As one of the fastest-growing sports in the USA, it’s no wonder why MMA has become so popular with daily fantasy sports bettors. In this guide, you will find an overview of two great sites for MMA DFS that have welcome bonuses for new players.
Each fantasy MMA site is unique in that it offers different styles of contests. For this reason, you may find benefits to joining both depending on your individual preferences. We have provided links to the sites below so that you can easily and quickly register with a new player bonus.
| DraftKings | Deposit bonus up to $500 | Visit Site | Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Help is available for problem gambling. Call (888) 789-7777 or visit ccpg.org(CT). 18+ in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply. | |
| ParlayPlay | Up to $100 Deposit Match | Visit Site | T&Cs apply. 18+. New players only. |
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How to Play Daily Fantasy MMA
There are different rules to playing fantasy MMA depending on which site you choose to play it at. At DraftKings, there are several different contest modes. However, they are similar in that they are salary cap contests. This means that contestants must draft a lineup of fighters within a salary budget.
The chosen fighters will then earn points based on their real-life performances that week. At the end of the event, the total number of points earned by the chosen fighters is calculated together, and the contestants with the most points earn a share in a prize pool.
The contest modes at ParlayPlay are vastly different and utilize a combination of parlay sports betting odds and fantasy points scoring. We’ve explained these contests in further detail in an upcoming section. Both daily fantasy sports sites exclusively offer fantasy UFC and no other MMA leagues.
Overview of Fantasy MMA with DraftKings
DraftKings offers the most diverse MMA daily fantasy competitions in the USA and exclusively uses salary cap formats. The best thing about playing with DraftKings is that it is an extremely popular platform, which means that you’ll always be able to find contests that fit your individual needs and budget.
You can either play against your friends or against strangers. It’s important to note that contests will only last for a week, so you’ll need to draft new lineups before each major event. This is unlike traditional DFS sites, which tend to be for the duration of a season or year.
Types of DraftKings MMA DFS Contests
There are three different contest modes available for DFS MMA at DraftKings, with the UFC being the only league available. While all function similarly, some contests give you the chance to boost your wins with a carefully selected captain. We’ve provided the details and score sheets for each below.
DraftKings “UFC Classic Contests”
The UFC Classic contest is the closest contest to traditional fantasy sports that you’ll find. In this mode, you must draft a lineup of six fighters with a salary of $50,000. All fighters will be priced differently according to their winning statistics, with fighter pools consisting of expected performers for the event.
DraftKings “Captain Mode”
The UFC Captain Mode is a salary cap contest that also requires players draft six fighters into a lineup. However, one of these fighters must be highlighted as the Captain. This fighter will earn 1.5X the points on the scoresheet. However, they will cost more to promote to a Captain. The same score sheet as the classic contest applies.
DraftKings “Reignmakers Captain Mode”
The Reignmakers UFC Captain contest follows similar rules to the classic Captain mode, though contestants can only recruit fighters that they hold UFC player cards. These must be purchased through the site. Only five fighters can be drafted, with each player card having a set ranking. Depending on the contest, your Captain must be a certain ranking.
DraftKings Fantasy MMA Summary
The DraftKings MMA fantasy league platform is one of the best options for both new users and regular players. The site has been well-designed for easy use and ensures that newcomers have a wealth of information to get started with confidence. The fact that there are three contest modes is also a huge perk.
There are many other perks to using DraftKings, with there being several other DFS sports, reliable customer support, regular promotions, and a high-performance sports betting platform too. You can also use the site on your mobile which is great for those who prefer remote DFS UFC gameplay. Find out more about this platform in our expert review of DraftKings.
Overview of Fantasy MMA with ParlayPlay
The ParlayPlay platform is a relatively new site that offers an innovative blend of parlay sports betting and daily fantasy sports. There are two DFS MMA contest options to enjoy that require you to formulate your own or respond to player props on fighters. This means you don’t have to create lineups.
