Best UFC Betting Sites

With larger-than-life personalities, big-time title fights and the bright lights of pay-per-view, the UFC is a popular option for sports bettors. MMA now represents a growing share of the betting action at sportsbooks.

Now that sports betting is legal in Massachusetts, betting on the UFC is a big portion of the menu at online sportsbooks. These are the best UFC betting sites in MA.

Best Massachusetts Sportsbooks For Betting UFC

Why These Are UFC betting sites in Massachusetts

With UFC television ratings surging, more viewers mean more bettors. Major sportsbooks have responded with multiple UFC and MMA betting options every week. Here are some of the best.

DraftKings Sportsbook

Massachusetts’ own DraftKings Sportsbook became the UFC’s first official sportsbook in 2021 as a part of a five-year deal. That means the pair will remain partners through the first few years of legal sports betting in Massachusetts and possibly beyond.

DraftKings has always and will continue to offer the largest list of betting options for UFC cards, including some rather distinct markets you won’t find elsewhere. The full list of UFC betting markets for every fight includes:

Fight Lines

• Moneyline (finish only, decision only, 1st round only, submission only, ko/tko/dq only)
• Total rounds/alternative total rounds
• Time of finish

Winning Method

• Method of victory/double chance/alt. method of victory
• Exact method of victory/exact method of victory double chance
• To win by finish/split/majority/unanimous decision

Fight Parlays

• Round and method of victory
• To win fight and total rounds
• Winner and group of rounds
• Round and exact method of victory

Fight Props

• Fight to go the distance
• Decision
• First-minute finish
• Time of finish

Round Props

• Round of finish
• Winning round
• To start round x

There are more live and in-fight betting options available at DraftKings than at any other sportsbook. In fact, you can bet blow-by-blow and on every takedown and submission attempt in every fight on a UFC main card.

DraftKings Sportsbook also runs a variety of UFC event promos and odds boosts. These usually include at least a 20% payout boost for bets up to $50 on the whole UFC card and a +100 boost to the odds on the main event.

Review: DraftKings Sportsbook MA

FanDuel Sportsbook

Even without an official UFC partnership, FanDuel Sportsbook has a comprehensive UFC betting experience. UFC betting markets are broken down into three categories at FanDuel:

• Main Card
• Prelims
• Fights

Under each category you’ll be able to bet on:

• Up-to-date MMA odds, lines, and spreads
• Who will win the fight
• How many rounds will the fight go
• Will the fight end in a KO/TKO, submission, or judge decision

The odds are extremely competitive in each of these markets. Dive a little deeper and you should find props for most fights, the entire card and the chance to bet on live UFC fights.

FanDuel has been known to offer a Quickest Fight on the card prop allowing you to bet on which fight will be shortest.

A FanDuel UFC promo surrounding this bet saw anyone who bet $10 on McGregor vs. Cowboy at UFC 246 get a $120 bonus when McGregor won in under a minute. FanDuel Sportsbook also has a reputation for boosting the odds on main event favorites as much as +500 on $20 bets.

Review: FanDuel Sportsbook MA

BetMGM Sportsbook

BetMGM markets itself as the “King of Sportsbooks,” and it certainly wears the crown when it comes to easily understood UFC betting markets. The UFC betting options in Massachusetts are as simple and straightforward as they come.

Find a fight on the platform and you’ll see the betting markets are broken down into four categories:

• All
• Main
• Round Betting
• Method

Bets available include standard fight wagers, bets asking a specific question, and over/unders. Here’s the full list:

• Fight Result (2-Way)
• Gone In 60 Seconds (Fight to end in under a minute)
• Round Betting
• Method of Victory (7-Way)
• When will the fight finish?
• Will the fight go the distance?
• How will the fight finish?
• Total number of rounds (over/under, standard lines and alternatives)
• Method of victory (5-way)
• Round and Method of Victory

BetMGM has up-to-the-minute and competitive odds for every UFC bet listed above. Plus, you’ll find a variety of live betting markets available during UFC fights.

