Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is one of the fastest-growing sports worldwide, and placing MMA bets on DraftKings Sportsbook adds more excitement to the electric viewing experience. The most common MMA bet is for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The UFC routinely puts on major events that generate substantial mainstream attention, and big UFC fights between superstar fighters can be some of the most exciting events of the entire year across all sports.

The first step to learning how to bet on DraftKings Sportsbook is learning how to read MMA betting odds. Betting odds showcase how much a bettor can win for their wagers, per $100. For example, +200 odds means that a bettor would have to place a $100 wager to receive a $200 profit if the wager was successful. -200 odds means that a bettor would have to place a $100 bet to receive a $50 profit if the wager was successful. When a fighter is listed with minus odds (example: -200), they are considered to be the favorite in the fight, while being listed with plus odds (example: +200) means they are considered to be the underdog in the fight.

Moneyline

The most basic MMA bet is called a moneyline bet. Betting the moneyline in MMA is essentially choosing a fighter to win their fight. Moneyline MMA bets generally feature a favorite and an underdog. The favorite is considered more likely to win, while the underdog is considered less likely to win. This is reflected in the moneyline odds—a favorite will usually carry a minus symbol in front of their moneyline odds, while an underdog will usually carry a plus symbol in front of their moneyline odds. Fights can also be considered a pick’em with no clear favorite or underdog if the odds are equal on both sides. Moneyline bets can also be placed through live betting, which allows bettors to bet on the fight as the fight is happening. Odds for live bets are dynamic and constantly changing based on the action inside the cage.

Over/Under Rounds

Over/under rounds is also a basic MMA bet. This is a wager on how long the fight will last. For example, if the over/under rounds is set at 2.5 and the fight ends up going longer than 2:30 into the third round, the over would be the winning bet. If the over/under rounds is set at 2.5 and the fight is finished in the first round, the under would be the winning bet.

Winning Method

Winning method is another common MMA bet. Winning method features bets such as to win by knockout, to win by decision, to win by submission, and more. If a bettor chooses a fighter to win by submission, the fighter would have to win their fight by submission to result in a winning wager. If a bettor chooses a fighter to win by finish, the fighter would have to win by any knockout, submission or DQ to result in a winning wager.

Fight Props

Fight prop bets can give bettors more ways to receive higher plus money odds. Examples of fight prop bets include fight to go the distance, time of finish, and more. For example, a time of finish prop bet is picking when the fight will be won. If a bettor selects a fight to be won between 01:00-01:59 of the 1st round, the fight must be won within that timeframe to result in a successful wager.

Parlays

Parlay bets are some of the most exciting types of bets because parlays can result in big payouts. A parlay bet is a bet placed on multiple outcomes to occur. For a parlay bet to win, all outcomes within the parlay must be selected correctly. An example of an MMA parlay bet is choosing four different fighters on a UFC card to all win their fights via a moneyline bet. Parlay bets also include Same Game Parlay (SGP) bets, which are structured around the same fight in MMA betting. An example of an MMA SGP is choosing a fighter to win by decision and also have the most significant strikes and most knockdowns in that fight. The more legs a bettor combines in a parlay bet, the bigger the potential payout.

Conducting your own research before placing MMA wagers may help bettors find more success. Types of research for MMA betting includes researching statistics such as strikes landed, strikes absorbed, takedown defense and more. Bettors can also research MMA by watching previous fights and making observations about the fighters.

At DraftKings, we believe that life is more fun with skin in the game and we want it to stay that way. It’s important to remember that you should only bet what you can afford and always set reasonable limits for yourself. Here are some things to keep in mind when you’re gambling:

• Set a realistic budget that you can afford to gamble. Never play beyond your means.
• Set a time limit on your gambling and stick to it.
• Don’t place large bets in the hopes of winning big.
• Don’t try to make money by chasing your losses.
• Gambling should not be viewed as a pathway to financial gains or shortcut to financial success.
• Avoid gambling if you are in recovery from any dependency or are under the influence of alcohol or any other substance.

We provide our players with tools to set budgets, limits, and cool-off periods, and always give you the option to self-exclude. For more information and resources, consider visiting DraftKings’ responsible gambling help guide. If, for any reason, you feel like you need help, we strongly encourage you to contact your local responsible gaming organizations. Remember, it’s more fun when it’s for fun.