The real money contests are available in most US states where DFS is legal. In states that haven’t legalized fantasy sports, you can try its free MMA fantasy league contests. These are even a great way to familiarize yourself with the contests before you spend real money on them.
Types of ParlayPlay MMA DFS Contests
You can enjoy two real-money UFC fantasy league contests as a registered player at ParlayPlay. These are called More/Less and Hit It, and both function in response to player props. This makes them a vastly different experience from standard salary cap contests.
ParlayPlay “More/Less”
The More/Less contest sees contestants choose between two and four fighters that are predicted to be competing in an upcoming UFC round. There will be projected stats for each fighter’s performance. You must predict whether they will score more or fewer points than what is predicted, with payouts awarded if your estimates are correct.
ParlayPlay “Hit It”
The Hit It mode essentially provides the opposite experience to More/Less. It is the contestant’s objective to create an estimated point range for two fighters. If one of the fighter’s projections is correct, you’ll earn a 2X multiplier on the buy-in. Two correct estimates awards a 6X multiplier. This is a daily fantasy MMA experience for more experienced players.
ParlayPlay Fantasy MMA Summary
We recommend the ParlayPlay fantasy app to those who are fans of sports betting parlays and who are after a daily fantasy UFC option that is unconventional and new. The contests are best suited to those who are very familiar with the events, though the platform is so easy to use that newcomers can still play comfortably.
One of the biggest perks is that you only need to consider the performances of a maximum of four fighters rather than a detailed lineup. There is also a free-to-play UFC fantasy betting offering for those in non-legal states and those looking to sharpen their skills without risking cash. It has been designed with mobile users in mind.
MMA DFS Tips & Strategy
When making your DFDS UFC picks, you’ll first want to set amount a good deal of time to research. While DraftKings will have plenty of useful statistics to inform your drafts, it’s also helpful to look at the official UFC website. We suggest starting off with low-risk picks to begin with.
In your MMA fantasy predictions, it’s worth drafting both fighters from the main event. This will guarantee a considerable amount of points no matter the outcome. Consider the ownership rates of other fighters, and aim to select fighters with at least a 65% ownership rate. This way, everyone will take a hit if the fighter loses.
In your research, look for reliable scoring floors of fighters as opposed to their ceilings. These can lead to better prices for fighters and may allow you to take advantage of mispricing. Be flexible enough to change your drafts right up to the very last minute in case fighters drop out.
Guide to MMA DFS Roster Construction
In your fantasy MMA fights lineup, it’s worth drafting both fighters from the main event. Then, you’ll want to recruit fighters that have high striking volume, takedowns, and control time. Look at the strikes per minute on the official UFC page and other stats as these may not be represented on the DraftKings page.
It’s also worth looking at fighters that take more strikes than they land and avoid recruiting them. On the same token, look at those with poor takedown defense and how they compare to their opponents’ takedown volumes. While anything can happen in UFC fantasy matchups, it’s not always worth playing fast and loose.
Helpful MMA DFS Resources
Before you finalize your fantasy MMA picks, it’s best to take advantage of the wealth of information that is available online. It’s best to start by referring to the UFC website right up until the contest picks close. You’ll want to respond to injury reports so as to not risk losing points.
There are plenty of podcasts online too that discuss MMA and that will provide you with sports betting and fantasy MMA advice. This will provide expert insights and suggested picks as well as discussions on top fighters. Many forums will also be useful to find fan-driven discussions.
As well as this, YouTube is home to many vlogs from pundits that offer UFC fantasy advice. Some may prefer to use websites to make their UFC DFS picks, though we recommend that you only use these to start a foundation. From there, make adjustments based on your research.
Our Pick of the Top Daily Fantasy MMA Mobile App
Before we conclude this guide to the best fantasy MMA site, we want to discuss the important topic of mobile gameplay. Both DraftKings and ParlayPlay provide native apps for iOS and Android devices that allow you to do everything from drafting teams to making transactions.
