Few sports match the intensity, unpredictability, and mental warfare of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Fighters step into the octagon prepared to walk a tightrope between glory and defeat, often risking everything on a single punch, choke, or judge’s decision. The parallels between MMA and high-stakes gambling are hard to ignore. Whether it’s the mindset, the strategy, or the unpredictable outcomes, fighters and gamblers often live by the same code: calculated risk in pursuit of a big payoff. With the rise of betting sites not on GamStop, the connection between fans of combat sports and gambling culture has only grown stronger, offering more flexibility and fewer restrictions for placing bold bets.
Top 5 Ways to Turn MMA Knowledge Into Smart Wagers
If you’ve spent more Saturday nights than you can count glued to the octagon, arguing decisions, predicting finishes, and analyzing walkout songs, you’re not just a fan—you’re sitting on a goldmine of fight IQ. But here’s the twist: while most people scroll fighter stats and ranking data out of curiosity, a growing number are turning that insight into something more profitable.
You don’t need to be a Vegas oddsmaker or a professional gambler. With the right approach, your MMA knowledge can evolve into an edge, especially in the modern betting world that now includes everything from traditional sportsbooks to sweepstakes-based gambling platforms. Below, we’re breaking down the top five ways savvy fight fans are leveraging their MMA obsession into smarter wagers—and how you can do the same.
Current MMA Rankings Updated (04-20-2025)
Big change to the Current MMA Rankings.
Aside from the P4P and Division Dominance lists, we are now ranking every fighter with 15 points or greater. This will result in approximately twice as many fighters being ranked!
The Generated Historical Rankings will also be expanded in the same manner. The 2025 sets have already been updated. The 2022-2024 sets will be updated by the end of the today, while the rest will be updated throughout the next several weeks.
Without question, this expansion will reveal some data errors (ex: wrong gender) and perhaps some shortcomings and bugs. As usual, our primary focus is on the top of the rankings. However, if you see anything strange, let us know in the forum, or submit a comment.
We may do further expansion in the near future…. stay tuned.
Betting on MMA
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has quickly risen to one of the most exciting and unpredictable sporting events in the world, thrilling audiences with its combination of striking, grappling and strategic skills and this means that entering the world of MMA betting requires going beyond just guessing the winner. Here is the insider’s guide to the vital details to know so that bettors are fully prepared to make some informed bets and maximize their MMA betting experience.
Bruce Lee wasn’t a Fighter — And that’s Okay
The concept doesn’t sound like Bruce Lee’s philosophy. He wasn’t a fan of tournaments or competition. Competition has always been at the heart of MMA. I don’t think MMA exists without it. Bruce wasn’t a fan of rules, and while early UFC didn’t have many, there were a few, and they grew out of necessity. Bruce liked unconventional strikes like groin and eye gouges. There also weren’t any fighters from his school of thought. One would think if he had really had an influence, that would have been a concern, there would have Jeet Kune Do.
Vale Tudo — the no-holds-barred fights from Brazil — dates to the early 20th century. These matches inspired the Gracie Challenge, which would later inspire Rorion Gracie to co-create the UFC. That’s the most direct path to the UFC, and the goal was to recreate Vale Tudo in America. Vale Tudo is MMA.
Shoot fighting developed in Japan in the 1970s from the influence of Karl Gotch. This evolved into Shooto, Pride FC, and Pancrase. Ken and Frank Shamrock and Bas Rutten came from Pancrase. Ken Shamrock competed in UFC 1. So from the very first event of UFC, Shoot fighting was there integrating and competing with the Vale Tudo and BJJ elements. Pride FC ran parallel to UFC and was its own iteration of MMA that evolved from that same ancestry. Anderson Silva, one of the best UFC fighters ever, fought in Shooto and then in Pride. Shogun Rua started his career with Vale Tudo and moved to Pride and eventually to the UFC to be a UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Bellator and One Championship share this common lineage. Shoot fighting is MMA.
Current MMA Rankings Updated (04-13-2025)
Notable Info
- Men’s Featherweight expanded to 700 fighters.
This Week’s WHR Bets/Parlays
Both parlays in the green for the year.. let’s see if we can keep this going!
Fights considered must satisfy all of the criteria below:
- Both fighters must be active (fought in 360 days prior to event). Reduces uncertainty.
- Both fighters must have at least 5 fights, with at least 1 draw or 1 loss (excluding debut). More data makes WHR happy.
