How to Bet on MMA- Betting Guides, Tips & Markets

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is one of the most popular sports in the world and arguably the most popular combat sport in the world right now, even ahead of boxing. 

History of MMA 

The origin of MMA dates back to the 20th century. It was first discovered in Ancient Greece before it became popular in Asia in the 20th century. 

One of the people responsible for the popularity of the sport is the late Bruce Lee. Lee believed the best fighter is one who could adapt to any style, and not necessarily a boxer or a Karate man. 

Hence, MMA fighters are not restricted to one style. In fact, MMA can be seen as a combination of all combat sports. 

But despite the growth and popularity of the sport, thanks to Bruce Lee’s impact, MMA did not become a global sport until the advent of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which was created in 1993. 

The launch of the UFC catapulted the growth of MMA, making it the number one combat sport in the world ahead of the much-fancied boxing. 

Who are the Top MMA Fighters in the World

• Jon Jones: UFC Light Heavyweight champion between 2011-2015 and current UFC Heavyweight Champion. 
• Conor McGregor: McGregor is arguably the biggest name in the modern era of MMA following his exploits in the UFC. He is the first UFC fighter to hold two belts in different weight classes simultaneously. 
• Georges St-Pierre: GSP could stake claim to be the greatest UFC fighter of all time after winning multiple titles in the Welterweight and Middleweight divisions during his illustrious career.
• Israel Adesanya: Adesanya, also known as Stylebender, is one of the three Africans alongside Kamaru Usman and Francis Ngannou to make a name for himself in the UFC. He is a two-time champion in the Middleweight division.

MMA Rules 

Although the rules in the early era were different, they have now been ratified, with a new Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts now guiding all MMA fights. 

• Rounds: Every round in all MMA Fights is five minutes and a one minute rest before each round. It is important to note that a non-title fight has a maximum of three rounds, although special dispensation could be granted by the governing commission of the league. Meanwhile, a title-bout has a maximum of five rounds. 
• Apparel: All fighters must wear tight-approved shorts with no footwear. Female fighters are required to wear chest vests approved by the commission. All fighters are also required to wear approved light gloves, mouth guards and groin guards. 
• Points Scoring: Just like in boxing, MMA also uses a 10-point scoring system for each round. 
• Weight Classes: There are different weight classes in MMA, just like in boxing. This weight class include Strawweight, Flyweight, Bantamweight, Lightweight, Super Lightweight, Welterweight, Middleweight, Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight. 
• Techniques: Techniques such as striking (elbows, knees and punches) are allowed. Grappling is also allowed. However, headbutting, strikes to the back of the head, biting and hair-pulling are not allowed. 

MMA Competitions

1. UFC: Although there are multiple leagues under the MMA umbrella, the UFC is the biggest of them all. It is where all the top MMA fighters dream to fight and arguably the most popular combat championship in the world. As of 2023, the UFC has an operating income of $142.9 million and a revenue of $1.3 billion.
2. PFL: Aside from the UFC, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) is another league under the MMA. It was founded by Donn Davis in 2017 and launched in 2018. Although it has yet to gain the popularity of the UFC, it still boasts one of the most popular athletes in the sport, Francis Ngannou. 
3. Bellator MMA: Although it has since been taken over by the PFL, Bellator MMA is another league under the MMA umbrella. Founded in 2008, Bellator MMA was bought by the PFL in November 2023. 

There are also others like Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC), Konfrontacja Sztuk Walk (KSW) and Ares Fighting Championship, which can all be found on the Housebets website

Most Popular MMA Betting Markets 

Moneyline: This is the most popular market in all sports and it is available in MMA too. Here, you are betting on who will win the fight. 

Eg: You can bet on Israel Adesanya to beat Dricus Du Plessis in their UFC 305 fight. 

Method of Victory: In this type of bet, you are betting on not just the fighter to win but how he would win. You can choose win by points, technical knockout, knockout, submission or disqualification. 

Number of Rounds: This is also known as over and under betting. Here, you can bet if the fight will go past three rounds if it is a title fight. You can read more on over and under betting here. 

MMA Betting Tips and Strategies

• Make sure you do your research on both fighters before placing your bets. Sometimes, a fighter might carry an unspecified injury to a fight, which could affect his performance. 
• Ensure you find out the venue of the fight and the two fighters have performed at similar arenas. 
• In combat sports, styles make fights. It is important you study the fighting style of both fighters before making your decision. 
• Control your betting. Do not go chasing losses. Set a budget for yourself and stick to it. 

MMA Events to Bet on at Housebets

You can bet on different MMA competitions at Housebets. From the UFC to the EFC, Housebets has a market for all MMA fights. 

How do I bet on MMA at Housebets? 

To bet on MMA at Housebets.com. Open an account, and deposit any of your preferred currency into your account. Afterwards, go to the Sportsbook section and click on MMA to start betting. 

So what are you waiting for? Go to Housebets.com and start playing.  Create your account today and start betting. 

Why should you choose housebets? 

Housebets has some of the best offers on the site and amazing bonuses including, a 200% welcome bonus and a chance to pre-mine $1M of tokens. Also, you get to enjoy easy transactions. You can deposit into your account with any preferred currency of your choice with a fast payout option on winnings. 

There is a wide range of casino games to choose from. In the sportsbook section, you can also bet on live events, tennis, American Football, Soccer, Basketball, and other sports.