/23/24 7:00pm EDT
+123-155+145-175
AJ Dobson
Edmen Shahbazyan
UFC Fight Night - 3/23/24 7:00pm EDT
+155-195+165-200
Youssef Zalal
Billy Quarantillo
UFC Fight Night - 3/23/24 7:00pm EDT
+138-175+135-165
Fernando Padilla
Luis Pajuelo
UFC Fight Night - 3/23/24 7:00pm EDT
-165+132-165+140
Mick Parkin
Mohammed Usman
UFC Fight Night - 3/23/24 7:00pm EDT
-150+120-160+130
Kurt Holobaugh
Trey Ogden
UFC Fight Night - 3/23/24 7:00pm EDT
+123-155+125-150
Jarno Errens
Steven Nguyen
UFC Fight Night - 3/23/24 7:00pm EDT
+160-200+150-185
Dariya Zheleznykova
Montserrat Dolores Rendon
UFC Fight Night - 3/23/24 7:00pm EDT
-177+140-190+155
Andre Lima
Igor da Silva
UFC - 3/23/24 8:00pm EDT
-186+150
Cody Gibson
Davey Grant
UFC - 3/23/24 8:00pm EDT
+120-150
Gabriel Miranda
Billy Quarantillo
UFC - 3/23/24 11:00pm EDT
+180-230
Vicente Luque
Sean Brady
UFC - 3/30/24 8:00pm EDT
+230-295
Caolan Loughran
Angel Pacheco
UFC - 3/30/24 8:00pm EDT
-305+240
Dennis Buzukja
Connor Matthews
UFC - 3/30/24 8:00pm EDT
-129+104
Anton Turkalj
Ibo Aslan
UFC - 3/30/24 8:00pm EDT
+100-124
Jacob Malkoun
Andre Petroski
UFC - 3/30/24 8:00pm EDT
-200+160
Rhys McKee
Chidi Njokuani
UFC - 3/30/24 8:00pm EDT
+180-230
Herbert Burns
Julio Arce
UFC - 3/30/24 8:00pm EDT
+410-560
Kyle Nelson
Bill Algeo
UFC - 3/30/24 8:00pm EDT
+163-205

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

MMA Moneyline Bet Example
Moneyline
Bout
Line & Odds
Jesse Ronson
Joaquim Silva
10/01/22 7:00 pm EDT
+125
-157
  1. Jesse Ronson is the +125 underdog. Risk $100 to win $125.
  2. Joaquim Silva is the -157 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

UFC/MMA Odds and Outcomes Explained

Game
BetRivers Sports Betting BetRivers
Bet
Rose Namajunas
Amanda Ribas
UFC Fight Night - 3/23/24 7:00pm EDT
-295+230
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Possible Moneyline Outcomes
  • Amanda Ribas bettors risk $100 to win $230 at +230 odds. The implied probability for Amanda Ribas is 30.3%.
  • Rose Namajunas bettors risk $100 to win $33.9 at -295 odds. The implied probability for Rose Namajunas is 74.68%.

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 sportsbook’s 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

MMA Round Total Bet Example
Round Total
Bout
Line & Odds
Jesse Ronson
Joaquim Silva
10/01/21 7:00 pm EDT
1.5 o -150
1.5 u +180
  1. The Round Total line is 1.5.
  2. Over bettors believe the fight will end on or after 2:31 of round 2, including a decision. They risk $150 to win $100.
  3. 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 Bet
Jesse Ronson
Type of Victory
Odds
TKO/KO
+250
Submission
+950
Decision
+300
Joaquim Silva Type of Victory Bet
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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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

  1. Select the fight from your sportsbook’s list of upcoming MMA events.
  2. Each prop bet outcome will have moneyline odds.
  3. Make a selection and bet your desired amount.
  4. 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.

MMA Fight Result Prop Bet
Round/ResultRonson WinsSilva 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

  1. Select 2-15 moneylines, round totals, prop bets, or a combination of all three.
  2. Matchups from other sports like football, basketball, soccer, or hockey can be included.
  3. All selections must be correct to win.
  4. 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 Betting Resources

  • MMA Betting Guide – Learn how to bet on the MMA with moneylines, round totals, and type of victory bets, among exotic bets like MMA parlays and prop bets.
  • MMA Betting Sites – Dig into our list of the best licensed and legal US MMA betting sites before the action in the octagon begins.
  • MMA Betting Odds – Latest MMA betting odds for upcoming matchups, including UFC Fight Nights, Numbered Events, and other major events around the world.
  • MMA Betting Strategies – Dive into MMA betting with our helpful guide that explains how to handicap MMA fights. Learn how to find an edge and beat the sportsbooks when your favorite fighter enters The Cctagon.
  • Nick “The Goat” Thompson – Our fan page dedicated to Nick Thompson, one of the greatest fighters of the mid to late 2000s.