Sports betting in MMA has become a central component of combat sports operations. Financial partnerships between betting companies and fighting organizations now shape broadcast presentations, fighter conduct policies, and regulatory oversight structures. These arrangements bring substantial revenue while creating new integrity concerns that require monitoring systems and enforcement mechanisms.
The UFC signed a five-year agreement with DraftKings in March 2021 worth $350 million. This partnership includes $250 million for media and marketing obligations, plus $100 million in cash rights fees. The arrangement makes DraftKings the UFC’s first official sportsbook and daily fantasy partner across the United States and Canada.
Sports Betting in MMA: The DraftKings and UFC Financial Structure
DraftKings secured branded placement on the ring canvas at selected events and became the presenting partner of the UFC Fight Clock. The company’s betting odds appear during fight broadcasts, and its branding extends across UFC social media assets, pay-per-view events, and content on the UFC Fight Pass streaming platform. This sports betting in MMA integration means viewers see betting information alongside fight statistics and athlete records during broadcasts, making wagering a visible part of the modern MMA viewing experience.
Sports Betting in MMA: Market Growth Patterns and Revenue Data
The sports betting sector shows consistent expansion across multiple measurement periods. Market valuations reached $92 billion in 2023, with projections indicating growth to $221.4 billion by 2032. A separate analysis places the 2024 valuation at $108.92 billion, expecting expansion to $198.53 billion by 2030. Online sports betting specifically accounted for $62.99 billion in 2024, with forecasts suggesting $163.78 billion by 2033.
United States betting markets generated $17.94 billion in 2024. Twenty percent of American adults placed sports bets in 2025, spending an average of $3,284 annually. The Super Bowl alone produced $1.39 billion in legal wagers in 2025. MMA betting handle reached $10.3 billion in 2024, representing a seventeen percent increase from the previous year. These numbers confirm the strong correlation between combat sports viewership and betting engagement across online and retail platforms.
Fighter Payouts and Betting Market Vulnerabilities
UFC athletes earn approximately 16–20% of organizational revenue compared to 50% in the NBA, NFL, and NHL. This compensation gap creates specific risks when fighters face financial pressures while possessing insider knowledge about injuries or training camp problems that could affect fight outcomes.
Several betting platforms now offer promotional incentives that attract both casual fans and athletes themselves.
FanDuel provides first-bet insurance up to $1,000, while the BetMGM bonus code grants new users risk-free bets worth $1,500.
Caesars Sportsbook matches initial deposits up to $3,000, and PointsBet offers second-chance bets valued at $2,000.
These promotions coincide with expanded MMA betting markets that generated $10.3 billion in handle during 2024. As financial incentives and betting exposure rise, regulatory safeguards have become increasingly important for protecting sporting integrity. We have to protect the integrity with sports betting in MMA becoming more and more popular.
The James Krause Betting Scandal
A betting scandal involving coach James Krause exposed structural weaknesses in combat sports integrity systems. Fighter Darrick Minner received a twenty-nine-month suspension after his sixty-seven-second loss to Shayilan Nuerdanbieke on November 5, 2022. Betting odds had moved dramatically before this fight, prompting an investigation by U.S. Integrity, a firm that monitors wagering activity.
Jeff Molina, another fighter connected to Krause’s gym, received a thirty-six-month suspension. Nevada’s deputy attorney general stated that Molina knew about his teammate’s pre-fight injury and placed bets using this insider information. Following these revelations, Ontario suspended all UFC betting in December 2022. Alberta removed the sport from sportsbook offerings temporarily.
Multiple betting platforms refused to accept wagers on UFC events due to concerns about fight manipulation and data integrity. Sports betting in MMA is not unfamiliar to different hurdles and challenges.
Regulatory Responses and Monitoring Systems
The UFC partnered with U.S. Integrity in January 2023 to monitor betting patterns across all events. This agreement covers Dana White’s Contender Series and establishes protocols for identifying unusual wagering activity. Ontario’s Alcohol and Gaming Commission lifted its UFC betting ban on January 19, 2023, after the organization amended its athlete code of conduct.
A second partnership with ProhiBet began in September 2023. This system monitors athletes, coaches, managers, handlers, athletic trainers, and UFC employees for prohibited betting activity. The updated conduct code explicitly prohibits these groups from wagering on UFC events and establishes disciplinary measures for violations. Together, these programs reflect the sport’s evolving approach to maintaining transparency and accountability in betting-related operations.
Revenue Streams Beyond Betting Partnerships
UFC revenue reached $1.14 billion in 2022, compared to $1.03 billion in 2021. Sponsorship agreements contribute substantially to these figures.
Crypto.com signed a ten-year deal worth $175 million as the Official Fight Kit Partner.
Bud Light returned as the official beer sponsor through an agreement reportedly exceeding $100 million.
The combination of betting partnerships and non-betting sponsors highlights how the UFC diversifies its financial ecosystem to sustain long-term growth.
Thirty-eight states plus Washington D.C. have legalized sports betting as of 2024. Each jurisdiction maintains different licensing requirements, tax rates, and operational regulations.
Ontario residents wagered CA$82.7 billion through regulated platforms in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, marking a thirty-one percent increase from the previous period. These numbers reinforce how rapidly betting adoption continues to accelerate across North America.
Betting partnerships now provide substantial revenue for combat sports organizations while introducing integrity challenges that require ongoing monitoring. The compensation structure for fighters creates particular vulnerabilities when athletes possess insider information about injuries or training issues.
Regulatory bodies and fighting organizations have implemented monitoring systems and conduct codes in response to documented betting scandals. These measures attempt to balance revenue generation with competitive integrity as betting handle continues to grow across combat sports markets.
As the relationship between sportsbooks and promotions deepens, maintaining ethical standards will remain critical for protecting the legitimacy of MMA.
Sustainable growth in betting-integrated sports depends not only on profitability but also on transparent governance and athlete accountability across every level of the industry.
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Disclaimer:
Respect My Region produces independent editorial content and may receive compensation from affiliate links, advertising partnerships, or sponsorships mentioned in this sports betting in MMA article. All betting-related information is provided for entertainment and informational purposes only.
Respect My Region does not provide or promote illegal gambling services, nor does it encourage wagering in jurisdictions where it is prohibited. Readers must be 21 years or older (or of legal age in their location) to participate in any form of sports betting or online wagering. Please check local laws before engaging in betting activities.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please contact the National Council on Problem Gambling at 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) or visit ncpgambling.org for confidential support.