BetMGM’s UFC promos have long included a Bet $10, Get $200 offer paying out a big bonus on an otherwise small bet, whether you win it or not.

Review: BetMGM Sportsbook MA

Caesars Sportsbook

Caesars Sportsbook isn’t going to wow anyone with the variety of UFC betting options. In fact, ahead of most UFC cards, ‘Bout Betting’ at standard moneyline odds is about all you’ll find for each fight.

However, you should be impressed by how competitive these fight odds are. Caesars Sportsbook tracks the latest odds and trends for all fights on UFC main cards and releases that info ahead of time on its sports blog. Better odds and better info can offer real value.

You’ll also find decent UFC odds boosts and curated UFC parlays available on the Caesars platform on the night of any UFC fight. The options may not be as plentiful as the competition, but Caesars is certainly in the UFC fight game.

Review: Caesars Sportsbooks MA

UFC betting apps and live UFC betting

Live betting harnesses today’s technology and provides bettors with many options unavailable only a few years ago. This means you can bet on a sporting event as it is happening.

You don’t have to get your bets in before the bout begins, and you can try to leverage your sports knowledge to bet on more favorable odds during the fight itself. Live betting odds will shift based on score and situation, whether it’s a football game or a UFC heavyweight bout.

For UFC action, the moneylines and lines for the method of victory will shift from minute to minute. For example, if Dustin Poirier closes as a -130 favorite versus Conor McGregor, the moneyline might shift in McGregor’s favor should he land some early punches. If you still believe Poirier will win the fight, you can grab him at more profitable odds mid-fight in this scenario.

All of the above sportsbooks offer a downloadable app for your phone or tablet that makes live betting even easier.

UFC odds boosts and bonuses

Sportsbooks are always looking for new bettors. They aim to win your loyalty through odds boosts and new player bonuses. For example, you may see a book like Caesars Sportsbook Massachusetts increase the sign-up bonus before a prominent UFC event. Other sportsbooks like FanDuel may offer a 30-to-1 odds boost on a specific fight, designed to give loyal players a profitable win.

DraftKings utilizes profit boosts for UFC events. You may see an offer for a 20% odds boost, meaning the odds on a fighter get juiced in your favor. Check back on this site to find the latest UFC betting promotions in Massachusetts.

How do UFC odds work?

UFC betting odds are most similar to boxing odds. Before you bet on UFC fights, here is how the main bets work:

Moneyline (fighter to win)

A moneyline bet is the same no matter the sport. You wager on the fighter you think will win the bout, and if that happens, you win too. For example, you may see UFC moneyline odds like this:

• Conor McGregor +110
• Dustin Poirier -130

If you bet $100 on McGregor and he wins, you win $110 (plus your bet back). If you bet $130 on Poirier and he wins, you’ll receive $100, plus your bet back.

To go the distance

A fight must last until the final bell for a fight to go the distance. A “to go the distance” bet (sometimes called a “fight to go the distance” bet) is a two-way bet on whether a fight will last until the end. It’s a simple win/loss or yes/no bet.

Over/under for rounds

An over/under for rounds is a bet on how long you think the fight will last. This bet sounds similar to a “go the distance” wager, and it is, with one crucial difference — the fight doesn’t have to last until the final bell.

The standard over/under for a three-round fight is 1.5 or 2.5. For Poirier vs. McGregor, you might be able to place a bet like under 1.5 rounds (+145)

To win the fight in a specific round

It’s as simple as it sounds. You pick the winner of the fight and the round in which it will end. The odds shift based on the attributes and record of each fighter. If a fight features a mismatch with one fighter holding heavy knockout power, you may notice the odds are less profitable in the first or second round.

• McGregor in round one +350
• Poirier in round one +550

In this scenario, oddsmakers believe that McGregor’s fighting style gives him a better chance to win in the first round. The odds shift as the rounds progress:

• McGregor in round three +1200
• Poirier in round three +850

Oddsmakers believe the fight favors Poirier in the later rounds.

