Conor McGregor and Max Hollow will meet in the octagon once again for a long-awaited rematch in one of the most anticipated fights of the year for UFC fans and bettors alike. More than a decade after McGregor’s unanimous decision victory in their first fight, the two former champions are set to square off under a different set of circumstances.
Holloway enters the fight as the clear betting favorite. His recent activity and consistent performances against some of the UFC’s best talent has him prepped for this bout against McGregor who has been out of competition for over five years. Still, McGregor will be motivated to prove he still can compete at the highest level after such an extended layoff.
Whether you are a seasoned UFC bettor or placing your first MMA wager, there are several markets worth exploring beyond just the traditional moneyline. Sportsbooks often offer odds on method of victory, total rounds, fights to go the distance, round betting and same-game parlays as well. McGregor’s dangerous knockout power against Holloway’s durable volume striking style present a unique opportunity.
The Sporting News explains how to bet on McGregor vs. Holloway 2, breaking down the latest betting odds and offering expert analysis and key matchup trends to make the best decisions before all of the fighters step into the octagon at UFC 329. Plus, new users can bet $5 on this card and get $200 in Bonus Bets instantly at DraftKings Sportsbook.
MORE: Breaking down the best UFC betting sites
How to bet on Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway II
Betting on the Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway fight is quite simple. First you need to choose a sportsbook to bet with. DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, bet365 and Fanatics all offer odds on the entire UFC 329: McGregor vs. Holloway 2 fight card.
1. Choose your sportsbook and claim your welcome bonus
Once you choose your sportsbook, you can claim a welcome bonus. First, you must sign up and enter all of your verification information such as your name, address, social security number and other details. Once your account is confirmed you can claim a welcome bonus from one of these sportsbooks below.
2. Learn the main MMA bet types
There are a variety of ways to bet on MMA, including several popular bet types. Moneylines allow users to pick an outright winner and profit if their fighter comes out victorious. Total round betting provides betters with the opportunity to call their own shot on how many round a fight will last. Prop betting has all the niche markets that an MMA bettor could ask for. To learn more about the variety of bet types, check out our full guide below.
3. Research
Successful MMA betting requires analyzing fighter statistics like strikes and takedowns, recent form, style matchups and training camps to identify value in odds. Key factors include researching a fighter’s opponent quality, whether or not ring rust (long layoffs) plays a factor and overinflated lines.
4. Place your bet
Pick the fighter that you like to win or the method of victory you like that fighter to win by, and enjoy the fights.
MORE: Everything to know about betting on MMA
Best MMA sign-up promos
Best UFC sportsbook promos for existing users
If you are already a sportsbook customer, the best UFC promos typically aren’t welcome bonuses but ongoing offers such as odds boosts, profit boosts, bonus bets, parlay insurance and rewards. These promotions are usually refreshed before every UFC event.
- DraftKings Sportsbook: UFC odds boosts, same-game parlay boosts and stepped-up parlays
- FanDuel Sportsbook: Profit boost tokens, same-game parlay insurance
- BetMGM: Parlay boosts, odds boosts and rewards points tied to UFC
- Caesars: Daily odds boosts and Caesars rewards promotions
- bet365: Bet boosts, Early Payouts, Profit Boosts
UFC 329 expert picks
Welterweight bout: Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway
Max Holloway is the more active fighter having won two UFC belts (Featheweight and BMF) since his last fight against McGregor in 2013. McGregor himself hasn’t fought since his TKO loss to Dustin Porier in 2021. The five year layoff will certainly lead to some ring rust for one of the sport’s biggest stars, and he is a +185 underdog in this fight as a result. However, McGregor does have a punchers chance to win this fight, being this is Holloway’s first fight in his career at welterweight. The last time Holloway moved up a weight class, his power and chin didn’t translate well. That’s dangerous against one of the most powerful strikers in UFC history. Still, Holloway has the more recent experience to win this fight by outlasting McGregor’s early onslaught and finishing him in the later rounds once he is gassed.
Expert pick: Holloway to win
Lightweight bout: Benoit Saint Denis vs. Paddy Pimblett
Benoit Saint Denis has the better track record of the two fighters in this matchup, currently on a five-fight win streak with wins over lightweight stalwarts like Dan Hooker and Beneil Dariush. He should be able to take care of Pimblett, who is coming off a war with current lightweight title holder Justin Gaejthe. We’re taking Saint Denis to win by finish.
Expert pick: Saint Denis to win via TKO/KO
MORE: What to know about the DraftKings new user welcome bonus
Bantamweight bout: Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista
Cory Sandhagen has seen it all. He’s been in wars with some of the best talent in the division, including four former bantamweight champions and one former flyweight champion. While it seems like this might be a setup for him, going against a young and hungry Mario Bautista, the experience he has should be enough to come away with a victory in this fight.
Expert pick: Sandhagen to win by decision
MORE: Best DFS promos and app bonuses
Lightweight: King Green vs. Terrance McKinney
McKinney and Green might be the fight of the night of this card. Someone is going home with a bonus for sure. Both fighters have an entertaining style and like to move forward and pressure with precision. Green isn’t known for having the best striking defense, so expect McKinney to catch him with a strike early and end this one quickly.