- Both fighters must be rated in the same division as the fight. Further reduces uncertainty.
- Must have odds from at least three bookmakers.
Underdogs or Favorites? What UFC Odds Are Really Telling You
When UFC fans and sports bettors look at a fight card, one of the first things they notice is the odds. But what are those numbers really saying? Are favorites as unbeatable as they seem? Do undervalued underdogs hold hidden potential? Understanding UFC odds is crucial not just for accurate betting predictions but also to truly grasp the dynamics of the fight.
This article dives deep into what UFC odds reveal about matches, fighters, and betting opportunities. Whether you’re an experienced bettor or a curious fan, you’ll learn to read between the lines and find the insights that matter.
Fight Matrix Program – UFC 314: Volkanovski vs Lopes (04-12-2025)
Featherweight Championship (145)
[#2][#2UFC] Alexander Volkanovski (26-4-0, -147) vs. [#5][#5UFC] Diego Lopes (26-6-0, +123)
Alexander Volkanovski is the All-Time #2 ranked Featherweight and #7 ranked Absolute fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Alexander Volkanovski (1-2-0)
2024-02-17: L vs. [#1FW][#1DD][#5P4P] Ilia Topuria (16-0-0) via KO (Punch) in 3:32 of round 2
2023-10-21: L vs. [#1LW][#2DD][#1P4P] Islam Makhachev (27-1-0) via KO (Head Kick and Punches) in 3:06 of round 1
2023-07-08: W vs. [#8FW] Yair Rodriguez (19-5-0) via TKO (Punches) in 4:19 of round 3
Last 3 Fights: Diego Lopes (3-0-0)
2024-09-14: W vs. [#7FW] Brian Ortega (16-4-0) via UD (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
2024-06-29: W vs. [#22FW] Dan Ige (18-9-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2024-04-13: W vs. [#86FW] Sodiq Yusuff (13-4-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:29 of round 1
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Alexander Volkanovski | -147 | 57.02% | |
| Elo K170 | Alexander Volkanovski | 2183.05 | +119.20 | 66.51% |
| Elo Modified | Alexander Volkanovski | 2141.50 | +92.43 | 63.00% |
| Glicko-1 | Alexander Volkanovski | 2192.63 | +71.19 | 60.10% |
| WHR | Alexander Volkanovski | 2122.76 | +174.10 | 73.15% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Alexander Volkanovski 36.5, Diego Lopes 30.3
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Alexander Volkanovski 420, Diego Lopes 210
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 1 win(s) against common opposition.
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Lightweight (155)
[#11][#10UFC] Michael Chandler (23-9-0, +132) vs. [#17][#13UFC] Paddy Pimblett (22-3-0, -158)
Michael Chandler is the All-Time #18 ranked Lightweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Michael Chandler (1-2-0)
2024-11-16: L vs. [#3LW] Charles Oliveira (35-10-0) via UD (49-46, 49-46, 49-45)
2022-11-12: L vs. [#6LW] Dustin Poirier (30-9-0) via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in 2:00 of round 3
2022-05-07: W vs. [#109LW] Tony Ferguson (25-11-0) via KO (Front Kick) in 0:17 of round 2
Last 3 Fights: Paddy Pimblett (3-0-0)
2024-07-27: W vs. [#41LW] Bobby Green (32-17-1) via Technical Submission (Triangle Choke) in 3:22 of round 1
2023-12-16: W vs. [#109LW] Tony Ferguson (25-11-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2022-12-10: W vs. [#53LW] Jared Gordon (20-7-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Paddy Pimblett | -158 | 58.69% | |
| Elo K170 | Michael Chandler | 2029.67 | +21.86 | 53.14% |
| Elo Modified | Michael Chandler | 2002.44 | +18.20 | 52.62% |
| Glicko-1 | Michael Chandler | 2069.17 | +13.77 | 51.98% |
| WHR | Paddy Pimblett | 1964.27 | +108.81 | 65.17% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Michael Chandler 38.9, Paddy Pimblett 30.2
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Michael Chandler 147, Paddy Pimblett 259
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 1 win(s) against common opposition.
