MMA Betting Guide 2023

Can I Bet on the UFC and MMA in Ireland?

Yes! The MMA and UFC are extremely popular in Ireland. As such, the majority of top bookies will offer odds on its events. You can typically find odds for the big events on most bookies websites, while a select few will offer odds on Fight Nights and smaller events. Some operators will also offer odds on other MMA promotions like the PFL and Bellator.

MMA is a newer sport that evolved from martial artists with different backgrounds competing against each other while using their skills to try and defeat their opponent. As martial arts competed, they borrowed knowledge and created an entirely new fused fighting discipline: Mixed Martial Arts. The first Ultimate Fighting Championship (known as UFC) was held in 1993 as a pay-per-view event to promote MMA. 

The league eventually grew to be so popular with spectators worldwide, that it became a regular televised sporting event with its own weight divisions and classes. Just like boxing, a UFC fight is an electrifying sporting event that attracts bets from people all over the globe. You can bet on which fighter wins, the round that the event ends and even the method of victories like a knockout or submission. 

Irish betting interest in the sport has gained considerable momentum in the last few years due to Dublin-born Conor McGregor’s success in the sport.

Which Bookies Have the Best Odds for MMA and UFC Betting?

Not sure where to start? Join us as we look through the top bookies offering the bests odds for MMA and UFC betting.

Most Popular MMA Weight Divisions

The UFC is divided into eight weight divisions for male fighters and four weight divisions for females. We’ve compiled a list of the top three weight divisions that generate the most attention from spectators of the sport:

• Featherweight Division: Some of the highest viewed matches in UFC history have taken place in the featherweight division. 
• Heavyweight Division: With the odds of a knockout heightened, this division provides people with more excitement due to the power and strength of its competitors.
• Lightweight Division: Many sports fans agree that this division is one of the toughest and most exciting in the sport.

Where Can You Place a Bet on UFC?

You can place a bet on a fight at reputable bookies online, or a betting establishment. Most Irish betting companies on the internet will have odds available on upcoming sports events. If you fancy a stroll, the chances are high that there’s a local bookie near your residence but betting at a high street bookmaker is much less common for MMA. T

his is because MMA bouts don’t tend to be as highly publicised as other sporting events in the confines of a high street bookmaker. However, if you go in and ask, then you may be able to get access to MMA markets from the employees inside the shop.

What is the best betting strategy for MMA betting?

In order to make it easier to win money on MMA betting, you will have to carry out a lot of research. The best area to focus your research on is the methods that fighters use to end their fights and the ways that fighters lose their fights. When you have this information available, you will be able to work out the most likely way that a fight will end. Your next step is to apply it to specific fights. 

For example, if there are two fighters facing each other and they are both submission experts who end their fights with submissions, you know that submission is the most likely way that the fight will end. This means that you will be able to place a wager on the fight-ending via submission. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you will have all the answers in regard to how to win betting on MMA, but it will increase your chances of success. 

You can also use in-play betting to your advantage. For example, if during the fight, you notice that one of the fighters is landing a lot of heavy strikes, then it might be worth your while placing a wager on the fight-ending by knockout. This is especially useful if the strikes are having a big impact on the fighter being hit. 

On the whole, the best way to increase your chances of winning is to increase your knowledge so that you understand betting on MMA to a greater degree. Knowledge doesn’t guarantee success, but it does increase your chances. You need to pay attention to the run-up to the fight to optimise your betting strategy. If you check out the weigh-ins and what fighter is lapping up the media attention, you’ll have more knowledge of what way the fight will play out. 

We suggest that you keep an eye on UFC odds on Irish websites as they can fluctuate in the run-up to the event. You should pay attention to sudden large shifts in odds, as this can determine the match outcome, or it could also be false bets. Live betting will also help your strategy. As you watch the fight, you will soon find out if your wager is going your way. You can cash out at any time or place a quick bet if your chosen fighter is dominating the match.

How to Bet on UFC

Not too many people know how to bet on MMA at MMA betting websites compared to other sports. This is mainly because it’s a relatively new market when compared to other events out there. However, it’s really not that much different from betting on boxing in terms of what’s on offer and what you need to do. There are some ways to bet on MMA that are more popular than others and stand out a little bit more. The first way is the typical bet on who will win the fight. 

When betting on the UFC, a draw isn’t usually an option to bet on. This is because there have been very few draws in the UFC – in fact, at this moment in time, it has been over 20 years since a fight finished in a draw. This is often the case in most MMA bouts, which means that most people only bet on either of the two fighters ending up as the winner. There will be a favourite in place for the bout that will offer shorter odds than the underdog. There are no home or away grounds for MMA fights.

