PFL betting opportunities are vast, however, the majority of bettors aren’t aware of it. Maybe the fight promotion isn’t as popular as UFC betting, but that’s a pro, not a con. That means PFL bet markets are less “mature” and easier to exploit as a bettor. Keep reading so we can explain ourselves, plus point you in the right direction to bet on PFL successfully!
We’ve easily reviewed hundreds of betting sites. Hundreds! After that much time AND money spent trying out different online bookies, we think know what the best sites are for PFL betting. Heck, we’re convinced we know. Here’s a quick top-five list for you:
We’re firmly behind the PFL sportsbooks we listed above — and we mean firmly. But if you’re more of the adventurous type and want to make your own decision, we respect it. Heck, we might encourage it so you’re absolutely getting your best PFL sportsbook pick for your money. But if you’re going to search on your own, may we suggest three hard rules to follow:
We took our time with our best PFL betting site choices. Believe us, we’ve reviewed over a hundred different online sportsbooks by now. After all that time, you start to know what makes a good sportsbook. In our opinion, the following qualities matter most to a sportsbook’s success:
All five of our suggested sportsbooks checked each of these boxes. Yes, each! Even missing one of these qualities is enough to go elsewhere given the competitiveness of this market.
Let’s backtrack a bit. There’s probably a decent amount of you reading this that isn’t entirely sure what PFL is outside of its some form of fighting. If you’re going to be throwing money on this thing — and expecting to win — you’ll need to understand some of the nuances of the league. Allow us to explain Professional Fighters League (PFL) in a nutshell:
We have to start here because this is what throws off those used to UFC betting most. PFL has a regular season and playoff system — yes, in the same way as a traditional American sports league. It’s not a ranking system like UFC has to match-make and crown champions. Not at all.
PFL has six divisions — five for men and one women’s. In all of these weight classes, 10 fighters are thrown into a regular-season completion. Each fighter has to compete twice and they earn points based on how they fare. A win is worth three points, a draw earns one point, and a loss, well, it gets nothing. Moreover, there are bonus points for early finishes: three for a first-round stoppage, two for a second-rounder, and one for a third-round ending (before the bell).
Once the season is done, the four highest-ranking fighters (based on points) go to the playoffs. It’s single-elimination until there is a champion crowned. That champion also scores a $1 million prize — which if we’re being honest, is the bigger incentive.
The PFL season begins around April. The first three months are dedicated to the regular season with cards regularly going down on the weekend. The playoffs are in the Fall season and usually wrap up in November.
The same reason that any company buys another competitor — to grow. Obviously, the UFC is the king of fighting, not only of MMA, but probably all combat sports (we’re looking at you, boxing). They have a huge advantage, both in public mindshare and profits. PFL and Bellator realized they are greater together, rather than separate, which led to the merger.
The idea is they’ll be better off competing with UFC with the byproducts of the merger — a bigger roster, more revenue, and more attention from fans (rather than split apart). That’s the idea at least, but it remains to be seen whether things change or not long-term given UFC’s big lead.
Betting PFL (or any sport for that matter) is easy. That’s why we never want to hear this as an excuse to NOT bet PFL. Here is the simple five-step process to getting in on PFL best bets:
Betting on PFL is not all that different from UFC or even boxing. The bet types are virtually the same. Here are the three most common bet types you’ll come across:
The moneyline bet is as straightforward as it gets when wagering on the PFL. All you need to do is pick the fighter you believe will win the match. It sounds simple, right? But you’d be surprised how hard it is to get right in a sports like fighting where one punch can change the fight in an instant.
This bet cares solely about how long the fight lasts, as in the round and minute. Bookies will add set an over/under number to how long the fight goes — typically 1.5 rounds. If it goes to the third round, that’s over the 1.5 limit. FIrst round? A clear under. Bettors have to choose which side the fight ends up on.
Prop bets are where the fun really begins in PFL betting. These bets offer a variety of options and are great for those looking for something more than just picking a winner. A popular prop bet is predicting the method of victory, where you not only select the winning fighter but also guess how they’ll win — by knockout, submission, or decision. Props typically offer bigger paydays, especially on bets where options are plenty like the exact method of victory one.
We don’t want you just betting on PFL. No, no, no we want you winning at these wagers too. That’s why we’ve compiled three of our best tips on being a successful bettor. Follow all three and you’ll be on your way to a successful bet career at PFL:
Matchups Make the Difference: how many times have you heard the phrase, “styles make fights?” It may sound cliche but it’s dead-on. Matchups is where you’re betting research HAS to begin with. You need to assess both fighters comparing and know their strengths AND weaknesses — inside and out too. By doing this, you’re more likely to find the most possible exploits that’ll determine what happens in it.
Recent Performances Are Key: we don’t have to remind you that fighting is a grueling sport. So grueling that fighters are changed by it over time — and more so when they get older. That’s why it’s important to focus on a fighter’s most recent performances rather than a fight from years ago when they were a different person in the ring. The latest bout will give you the best insight into where a fighter is currently at, which should dictate your bet.
Compare Betting Lines: To maximize your profits, it’s smart to shop around. Check out different sportsbooks to compare odds for the same fight. Since PFL isn’t as heavily bet on as the UFC or NFL, you’re more likely to find variations in the odds between bookmakers. Your goal is to find the best value and place your bet there, ensuring you get the most out of your wager. Maximizing value is one of the most underrated aspects of being a successful bettor and this does that!
Typically, PFL starts in the springtime, around April or so. The date jumps from year to year but it’s in that general vicinity.
Scroll up on this page as we have an entire section dedicated to PFL bet types like moneyline, over/under, and props.
We recommend offshore betting sites. Near the start of the article, we give out our five favorite suggestions for online bookmakers.
You can though it’s hard to come by. Fighting does have in-play odds, but PFL doesn’t have enough demand for most popular sites to offer it.
This very site! We routinely have write-ups for upcoming cards that includes our expert betting predictions. So check back to see new articles we post!
That is very subjective. However, two of our top choices are Bovada and BetUS.
Oh, yeah! It is 100-percent legal as it’s no different than betting on other sports like the UFC, NFL, or boxing.