All eyes in the MMA world will be on the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles Saturday as two of the sport’s most legendary fighters, Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, will square off in the octagon in the Jake Paul-backed MVP promotion’s first MMA main-event on Netflix.
While the fight card is not UFC-affiliated, there’s plenty of mainstream appeal with former UFC stars like Nate Diaz and Mike Perry as well as Francis Ngannou.
It’s been a long time since a mixed martial arts promotion has been able to steal the thunder away from the UFC, but Paul might be able to pull it off with a solid 11-fight card. The main event should garner plenty of betting attention as both Rousey and Carano enter into the octagon for the first time in over a decade. Those looking to join the betting action this weekend have a number of options to choose from.
The Sporting News has everything you need to know about betting on the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano Netflix fight card. And if you’re getting in on the betting action, be sure to check and see if you’re eligible for any of the sportsbook welcome bonuses available.
How to bet on Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano
Betting on the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano fight card 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 Rousey vs. Carano 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.
MORE: Complete guide to MMA bet types
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
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Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano expert picks
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Main event: Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano
* Note: All odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Gina Carano is 44 years old. Her last fight was 15 years ago in 2009, and its been a while since she stepped into a gym and hit some pads. Honestly, there’s no reason to believe that Carano can fairly win a fight against Rousey, who is the younger fighter at 39 and isn’t as far removed from the sport. There is a lot to be said about the controversy around Rousey’s reign in the UFC, but she was one of the best ground specialists in the world during her prime, and if the fight goes to the ground, it could end very quickly. With the total sitting at over/under 1.5 rounds, I would definitely take the under. And wouldn’t it be fitting to end by arm bar submission for a fighter in Rousey who made her name off of judo throws and winning fights in that exact same way.
Best bet: Rousey to win in under 1.5 rounds (-110) — James Best
In their prime, this would have been a matchup for the ages. Today, the matchup favors Rousey as Carano hasn’t fought since 2009.
Rousey landed 4.17 significant strikes in the octagon, and had a 52% strike accuracy mark. She averaged 6.26 takedowns landed per 15 minutes, averaging 4.8 attempted submissions.
Carano landed 4.50 significant strikes and had a 47% strike accuracy mark under the Strikeforce and EliteXC banner. She also averaged 1.24 takedowns.
Rousey’s judo is still elite, even after all these years (thanks WWE for the practice). At 44 (after her last fight in her 20s), Carano’s best bet is to strike against Rousey, who still hasn’t improved her boxing following the Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes losses. Does Carano have solid movement anymore?
If Rousey can get Carano in a compromising position, likely up close, like the latter was against Cris Cyborg, she can throw her onto the floor and quickly lock in a submission for the win.
Best bet: Rousey via first-round submission (+100) — Daniel Yanovsky
Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry (welterweight)
In a battle of two clearly over the hill fighters, Diaz and Perry don’t have much left to fight for. The Diaz we are getting in the octagon Saturday night is not the same man that once defeated Conor McGregor in one of the sport’s greatest upset victories. He’s years removed from losing to Jorge Masvidal in the inaugural BMF title fight and is facing a Mike Perry that is very game, having notched a number of victories in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships (BKFC). The most likely outcome of this fight is Perry to win by decision or by doctor stoppage TKO. I don’t see Diaz getting knocked out, and I don’t see the fight going to the ground. Diaz is a fighter who is often too tough for his own good, and that will probably be the case on Saturday night. Perry is +165 to win by decision and +185 to win by KO/TKO at DraftKings right now. I’ll go with either of those but the choice that is better value and more fun to play is for Perry to win by KO/TKO or DQ.
Best bet: Perry to win by KO/TKO/DQ (+185) — James Best
Diaz is one of the most consistent strikers out there, landing 4.57 per minute. He has landed several triple-digit shots in the octagon. The Stockton native is susceptible to getting hit, absorbing 3.77 strikes. Diaz also averages 1.05 takedowns landed per 15 minutes.
In the octagon, Perry landed 4.32 significant strikes and averaged 0.81 takedowns landed. Like Diaz, he also gets hit, absorbing 5.16 strikes. He’s won four straight wars within Bare Knuckle FC via knockout.
Both like to get hit, but it motivates them to press forward and hit their opposition harder. Both have taken serious damage. Diaz is durable and has great cardio. However, can he overcome Perry’s shots and get the win? It seems likely the unorthodox Perry gets his hand raised after a battle.
Prediction: Perry via unanimous decision (+215) — Daniel Yanovsky
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Francis Ngannou vs. Phillipe Lins (heavyweight)
While with UFC, Ngannou landed 2.33 significant strikes per minute and had a 41% strike accuracy mark. He even averaged 0.76 takedowns landed per 15 minutes. Ngannou took out Renan Ferreira in his lone PFL fight. Knocking down Tyson Fury in a boxing match, Ngannou landed 59 of 231 strikes (25.5%).
Lins landed 3.80 significant strikes in the octagon and averaged 1.65 takedowns landed. The former PFL heavyweight tournament winner has faced several top-tier fighters between PFL, Bellator and the UFC.
Lins is a credible opponent and can try to take Ngannou down, but Ngannou, even at almost 40, is still dangerous. It may not be an automatic win, but Ngannou should use his power and his 71% takedown defense to get the win.
Prediction: Ngannou via KO/TKO/DQ in Round 2 (+380) — Daniel Yanovsky
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Salahdine Parnasse vs. Kenneth Cross (lightweight)
Parnasse started training in MMA at 11. The French fighter held gold in two weight divisions with KSW and has seven wins via knockout and submission. Cross competed on Dana White’s Contender Series and has eight wins via the power punch.
Parnasse is one of the best fighters not competing in the UFC. Outside DWCS, Cross competed in one Bellator bout. Given the wide odds, Parnasse’s striking ability should be too much for Cross to handle. Don’t ignore an upset, but it seems unlikely here.
Prediction: Parnasse via KO/TKO/DQ in Round 1 (+250) — Daniel Yanovsky
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Junior dos Santos vs. Robelis Despaigne (heavyweight)
Junior dos Santos is a former UFC heavyweight champion who owns the longest win streak (nine) in the division’s history. The 42-year-old landed 4.49 significant strikes in the octagon and had a 47% strike accuracy mark. Despaigne landed 2.11 significant strikes in the octagon. He’s 7-0 with Karate Combat.
Despaigne, 37, is younger than the 42-year-old dos Santos and has been the more active fighter over the years. dos Santos can’t bring Despaigne down on the ground, and it’s believed Despaigne is a better striker at this point. The fight should start the main card with a bang, coming by way of a Despaigne knockout.
Prediction: Despaigne via TKO in Round 1 (-125) — Daniel Yanovsky
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Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano full card and odds
Main event
* Note: All odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
- Ronda Rousey (-535) vs. Gina Carano (+400)
Main card
- Mike Perry (-218) vs. Nate Diaz (+180)
- Francis Ngannou (-1450) vs. Philipe Lins (+850) heavyweights
- Salahdine Parnasse (-1100) vs. Kenneth Cross (+700)
- Robelis Despaigne (-500) vs. Junior dos Santos (+380)
Undercard
- Namo Fazil (-360) vs. Jake Babian (+285)
- Adriano Moraes vs. Phumi Nkuta
- Jason Jackson vs. Jeff Creighton
- David Mgoyan (-550) vs. Albert Morales (+410)
- Aline Pereira (-410) vs. Jade Masson-Wong (+320)
- Brandon Jenkins (-360) vs. Chris Avila (+285)
MMA bet types
Unlike other sports, MMA betting has a lot more variety than many people know. Its 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.
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