To win a fight in a range of rounds

Picking a range of rounds is a less specific type of betting, but it can be a good bet. In the case of McGregor vs. Poirier, if you believe McGregor wins the fight by knocking Poirier out early, you’d take the option of McGregor in rounds one or two.

However, if you believe that Poirier will survive the early rounds and that his leg kick strategy will wear down McGregor, you can take Poirier in rounds three to five.

Winning methods

Like boxing, you can bet on how a fighter will win. Boxing has limited outcomes. There’s a knockout, technical knockout, draw or decision. MMA has all those bets but adds another winning method — submission.

Sportsbooks also offer parlay bets on round betting and method of victory. If you believe McGregor will win by knockout in round one, you can pair those bets for increased odds.

Vegas UFC odds vs. local sportsbook odds

Las Vegas and the oddsmakers at casino sportsbooks are still big names in the world of sports betting odds. More than any other entity, they are the “market makers.” When they release odds on a fight, the rest of the gambling world tends to pay attention.

That doesn’t mean you won’t see differences. The UFC stages many of its pay-per-view events from Las Vegas, and the books out there see a considerable amount of action.

Now that Massachusetts has legalized sports betting, you’ll notice slight but significant differences in Las Vegas odds and the odds of MA betting sites once they come online. To find the best odds, utilize multiple sportsbooks and shop for a good number.

How and why do UFC odds move?

Oddsmakers assess fighters on fighting style, record and the “tale of the tape.” The “tape” includes height, weight and reach measurements. Books use these numbers, analyze the matchup and release odds.

Odds move on UFC fights depending on the action coming in. For example, if the initial line is McGregor +110 and the early money favors that number, the sportsbook may move the line to +100 or lower. News reports can also shift UFC betting lines. If information leaks about Poirier struggling during training, his initial -130 odds might move to where McGregor is now the favorite.

Major UFC events or venues in Massachusetts

The UFC started holding events at Boston’s TD Garden back in 2010. That first card featured a lightweight battle between Frankie Edgar and BJ Penn.

2019 was the last time the UFC staged fights in MA, and it was for a live UFC on ESPN card featuring Dominick Reyes vs. Chris Weidman.

Sportsbook rules for UFC betting

Every sportsbook has specific rules for UFC bets, but there are universal rules you must know before you begin placing bets.

When can you place a bet?

You can place a pre-fight bet up until the first bell. During the fight, though, odds shift from moment to moment.

What happens if there’s a disqualification?

A disqualification acts like a knockout. You would win if you bet on McGregor by knockout, and Poirier receives a DQ.

What happens if there is a draw?

Many sportsbooks offer a draw (or tie) as the outcome. In such a case, you lose if you bet on a specific fighter to win.

There is another draw called a “technical draw.” A technical draw is when an injury happens due to an intentional foul, and the fight continues but must stop later due to the sustained injury. In the case of a technical draw, all bets are void unless they’ve already settled.

What happens to UFC bets if the fight is no contest?

A UFC fight is a “no contest” when an accidental injury causes a fight stoppage before enough time passes to make an official decision. If deemed a no contest, all bets are voided.

Can you bet on smaller MMA organizations?

While the UFC is the premier name in MMA fighting, other leagues like Bellator exist. However, they are niche organizations, and only a few online sportsbooks offer odds.

DraftKings and FanDuel do not release odds on these fights. Your best bet if you want to bet on Bellator or other smaller MMA brands is BetMGM. It has odds for Bellator, Invicta and PFL Challenger Series events.

Best MMA fighters from Massachusetts

Massachusetts has its share of famous MMA fighters. Here are two who’ve made their names under the bright lights of UFC.

Jorge Rivera

A Milford native, Rivera made his name in the 185-pound division. He fought all the premier fighters of his day and retired in 2012 with a TKO victory over Eric Schafer.

Kenny Florian

Fighting out of Brookline, Florian first gained prominence on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. He followed that appearance with a 17-year career featuring multiple title fights. Now retired, Florian stays active as a UFC commentator.