Expert pick: Terrance McKinney via TKO
Flyweight bout: Brandon Royval vs. Lone’er Kavanagh
Lone’er Kavanaugh is one of the best prospects at flyweight right now. In such a stacked division, there’s no doubt that Kavanagh has what it takes to beat Royval. The issue will be which Royval will enter the octagon Saturday night. He has been in a number of wars with some of the best in the division over his career. All that damage and striking might have taken a toll on him. I like Kavanagh to win on the judges’ scorecards, but this one might also be a finish as well.
Expert pick: Kavanagh to win by decision
MORE: Tips, strategies and guide to live betting
UFC 329 full card and odds
All odds are courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Main event
| Fighter | Odds |
| Max Holloway | -225 ML |
| Conor McGregor | +185 ML |
| Total Rounds | O 2.5 (-105) U 2.5 (-125) |
Main card
Co-main event
| Fighter | Odds |
| Benoit Saint-Denis | -135 ML |
| Paddy Pimblett | +114 ML |
| Total Rounds | O 2.5 (+124) U 2.5 (-160) |
Bantamweight bout
| Fighter | Odds |
| Cory Sandhagen | -148 ML |
| Mario Bautista | +124 ML |
| Total Rounds | O 2.5 (-270) U 2.5 (+200) |
Flyweight bout
| Fighter | Odds |
| Brandon Royval | +180 ML |
| Lone’er Kavanagh | -218 ML |
| Total Rounds | O 2.5 (-188) U 2.5 (+145) |
Lightweight bout
| Fighter | Odds |
| King Green | +120 ML |
| Terrance McKinney | -142 ML |
| Total Rounds | O 1.5 (+310) U 1.5 (-445) |
Preliminary card
Light heavyweight bout
| Fighter | Odds |
| Nikita Krylov | +120 ML |
| Robert Whittaker | -142 ML |
| Total Rounds | O 1.5 (-210) U 1.5 (+160) |
Heavyweight bout
| Fighter | Odds |
| Gable Steveson | -2800 ML |
| Elisha Ellison | +1300 ML |
| Total Rounds | O 1.5 (+370) U 1.5 (-560) |
Bantamweight bout
| Fighter | Odds |
| Cody Garbrandt | +320 ML |
| Adrian Yanez | -410 ML |
| Total Rounds | O 1.5 (-200) U 1.5 (+154) |
Featherweight bout
| Fighter | Odds |
| Luke Riley | -285 ML |
| Kai Kamaka | +230 ML |
| Total Rounds | O 2.5 (-210) U 2.5 (+160) |
Early prelims
Women’s flyweight bout
| Fighter | Odds |
| Tracy Cortez | -110 ML |
| Wang Cong | -110 ML |
| Total Rounds | O 2.5 (-280) U 2.5 (+210) |
Middleweight bout
| Fighter | Odds |
| Damian Pinas | -230 ML |
| Cesar Almeida | +190 ML |
| Total Rounds | O 1.5 (-129) U 1.5 (-110) |
Bantamweight bout
| Fighter | Odds |
| Farid Basharat | -625 ML |
| John Garza | +455 ML |
| Total Rounds | O 2.5 (-120) U 2.5 (-110) |
Middleweight bout
| Fighter | Odds |
| Ryan Gandra | -130 ML |
| Zach Reese | +110 ML |
| Total Rounds | O 1.5 (+154) U 1.5 (-200) |
Flyweight bout
| Fighter | Odds |
| Alessandro Costa | -245 ML |
| Cody Durden | +200 ML |
| Total Rounds | O 2.5 (-210) U 2.5 (+160) |
MMA bet types
Unlike other sports, MMA betting has a lot more variety than many people know. It’s not just about who wins or loses, but the multiple layers of bets that can be made based on outcome, method and timing. Here are the main types of MMA bet types explained:
- Moneyline bet: This is the simplest bet. You pick the fighter who you think will win the fight. In certain rare cases this can include a draw/no contest outcome. This is by far the most common MMA bet.
- Method of victory bet: This is a bet on how the fight ends, not just who wins. Some common options available are a stoppage by KO/TKO, submission or decision (the judges’ scorecards).
- Round betting: This bet is a prediction on when a fight ends or how long it will last. You can bet on if a fight will end in Round 1, 2 or 3 if its a bout or non-main event. And you can bet on if a fight will end in Round 4 or 5 if you are betting on a main event or championship fight.
- Over/Under rounds (total rounds): This is a bet on whether the fight goes longer or shorter than the number set by the sportsbook. Examples are if a fight goes over 2.5 rounds or under 1.5 rounds. These are often one of the most popular MMA prop bets.
- Prop bets (fighter-specific stats): These are “extra” bets about performance, like if a fighter lands more strike, scores a knockdown, the fight ends in the first 60 seconds or a fighter wins in Round 1.
- Same Game Parlays (SGPs): Combine multiple UFC bets into one ticket.
- Live betting (in-play MMA bets): These are bets that you make while the fight is happening. Examples of these are next round winner, if a fight ends in next 60 seconds and live moneyline shifts during a fight.
MORE: Complete guide to MMA bet types
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