The second major MMA market is the method of victory market. The most popular methods of victory are knockout and submission – so for this market, you would have to check out the styles of both fighters in order to ascertain which bet would be the right one for you. You can also put together accumulators based on a number of different bouts that are taking place. This is a collection of bets on different fights. 

An accumulator offers better odds than placing bets on each fight individually because the odds stack across the whole bet. It is also a lot harder to get correct due to needing to get each part of the bet correct in order to win. MMA does also have other markets available to bet on, but they’re not as common as these ways to place a bet. Find out with are the recommended sportsbook on Irishluck!

How to Find a Good UFC Betting Site

You can find reputable online bookmakers by using Irish betting comparison websites, and by using a site that regularly promotes the sport of MMA and the promotion of the UFC.

What Types of Bonuses Do I Find When Betting on UFC?

You’ll find that some websites will offer you UFC betting bonuses like a free €10 sports bet or enhanced odds for a major upcoming event. You can also avail of a welcome bonus from some betting sites, that’ll allow you to wager on the sport. 

How MMA Betting Website Odds Work

MMA betting has two factors that impact on what the odds are. The first way is how pre-fight odds are put together before anyone has placed a bet. The statistics around each fighter, such as the number of fights, number of wins, number of losses and quality of opponents, are used to decide which fighter is more likely to get the win. 

There are obviously other metrics that are used to create the odds, such as potential injuries, but once all of this information has been collated, the odds for the bout will be put together. The fight will usually offer both a favourite and an underdog. The favourite will have much shorter odds, as the chances of them winning are much higher. This means that the underdog will have longer odds as the chances of them staging an upset are low. 

For example, the favourite might offer odds of 1/12 for a win and the underdog might offer 7/1. This means that a €12 bet on the favourite would return €13 if they win – the €12 stake and €1 winnings. A €1 bet on the underdog would return €8 if they win – the €1 stake returned and €7 winnings. The second factor is the number of bets that are placed on a certain outcome – so if the favourite has a lot of people placing bets on them, then the odds for the favourite will get even shorter. 

However, if the underdog gets a lot of bets placed on them, then their odds will also get shorter. There are lots of reasons why lots of bets might be placed. Rumours of a training injury are just one of the reasons that could promote a flurry of bets.

Where Can I Find the Best Odds for MMA?

Odds are forever changing on betting websites. You’ll find many sites will try to offer favourable odds to lure players into placing their bets with them. The beauty of the internet is that you can now search and compare different odds on various Irish betting comparison websites. Of course, this all depends on how much you want to wager, and what aspects of the fight you’d like to bet on. You’ll find the best odds available for UFC on reputable Irish websites.

Popular Betting Methods for MMA

The most popular bet that pundits place on UFC events is the Money Line for a single bet. The other methods you can use are:

• Over/ Under;
• Number of Rounds;
• Method of Victory.

Cash Out

A very useful feature that online bookmakers have introduced in recent years is the ability to cash out a bet. This can be used to your advantage and help you to win money betting on MMA even if your bet eventually loses. How can this be true? Well, it’s simple. The cash-out option allows you to cash out your bet early. If your bet looks like it is winning, then the cash-out amount will be above your stake but below the amount, you would have won if the bet came in. 

For example, if you have put a bet on a fighter to win and they are up on the judges’ scorecards, then you would be able to cash out above your stake. If the fighter took a heavy hit in a round and it rocked them, then you might decide to cash out in order to still make a profit before the fighter you backed falls apart. 

By the same token, you can also get a small return if your fighter is in a losing position. If your fighter is down on rounds, then you will be offered a cash-out amount that is below your original stake but above zero. In order to cash out, you can find the option in the live bets section of your online bookmaker.

Live Streaming and MMA Betting

UFC fights are pay-per-view only, but people in Ireland can pay to watch the events on BT Sports Box Office. A Fight Pass will cost you around €30, and you can either watch it at home from your TV or stream it on to your mobile device.  You can place a bet on a fight at reputable bookies online, or a betting establishment. Most Irish betting companies on the internet will have odds available on upcoming sports events. 

If you fancy a stroll, the chances are high that there’s a local bookie near your residence but betting at a high street bookmaker is much less common for MMA. This is because MMA bouts don’t tend to be as highly publicised as other sporting events in the confines of a high street bookmaker. However, if you go in and ask, then you may be able to get access to MMA markets from the employees inside the shop.

What are the Biggest UFC Betting Markets?

