MMA Betting Sites in Canada [ 2024 ]
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By Doug Hirdle
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Mixed Martial Arts, simply referred to as MMA or cage fighting, is a popular sport worldwide, featuring fearless fighters engaging in full-contact combat. Fights require competitors to be skilled in a wide array of martial arts and fighting techniques, including striking, ground fighting, wrestling, and more.
That’s one of the reasons why MMA is so interesting to bet on. If you’re a fan of the sport and you’re from Canada, you’ll find plenty of useful information on the best betting sites for MMA.
First of all, we’ll offer you our comprehensive list of MMA betting sites that you can access in the Great White North.
After that, we’ll explain the entire selection process that helped us filter out the betting sites that failed to meet our strict standards.
We’ll also discuss some of the popular betting markets for MMA sports and how to place bets on them.
Since most online sports bettors like bonuses and promotions, we decided to devote one section to different promos on MMA betting sites.
Finally, we’ll give you a couple of useful tips and tricks for betting on the popular combat sport.
Read on.
Recommended Canadian Sports Betting Sites For Mixed Martial Arts
What you see below is the list of the best betting sites in Canada featuring MMA in their respective offers. Feel free to examine the list and pick the site that you think is best for you.
Take a good look at their available welcome bonuses, and make sure to read our review of the site of your choice to learn more about it.
If you’re not sure how to pick an MMA betting site, don’t worry.
We decided to guide you through our entire selection process and discuss the various aspects of online sportsbooks that we reviewed for every platform on the list.
- Canadian players accepted
- Canadian players accepted
- Canadian players accepted
- Canadian players accepted
- Canadian players accepted
The sport of MMA is of course not going to appeal to everyone, but if you enjoy this fast-paced sport then you can always back your favourite fighter by placing a wager on them in any UFC matches, and below are the sites we are happy to present and introduce to all of our Canadian website visitors.
Betting on all MMA sporting fixtures is both quick and easy at any of the above betting sites however be aware that to claim any of the MMA betting bonuses and free bets listed above you will have to comply with the terms and conditions on any such bonus, these can be found on the respective betting website. The bonuses are of course subject to change at any time so always check the websites of any betting sites whose bonus is of interest to you.
How We Selected the Best MMA Betting Sites
What makes some MMA betting sites better than others? That’s not an easy question to answer. Still, our team of experts has been part of the online betting industry for 20+ years and has created a system that helps them separate the wheat from the chaff.
We made a strict test covering every aspect of online betting sites that make up the entire experience. Online sports betting is easy, but the underlying technology powering betting sites is rather complicated.
We weren’t afraid to take a deep dive and explore every nook and cranny of every betting site before including it on the list.
Let’s take a look.
Licences and Regulations
Every legal online betting site must have a licence. It has to be issued by an official regulatory body specialized in licensing online gambling platforms. There are several reputable gambling commissions, and we made sure that every single site on the list has a licence from one of those.That’s the only way to ensure that you’ll be placing bets on a regulated site, meaning no illegal operations are underway.
Safety and Security
One of the significant issues with online gambling sites is that they require users to make a deposit. New bettors often aren’t sure whether the sites are safe and secure enough to trust them with their money.Therefore, security plays a vital role in online gambling. Our team of experts made sure that all sites on the list feature standard security protocols, such as SSL encryption, that make your online betting safe.
You’ll be able to make deposits and use any sportsbook from the list without worrying that a cybercriminal might steal your money or sensitive data.
MMA Betting Bonuses
Bonuses are an integral part of the online gambling industry. If a betting site doesn’t offer a bonus to attract new bettors and retain the regular ones, it’s simply not competitive enough. Still, not all bonuses are equally lucrative. Moreover, not all bonuses are as lucrative as they are marketed.Luckily, we’ve claimed our fair share of bonuses on online betting sites and can tell when a bonus is worth it, especially when it comes to promotions for new players.
To do that, we analyzed the T&C sections of every bonus and excluded the sites that offered unfavourable bonus terms. All betting platforms on our list grant excellent bonuses that provide real value to players.
MMA Betting Options
There are many great sportsbooks out there that lack one part that’s essential for this article — MMA betting. Therefore, our initial list consisted of all betting sites that include MMA.Still, not all of them offered enough cage fighting options to wager on, so we had to compare them and pick the ones that covered all the crucial fights and provided a wide array of betting markets for customers who enjoy the sport.