Both apps are user-friendly and easy to navigate. Most importantly, they are stable and allow users to access the same statistics as are available through the desktop platforms. Due to the fact that both platforms offer vastly different experiences, we suggest that you download the fantasy MMA app that suits your tastes best. DraftKings does certainly have the larger selection of sports, and even offers daily fantasy NASCAR which is a lot of fun.
| DraftKings | Deposit bonus up to $500 | Visit Site | Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Help is available for problem gambling. Call (888) 789-7777 or visit ccpg.org(CT). 18+ in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply. |
Final Thoughts on Choosing an MMA Fantasy Site With two great platforms for MMA fantasy betting available, you’ll be able to find the right platform and contests that appeal to your individual needs. DraftKings is great for traditional style contests, while ParlayPlay provides a different approach. One benefit of the latter is that you can enjoy free fantasy MMA contests too.
FAQ
Where is the best site to play fantasy MMA?
We have recommended two great platforms to play fantasy MMA. These are DraftKings and ParlayPlay. However, both are vastly different in terms of what they offer. DraftKings provides three different contest modes in the salary cap format. It is a reliable platform with a huge user base and accessible buy-ins.
PaylayPlay provides a blend of parlay sports betting and daily fantasy sports. It also offers a free fantasy UFC option which is well worth taking advantage of to learn how the contests work. Both sites are available through mobile and desktop platforms and have been well-designed for easy use.
Which DFS operator with MMA has the best new player bonus?
Both sites provide welcome bonuses to new players. They have varying terms and conditions, though they are the same in that you’ll have to have never held an account with the sites to claim bonuses. You’ll also need to meet minimum deposit requirements and wagering requirements.
It’s hard to say which bonus is better due to the different natures of the sites. That said, both offer deposit matches in bonus funds, with DraftKings offering more funds. We recommend that you claim both to check out what each site offers. You’ll be able to spend your bonus to back UFC fantasy fights.
How does fantasy MMA work?
Depending on the type of contest you choose to participate in, there are different ways that MMA DFS plays out. For salary cap contests, you’ll need to draft a lineup of five or six fighters within a $50,000 budget. You will earn points based on the real-life performances of these fighters, with the top-scoring players in a contest earning cash prizes.
At ParlayPlay, there are two different fantasy contest modes. In More/Less contests, you are to respond to projected stats for a number of fighters, predicting whether they will score more or fewer points. In Hit It contests, you’ll need to form your own projected stats for two fighters.
How is MMA scored in daily fantasy?
There are several ways that your UFC picks DFS will be scored. In the traditional contest mode at DraftKings, you’ll earn points for a fighter’s strikes, significant strikes, control time, takedowns, reversals and sweeps, and knockdowns. You’ll also earn points for how quickly they win the fight.
In Captain Mode contests, you’ll be able to assign one fighter to earn 1.5X the points. However, they will be more expensive to draft. The ParlayPlay payout system is different as it requires you to respond to individual projected stats of the fight or set your own. You’ll win if your predictions are correct.
Why isn't there a season-style fantasy MMA?
There is no season-style fantasy MMA as fighters don’t compete in teams as they do in traditional major league sports. The fight cards can also be more predictable due to the outcomes of each round, so scheduling a whole season of contests isn’t reliable like it is in sports such as NFL.
The short-term competitions such as UFC fight night DFS is easier to find than season-long contests. This is likely because season-style contests require much more dedication than daily fantasy contests. This trend toward short-term contests can be found at all major fantasy betting sites.
What are some tips to pick fighters in daily fantasy MMA?
We’ve recommended a number of useful tips to pick fighters in DFS in a dedicated section of this page. For starters, it’s a low-risk move to draft both fighters from the main event as you’ll be guaranteed to win points and the underdog won’t be too expensive.
You’ll also want to refer to statistics on the UFC website to check the strike and takedown volumes of each fighter compared to their opponents. We suggest stacking your lineup with popular fighters too. It’s also useful to refer to an MMA DFS cheat sheet that many pundits will publish each week.