The most popular betting markets for UFC are similar to the ones you would expect to find in boxing. Let’s take a quick look at each of them: 

• Result: The most popular type of bet to place is on the result of a fight. For example, you may bet on Jon Jones to beat Stipe Miocic. 
• Method of victory: A bet on how the fight will end. The options are knockout, technical knockout, submission, split decision, and unanimous decision. 
• Round betting: Like boxing, this is when you bet on the round a fight will end. This can be presented as an over/under market or you can bet on a specific round. 
• Handicap betting: Handicap betting is popular with the UFC. It can be used to give a fighter an advantage or disadvantage in the total points if the fights goes to a decision, or you can place a handicap bet on the result of the fight that is based around the number of rounds.

What is the best betting strategy for MMA betting?

In order to make it easier to win money on MMA betting, you will have to carry out a lot of research. The best area to focus your research on is the methods that fighters use to end their fights and the ways that fighters lose their fights. When you have this information available, you will be able to work out the most likely way that a fight will end. 

Your next step is to apply it to specific fights. For example, if there are two fighters facing each other and they are both submission experts who end their fights with submissions, you know that submission is the most likely way that the fight will end. This means that you will be able to place a wager on the fight-ending via submission. 

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you will have all the answers in regard to how to win betting on MMA, but it will increase your chances of success.

You can also use in-play betting to your advantage. For example, if during the fight, you notice that one of the fighters is landing a lot of heavy strikes, then it might be worth your while placing a wager on the fight-ending by knockout. This is especially useful if the strikes are having a big impact on the fighter being hit. 

On the whole, the best way to increase your chances of winning is to increase your knowledge so that you understand betting on MMA to a greater degree. Knowledge doesn’t guarantee success, but it does increase your chances. You need to pay attention to the run-up to the fight to optimise your betting strategy. If you check out the weigh-ins and what fighter is lapping up the media attention, you’ll have more knowledge of what way the fight will play out. 

We suggest that you keep an eye on UFC odds on Irish websites as they can fluctuate in the run-up to the event. You should pay attention to sudden large shifts in odds, as this can determine the match outcome, or it could also be false bets. Live betting will also help your strategy. As you watch the fight, you will soon find out if your wager is going your way. You can cash out at any time or place a quick bet if your chosen fighter is dominating the match.

Our Top 5 Tips for Betting on the UFC and MMA

1. Look for value: This one might seem obvious, but the UFC is such an explosive and, at times, unpredictable sport that you can always find good value odds if you spend your time looking. Bookies often favour undefeated fighters, but it is rare that a fighter ends their career unbeaten. It is one of the few sports where you can sometimes find great value in betting against the favourite, providing that you research and understand what and who you are betting on. 
2. Study form: As with any sport, the key to success in betting on the UFC is doing your research beforehand. You can often find previous fights to watch online, and a lot of analysis is available on Youtube, social media, and elsewhere. With such a wealth of information about the sport available, you would be foolish not to do your research before you bet. 
3. Don’t ignore the undercards: Like boxing, getting caught up in the big fights in UFC can be easy. While we’re not saying you shouldn’t pay attention to these, as they will often have the best bonuses and promotions, you should also keep your eye on the undercard. The undercard fights for UFC can be extremely unpredictable and entertaining, and you can find some great value in betting on them. 
4. Understand styles and match-ups: The world of MMA can be quite confusing for those that are new to it. Understanding what it means when a striker takes on a grappler can feel like learning a different language if you’ve never watched a fight before. As such, make sure you grasp the different fighting styles and how they will likely match up. This can be hugely advantageous when it comes to picking a winner. 
5. Manage your bankroll: Finally, you should always ensure you manage your bankroll correctly and not bet more than you can afford to lose. With combat sports, it can be easy to convince yourself that you are an expert and will win back your losses in the next fight, but you will never be 100% accurate, and you should learn to walk away when you can’t bet anymore.

How is MMA betting different from betting on boxing?

Most of the differences in betting between MMA and boxing come from the differences in sports. Firstly, the sports have totally different formats, with UFC and MMA fights being much shorter. 

This has made handicap betting much more popular in UFC, with the shorter format meaning a bet on Fighter A +2.5, for example, is much easier. The range of victory methods is also different, with submission being an option in UFC that doesn’t exist in boxing. 

UFC cards also occur more often and feature more matches, meaning there are more betting opportunities for the sport. You will also find that UFC will have closer fights, meaning better odds are available. This is because UFC is much less political, and big fighters don’t tend to avoid each other and search for easier opponents.

References

• MMA Ireland
• List of Irish UFC Fighters
• Official Ultimate Fighting Championship