Odd Competitiveness
Some betting sites offer better odds than others. Simply put, if the odds for Nurmagomedov winning in the next fight are 1.5 in one sportsbook and 1.7 in another, you want to go for the latter, as you’ll receive $170 instead of $150 if you bet $100 and win the bet.No matter which site you pick from our list, you’ll have a chance to place bets on MMA fights with the best odds.
Live Betting
In-play betting has become quite popular, as many bettors enjoy placing their wagers on ongoing matches. They are exciting and can help you earn a quick buck if you make the right bet.We made sure that all betting sites presented on this page offer live betting and that you can bet on important MMA fights that way.
Mobile Betting
It’s no secret that the entire online gambling industry is switching to mobile devices. This is especially true for sports betting since many users find it convenient to place bets on the go. Therefore, we did our best to select sites that work well on all mobile phones and tablets.Some of them even offer native apps for Android and iOS devices, and all can be accessed using a mobile browser.
Payment Methods
Making real-money bets requires depositing to an online betting site first. Luckily, Canadians have plenty of options for online transactions, and we made sure that you can use most of them on any site from our list.Moreover, we ensured that the sites offer quick transaction times and decent minimum and maximum transaction limits.
Customer Support
Customer support teams on betting sites answer users’ questions and improve their overall betting experience. Some support teams are better than others, so we decided to test them as well, including only sites that provided adequate and timely responses to our inquiries.Is Betting on MMA in Canada Legal?
Betting options in Canada are minimal, and online betting is only available via several official platforms.
However, Canadians are free to join international betting platforms and place bets on MMA and other sports.
Mixed Martial Arts in Canada
MMA is a combination of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, boxing, wrestling and kickboxing. This is a bloody sport which often results in broken bones, concussions, serious lacerations and on rare occasions even death. The sport generates incredible excitement as the promoters tend to provide in-depth coverage in the form of fighter interviews, press conferences, webinar calls, face-offs and weigh-ins that hype the event and help generate massive pay-per-views.
The UFC recently hosted UFC 206 in Canada in December 2016 and the show turned out to be one of the best events in UFC history.
Top Betting Sports
Mixed Martial Arts Betting in Canada
Canadians who are looking to make quick bets love MMA matches as they generally don’t last very long and bettors get a result within a matter of minutes. UFC matches go for 3 rounds with 5 minutes for each round. Only Main Event and Championship matches go on for 5 rounds. However, matches tend to get over a lot quicker as the fight can be stopped due to a knockout, sub-mission or a disqualification.
There are a number of reputed online betting websites such as Bet365, William Hill, Paddy Power and 888sport that offer MMA betting. Although there are other smaller promotions that stage MMA matches, these sports betting websites offer matches that are hosted by the UFC and Bellator as they are the two biggest companies in MMA.
Canadians can log in to their accounts and check out who the favourite and underdog is and see the odds well before the match actually takes place. Most of these online betting sites allow betters to wager on the winner of the fight, method of victory, round betting and a combination of the method of victory (submission and points).
Betting on MMA can be a nerve-wracking experience as anything can happen in a fight and the favourite can go down with just one blow. Canadians will usually have a minimum of 5 – 8 matches to bet on during a UFC Fight Night or a UFC Main Card.
MMA Betting Events
Before we discuss MMA championships, it’s essential to get the terminology right.
Many people mix MMA with UFC. They are essentially the same thing, except MMA is the sport’s name, whereas UFC is the organization behind the most popular MMA championship — the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
The one thing you need to know is that various official bodies organize MMA tournaments, but UFC is the most popular one, and it’s covered on most online sports betting sites in Canada. Therefore, in this part of the article, we’ll focus on UFC. Apart from UFC, other organizations that cover MMA fights are Bellator, One, ACA, KSW, LFA, Deep, Road FC, EFC, KOTC, CFFC, CES, Jungle Fight, FFC, and more.
There are several MMA categories, and you can bet on any of them:
- Strawweight – 52 kg
- Flyweight – 57 kg
- Bantamweight – 61 kg
- Featherweight – 66 kg
- Lightweight – 70 kg
- Welterweight – 77 kg
- Middleweight – 84 kg
- Light Heavyweight – 93 kg
- Cruiserweight – 102 kg
- Heavyweight – 120 kg
- Super Heavyweight – 120+ kg
It is the UFC Matches that spawn the greatest number of Mixed Martial Arts wagering options, and as such you will always be best advised to do some research on your selected fighter, as often some of the lesser well-known entrants in these regularly held events have been known to strike form and start to make a name for themselves.
