UFC 249 betting was far bigger than sportsbooks anticipated for the first major competitive sports event on U.S. soil since the COVID-19 Coronavirus shutdown. A stacked card coupled with pent-up demand led to a flood of money bet on the UFC 249 results and set the betting bar high for two UFC Fight Night events this coming week.
Two sportsbooks said UFC 249 betting brought record handle for an MMA event. Most other operators were equally over the moon after midnight Saturday, when UFC 249 wrapped up at a fanless arena in Jacksonville, Florida.
UFC 249 betting sets records
DraftKings and PointsBet USA reported record handle on UFC 249. While both books have operated in the U.S. less than two years, it’s still noteworthy to have that kind of action under current circumstances.
“Outstanding,” said Johnny Avello, director of sportsbook operations for DraftKings. “It was DraftKings’ biggest handle ever for a UFC card, almost doubling our biggest previous event.”
Densely populated New Jersey is the primary market for DraftKings and PointsBet USA. However, both operate in multiple states where bettors were surely just as eager to have a major event on which to wager.
“This UFC 249 card ended up slightly outperforming Conor McGregor’s return to the octagon in UFC 246,” PointsBet USA director of communications Patrick Eichner said, alluding to the January 18 card on which McGregor beat Donald Cerrone. “For us, those two (events) have blown every other UFC event out of the water, with handles comparable to a full weekend’s worth of NBA games.”
William Hill US took the largest reported bet on UFC 249 odds - a $105,000 wager at -210 on Tony Ferguson in his upset loss to Justin Gaethje in the main event. Nick Bogdanovich, director of trading for William Hill US, wouldn’t call his shop’s overall handle a record, but he was nonetheless pleased with the total.
“Handle was very good. I’m not sure what to compare it to, because of all the different factors,” Bogdanovich said, pointing to a fanless event and all the restrictions surrounding it. “Big thumbs-up to Dana White and UFC for pulling it off and having strong safety measures, as well.”
Derek Wilkinson, manager of The SuperBook at Westgate, said even with just three days of betting on this event – The SuperBook didn’t reopen its mobile app until Thursday – handle was strong.
“When you consider that there are almost no tourists in town and all of the bets came through the mobile app, it was a big success,” Wilkinson said. “Definitely not a record, but really good with all the limiting factors considered.”
Per @BetMGM's Jeff Stoneback on #UFC249 in total: "Small loss. All parlays rolled into last two fights. Overall, it was good hold but small handle compared to normal circumstances. Most handle on an event since #NFLDraft." @Covers
— Patrick Everson (@Covers_Vegas) May 10, 2020
UFC Fight Night betting
With UFC 249 betting a smash success, more MMA odds can’t come soon enough. Thanks to Dana White’s unmatched zeal, soon enough will be twice in the next week. VyStar Arena, which hosted UFC 249, will host UFC Fight Night on Wednesday, featuring Anthony Smith vs. Glover Teixeira, and another UFC Fight Night on Saturday, highlighted by Alistair Overeem vs. Walt Harris.
“I think these next UFC events will do even better in terms of handle, even if the card isn’t as good,” Wilkinson said. “People are just ready to have mainstream American sports back, and wagering on it makes it that much more entertaining.”
William Hill US, DraftKings and PointsBet USA tempered their expectations for the coming week, but still expect to write plenty of tickets and see reasonably good handle.
“We anticipate handle to be more on par with a stand-alone marquee NBA game,” Eichner said. “While the cards are less stacked, both Fight Nights will run largely uncontested. And after last night’s fireworks, people will be excited to tune in.”
