Bet on MMA Online | Best Bookmakers 2023

Why is MMA popular to bet on?

When engaging in sport betting online the person will want to have a decent shot of predicting a winner. The problem with some fighting sports is that there is not enough balance between the two fighters. In contrast, MMA separates them into weight classes so that two competitors have an equal chance of subduing the other. Governing MMA bodies strive to make it 50/50 as much as possible.

On the surface MMA might seem chaotic as fighters can pull out a plethora of different moves. However, the sport has a surprisingly cohesive ruleset. Thanks to trial and error the mainstream version of MMA has now developed several important safety protocols. Biting, eye gouging and groin strikes are strictly forbidden. As a result MMA has evolved into less of a spectacle and more of a legitimate sport.

Gamblers look for many factors when choosing an event to bet on. One of the most important is watchability. MMA manages to exude the excitement of boxing whilst still feeling edgy and more hardcore. People all over the world enjoy watching MMA. It has a global appeal which also translates within the gambling community.

Everything about MMA betting

An MMA match involves two people stepping into a ring or cage and fighting each other until one emerges as the victor. The best fighters will have cross-trained in a number of different martial arts. They need to know when to utilize the right combat moves.

MMA is considered the ultimate form of one-on-one combat. Consequently, the only equipment available to athletes is a set of padded gloves to protect their hands when throwing punches. There are several different weight classes in this sport.

During a match three judges will observe the fighters and decide on a winner for each round. The athlete with the highest total at the end wins the match. However, there are other ways to secure a victory. If an opponent loses consciousness a win is declared by knockout.

Sometimes one fighter will place the other in a hold until they tap out. This is called a submission. Technical knockouts occur when a fighter is declared unable to continue due to health reasons. If both fighters continue to break the rules then the judges may resort to a "no contest" ruling. Gamblers need to take all of these scenarios into consideration when placing a bet on MMA matches.

Is online MMA betting legal?

Due to the violent nature of the sport there are some countries that do not consider MMA to be legitimate. However, this does not necessarily mean that it is banned outright. Generally speaking, if a nation has a tolerant policy towards sports betting then MMA will be included. Their citizens can utilize a sport bookmaker online to place MMA wagers.

Over the years there have been several notable restrictions on the sport. When these occur it often prevents people from engaging in MMA gambling. For example, in 1997 the state of New York prohibited mixed martial arts. The ban was finally overturned in 2016. Canada also decriminalized it in 2013.

Norway is one of the few countries where MMA is still illegal. In contrast it has national sport status in Russia. Meanwhile there is political opposition to MMA in India and France without any specific legislation in place preventing matches or wagering.

Best MMA betting sites

Popular MMA tournaments take place within Russia and the United States. It therefore makes sense that betting on this sport is very popular in these two nations. Until fairly recently it was considered a niche sport. This changed around 2007 when the UFC started to become much more mainstream. As a result more gambling sites began to feature MMA markets.

Today punters have a large number of options. The best MMA bookmaking site needs to offer high potential payouts and a decent range of bet types. Some people are content with simply predicting an outright winner. However, others want more variety.

Superior sites offer wagers on the number of rounds, going the distance and KOs. A great bookie will also open up MMA markets as soon as a new match is announced. Furthermore, it is important to look out for sites that cater to both mainstream and specialist MMA events.

Understanding MMA betting odds

It can be intimidating for beginners to initial understand the ins and outs of MMA wagering. However, if they have ever gambled on a boxing match they will be in familiar territory. The sport betting odds for both are very similar. This is because they share numerous elements.

There are two contenders to choose from. Both boxing and MMA decide a winner after either a knockout or several rounds have been completed. The layout of MMA and boxing rings are even similar.

However, the odds for MMA can vary due to the greater amount of freedom given to the athletes in terms of fighting styles. Practically anything is fair game. Therefore, MMA matches will have an element of unpredictability to them.

Sometimes a fighter will have much higher odds than their opponent due to their particular fighting style of temperament. If the ring has unusual characteristics this will also be reflected in the betting odds.

How to bet on MMA?

If punters are wondering how to bet on sport events such as MMA the answer is that there are numerous options. The most popular one is to predict the outright outcome of the fight (i.e. the winner).

However, an online MMA bookmaker will usually only offer this wager when the MMA odds of one of the athletes winning is lower than 1.01. When this occurs the gambler may back a fighter or bet on a draw instead.

It is also common for people to opt for an over/under wager. The aim is to predict whether the match will end before or after a certain number of rounds. The bookmaker may also have several prop bets on offer.

They can include points handicap, method of victory and players touching gloves. Prop bets are popular because the payouts tend to be better. However, they also require the gambler to make a more specific prediction.

Biggest MMA tournaments

There is a great range of high profile MMA competitions to place bets on. The Polish KSW is one of the biggest MMA promotions in Europe. It is known for embracing the WWE model of only being held a select number of times per year.

ONE FC is a fast growing tournament that showcases the biggest fighting talent within Asia. Another event to mark on the calendar is Bellator. With nine weight classes and two female divisions it gives punters plenty of variety.

Fans of American MMA can check out the Professional Fighters League (PFL). Its NBA style format makes it fairly unique. Alternatively, the gambler could choose M-1, a Russian organization which holds around 20 events annually.

MMA betting tips

It is never wise to place wager on MMA without doing a bit of research first. High profile matches will pit two well known athletes against each other. Consequently, the gambler can analyze their past performances. Many sports wager fans like to compile lists detailing the strengths and weaknesses of the fighters. Doing so will help people to better determine which one has the edge.

The best online bookmaker sites offer MMA markets fairly early. Once these become live the odds will change as the start of the match approaches. Gamblers who have a hunch about a potential winner may wish to place their bet early so that their payout is more lucrative.

The athlete with the highest winning streak is usually considered the most likely to win. This criteria is a vital indicator of the fighter's current abilities. Any previous injuries are also worth taking into account. MMA professionals often hail from a specific training camp.

The most revered ones tend to produce fighters with the greatest skill levels. It is important to not overlook the mood of the contender. A sudden loss or increase in confidence can be the biggest determining factor in whether or not they subdue their opponent.

Responsible gambling

Whilst gambling can be fun some people may struggle to stop when they need to. It is important that all fans of sports betting do so in a responsible manner. The key to a high quality wagering experience is self control. It is common for people to set a specific limit for their bankroll losses. Once they reach it it is time to stop.

There are numerous online programs that MMA sportsbooks can sign up to. They are designed to help problem gamblers so that they do not overdo it. For example, some self-exclusion networks give punters a break by preventing them from signing into a betting site until a certain timeframe has elapsed.

Alternatively, the gambler could ask for deposit limits on their wagers. That way they will not spend too much money on their gambling hobby.

In recent years the online sports betting industry has recognized how widespread problem gambling is. Rather than simply ignore this issue a lot of bookies have taken action. It is a good idea to only utilize sites that have policies in place aimed at giving users more control over their habits. People with severe self control issues can seek out help from addiction recovery services.