It may also pay dividends for you to learn the rules of MMA, for when you first come across this action-based sport you can often get a little overwhelmed by just how fast-paced the action is and may become slightly confused by the point and scoring system, however, you will soon master the art of MMA and when you do there is a lot of money to be made by using your skill and judgement to decide which wagers to place and on which opponent to bet on in any one match!
Types of MMA Bets
Like many other sports, MMA comes with a wide range of betting markets or things you can bet on. These are not just limited to Match Betting wagers, as you can also bet on the Total Rounds that will be used on any match and even some more exotic types of wagers such as Which Main Event Will End Quickest, or even will the fight go the distance!
With so many betting opportunities on offer, then the onus really is on you to track down the best odds on offer, and for plenty of wagering opportunities on all MMA bouts, you will not go far wrong with our featured betting sites.
Let’s take a look at the popular betting markets that are available for MMA in online sportsbooks.
Moneyline
Moneyline is a type of bet present in most sports. You simply need to pick a winner of an upcoming duel and place your money on them. If that person wins the fight, you win the bet. Simple as that!
Over/Under Bets
Since MMA matches are divided into rounds, you can bet whether the fight will last for more or less than the number of rounds suggested by the betting site.
For example, if the site sets the limit at 1.5 and you make an over bet, you’ll win it as long as the fight lasts for 2+ rounds. However, if it ends in the first round, you’ll lose the bet.
Method of Victory
One can win an MMA fight in one of three ways — KO/TKO, submission, and judges’ decision. You can bet which of the three methods will determine the winner. If you get it right, you win.
For instance, if you bet on KO and the winner is determined by the judges, you lose the bet.
Round the Fight Ends
There are usually five rounds in a single MMA fight, and you can try to guess which round the fight will end in. If you’re right, you’ll win money.
Points Handicap
Fighters are awarded points throughout the fight, and judges add points to determine the winner in the end. However, if one player is the favourite, betting sites will handicap them by a certain number of points, so they need to win by a predetermined point difference.
Prop Bets
There are all kinds of propositions that sportsbooks make for MMA fights. You can pick one and place a bet if you think that it will happen.
Types of Bonuses for MMA Betting
Bonuses and promotions in online sportsbooks are essential for attracting new bettors and retaining the already active ones. They are the cornerstone of every successful online betting site, so it’s vital to learn more about them to get the best possible experience with them.
Before discussing the different types of bonuses, let’s focus on several rules you should pay attention to. These are all indicated in the T&C section for every bonus.
- Wagering requirements — Every bonus amount needs to be wagered a certain amount of times before you can withdraw it. For example, if the wagering requirements are 10x and you get a $100 bonus, you’ll first have to wager $1,000 to convert your bonus money to real money.
- Expiry dates — Bonuses expire after a while, so make sure to use them or meet the requirements within the given timeframe.
- Odds requirements — Sometimes, you can only place your bonus money on eligible bets or odds higher than indicated. For example, if only bets that are 1.5 or higher are eligible, betting on odds lower than that will not count towards the wagering requirements.
- Maximum cashout — Online betting sites sometimes limit how much money you can win with your bonus cash. If you win more than that, the sportsbook will confiscate the surplus. For instance, if the maximum cashout is $100 and you win $150, you’ll still only be able to withdraw $100, and the platform will take the remaining $50.
We suggest you read the T&C for every bonus you want to collect before actually claiming it to learn more about these rules and get the best possible experience.
Now that you know how some of these bonuses work, it’s time to discuss the different MMA bonuses you can receive in online sportsbooks.
Welcome Deposit Bonus
Almost every online betting site offers a welcome deposit bonus. Just open an account, make a deposit, and you’ll receive a certain amount on top of your deposit.
For instance, if the bonus is 100% up to $500, and you deposit $100, you’ll get another $100 in bonuses. However, if you deposit more than $500, you’ll still receive $500 as a bonus since that’s the maximum you can get.
