As one of the fastest growing sports in the world, it is understandable that many sports betting fans have turned their attention to MMA in recent years.
In many respects, MMA is the perfect sport to bet on. It is wildly unpredictable, and fights can end in a wide range of different ways. There is also a level of intrigue that comes from trying to predict stylistic matchups between fighters who have different backgrounds. This adds another layer of unpredictability which, in turn, makes for some potentially lucrative odds!
With these factors in mind, it is easy to see why so many online sportsbooks have started to offer bets on MMA fights.
If you are one of the many MMA fans out there looking for the best sportsbook for betting on MMA fights, what features should you look for? Are there any specific criteria you need to keep in mind?
What promotions do they cover?
As any self-respecting MMA fan knows all too well, there is a whole lot more to MMA than the UFC!
Given that it is by far the most popular MMA league — in fact, for many individuals, their knowledge of MMA starts and ends with the UFC — it is understandable that so many sportsbooks tend to focus on it.
However, if you want to get the most out of your sports betting experience on MMA fights, you are inevitably going to want more fights to bet on.
Look for sportsbooks that cover both the larger MMA promotions such as the UFC and Bellator, as well as the smaller regional promotions. This will ensure you are never lacking fights to wager on!
Sportsbooks such as SI Sportsbook are particularly good in this regard, as they cover the larger promotions such as UFC and Bellator, as well as a solid selection of smaller and regional promotions.
What betting options do they offer?
Another important consideration to keep in mind when you are searching for the best MMA sportsbooks is the betting options they support.
As most experienced sports betting fans will know, there are a wide variety of betting options beyond the typical ‘win/lose’ bets. This includes everything from money lines to totals and spreads. There are also various types of in-play and live bets, which add a whole new dimension to the experience.
While some sportsbook platforms will support all the possible betting options you can think of, it is not uncommon for them to focus on one specific type of betting.
If you are relatively new to online sports betting, this might not seem like too much of a deal breaker. However, as you progress, you might find yourself wanting to expand the different types of wagers you are placing — particularly if you have a high level of knowledge about your sport of choice.
As such, we would recommend choosing a sportsbook from the outset that will give you the biggest selection of bet types. Ultimately, this will save you having to switch later down the line.
Is it user friendly?
While it seems like an obvious factor to keep in mind when you are choosing a new sportsbook to wager on MMA with, you should never overlook the importance of user friendliness.
This is particularly important in the context of choosing a new sportsbook, as they have a tendency to be cluttered and not so easy to use!
A ‘user-friendly’ sportsbook will make it easy for you to switch between different betting markets and will display important information in a way that is easy to read. It will also allow you to place bets relatively easily — which is particularly important if you are placing in-play bets during a fight.
Do they offer any extra content?
You should also consider whether the sports betting platform you are interested in offers any additional content beyond placing wagers.
This could include anything from betting guides and predictions to event previews or even live-streaming.
We are particularly big fans of online sports betting platforms that allow you to watch live MMA fights as it can help you to cut down on the cost of having to pay for a pay-per-view. Paying for live fights can often be a costly affair — at least if the UFC pay-per-views are anything to go by — so this could save you a sizable chunk of cash in the long-run!