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Featherweight (145)
[#19][#13UFC] Bryce Mitchell (17-2-0, +261) vs. [#26][#17UFC] Jean Silva (15-2-0, -337)
Last 3 Fights: Bryce Mitchell (2-1-0)
2024-12-07: W vs. [#519FW] Kron Gracie (5-3-0) via KO (Slam and Elbows) in 0:39 of round 3
2023-12-16: L vs. [#12FW] Josh Emmett (19-5-0) via KO (Punch) in 1:57 of round 1
2023-09-23: W vs. [#22FW] Dan Ige (18-9-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Last 3 Fights: Jean Silva (3-0-0)
2025-02-22: W vs. [#267FW] Melsik Baghdasaryan (8-3-0) via TKO (Punches and Elbows) in 4:15 of round 1
2024-07-13: W vs. [#69LW] Drew Dober (27-15-0) via TKO (Doctor Stoppage) in 1:28 of round 3
2024-06-29: W vs. [#29BW] Charles Jourdain (16-8-1) via KO (Punch) in 1:22 of round 2
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Jean Silva | -337 | 73.57% | |
| Elo K170 | Bryce Mitchell | 1864.26 | +23.02 | 53.31% |
| Elo Modified | Bryce Mitchell | 1863.71 | +6.71 | 50.97% |
| Glicko-1 | Jean Silva | 1929.13 | +57.06 | 58.14% |
| WHR | Jean Silva | 1894.00 | +101.27 | 64.18% |
Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Bryce Mitchell 30.5, Jean Silva 28.3
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Bryce Mitchell 126, Jean Silva 49
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Keep Reading
The Mental Game: Psychology of Canadian Fighters
Fighting is as much a mental battle as it is a physical one. Step into a ring, a cage, or onto the mats, and what unfolds is not just a contest of skill, strength, or endurance – but of psychology.
For Canadian fighters, the road to success is paved with more than just hard training and physical resilience. It requires an unshakable mindset, the ability to regulate emotions under pressure, and the mental endurance to push past fear, doubt, and fatigue.
Understanding the psychology behind these athletes – their struggles, their strategies, and their triumphs – gives us insight into what it truly takes to compete at the highest level.
Top 5 Fights Fans Can’t Wait to See in 2025
As we charge into 2025, the boxing and MMA communities are practically buzzing with electricity. Fans can’t stop chattering about the matchups that might just rewrite the history books and leave us with moments we’ll replay in our heads for years. Names like Gervonta Davis, Vasyl Lomachenko, Canelo Alvarez, and David Benavidez are floating around, and the hype is unreal. The stakes couldn’t be higher—it’s that same wild rush you get when you’re placing a bet at a phone deposit casino, heart pounding as you wait to see how it all plays out. That thrill of uncertainty mirrors what’s about to unfold in the ring and octagon. So, let’s dive into the top five fights that have us all on the edge of our seats, fueled by that deep, burning love we share for combat sports. These aren’t just fights—they’re stories waiting to explode.
How sports betting is taking over the MMA and combat sports world: Strategies, popularity, and the future
MMA and fight sports wagering has been at the top of gambling trends worldwide, particularly with the increasing popularity of the UFC as well as other combat organizations. As combat sport popularity grows, so does public interest in how to bet on fight outcomes. Combat sports make for a unique betting experience, which operators such as Betway Ghana has realized, resulting in expert predictions, analytics, and live betting options on various MMA and combat sports events. Betway Ghana is leading the market, offering betting options both within the combat sports world and beyond.
Volkanovski Vs Lopes and Other Highly Anticipated Fights in MMA History
Why Rivalries Are the Heart of MMA
Beyond the skill of the fighters, one of the things that keeps viewers glued to the press conferences and engaging with MMA content on social media is the rivalries. Rivalries draw attention. This is not just for ardent MMA fans but even outside the existing fan base. They create intricate and emotional stories that light up social media platforms. With rivalries, it’s not just about the rift between the fighters but the anticipation it creates for the game.
Rivalries are important to MMA because the personal stakes that the fighters have pushed them to exceed their limits. The drive to outperform the opponent is heightened and makes fights more intense and memorable. It also brings fans along on the journey. Fights are not just for entertainment. Fans can connect with their favorite fighter’s story, making every fight feel personal. Because of this, online betting platforms like GGBET allow every fan to have more skin in the game and be part of their favorite fighter’s victories.
This Week’s WHR Bets/Parlays
Fights considered must satisfy all of the criteria below:
- Both fighters must be active (fought in 360 days prior to event). Reduces uncertainty.
- Both fighters must have at least 5 fights, with at least 1 draw or 1 loss (excluding debut). More data makes WHR happy.
- Both fighters must be rated in the same division as the fight. Further reduces uncertainty.
- Must have odds from at least three bookmakers.