No Deposit Bonus
No deposit bonuses are usually much smaller than deposit bonuses, but they are awarded to players for free. The only thing you need to do to get one is open an account and become a customer. Many online betting sites feature no deposit bonuses.
Free Bets Bonus
Some betting sites will let you place a bet for free. After you make a deposit and place a bet, the site will load that money back to your account, making it as if you didn’t spend a single cent.
Of course, free bets also come with specific rules, which we recommend reading before collecting the promotion.
Risk-Free Bonus
A risk-free bonus is similar to a free bet, except that your money is only given back to you if you lose the bet, whereas a free bet bonus gives you back your money regardless of the outcome.
Reload Bonus
A reload bonus is similar to a welcome bonus, except its purpose isn’t to attract new customers but retain regular ones.
Once you start betting actively on a sports betting platform, you’ll begin making deposits more often, and reload bonuses reward you for being a loyal customer.
A standard reload bonus can offer 50% on top of your deposit, so if you deposit $100, you’ll get an additional $50 in bonus money.
Cashback Bonus
A cashback bonus returns some of your lost money to your account after some time. For instance, a standard cashback bonus could give you 10% of your spending back after a week, so if you spend $1,000, you’ll get $100 back.
MMA-Specific Promotions
Sometimes, betting sites offer promotions for specific sports. If you’re lucky, you might stumble upon promos that can give you a boost for betting on MMA events. These promotions are usually active before significant events and come in all shapes and sizes.
The most common promo is the Odd Booster, which simply offers better odds for some selections on an upcoming event.
Others
There are plenty of other promotions available on online betting sites. Once you select one platform, make sure to keep an eye on the Promotions page and subscribe to the newsletter (if there’s one) to be up-to-date with the latest promos and bonuses.
Tips and Strategies to Use for Betting on MMA
MMA can be an excellent sport to bet on if you apply the right strategy and do thorough research on upcoming fights and their participants.
We can’t discuss any advanced tactics for betting on MMA as they require already having some experience in the area, so if you’re new, you might get confused.
Instead, we’ll offer some entry-level tips that should help you kickstart your sports betting journey.
- Don’t bet on every fight — It might be tempting to make parlay bets on all upcoming fights, but if you’re not 100% sure whether to place a wager, don’t do it.
- Don’t bet on your favourite fighter — You might want your fighter to win, and it’s okay to root for them, but if there’s little chance of that happening, you should avoid risking your money on them.
- Research fighters’ past performances — Always research how individual fighters performed in their previous fights. If two fighters had already met each other in the octagon, it’s always great to analyze those duels to learn valuable information that can bring you profit.
- Don’t let emotions take over — Some bettors tend to get carried away and spend more money than they planned, which is never a good thing, so keep your emotions in check and never cross the line you set for yourself.
- Gain an advantage with a welcome bonus — Always use welcome bonuses and promotions to gain an advantage. These bonuses are great to help you explore how a particular betting site works and what betting markets you can bet on.
- Click on Winning Markets to see the different combinations of bets listed for MMA matches
- Search Google News or Twitter to see what is happening with the fighters you want to bet on – injuries, performance-enhancing drug disqualifications and personal issues can be decisive in the final outcome of an MMA match.
It is often the more in-your-face type of sporting event that seem to attract the biggest crowds, and you are not going to find a more in-your-face sport than Mixed Martial Arts, or MMA as it is better known.
As the name of the sport gives an indication, it revolves around fighters taking part in multi-round types of bouts whereby they use a varied number of Martial Arts moves in the hope that they subdue and eventually overpower their opponent.
As with every single sporting event covered here on the Betting.ca website, you are able to place a myriad of different bets and wagers on all up-and-coming MMA matches, and as such do have a look through this betting guide as some of what we are about to inform you of may be of interest to you if you fancy placing wagers on these kinds of events and bouts.
Final Thoughts
To sum up, MMA betting is an exciting activity, especially if you’re a big fan of the popular combat sport. Luckily, there are plenty of great online betting sites for Canadian bettors where you can find all the important MMA fights covered in detail. Most of them offer a wide range of betting markets for MMA, and some even have custom promotions before big fights.
Hopefully, this article helped you understand how MMA wagering works and how we created a list of the best betting platforms. Therefore, feel free to scroll up and pick a site that you like the most.
If you’re still unsure about picking a betting site, please look at our FAQ section below.
MMA Betting FAQ
