One of India’s fastest-growing sports in terms of popularity today is Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). More than people are taking up the sport. More people are interested in the sport and watching some of the biggest events, and it’s also now one of the most bet-on sports in India.
It’s a trend that’s not only happening in India but also around the world. Let’s dive straight in to discover more about why this sport is becoming so popular.
Why is MMA so popular in India?
India is a sporting nation and is involved in all three main types of sports – team sports, partner sports, and individual sports. The most popular sport in India is cricket (team sport), followed by football (team sport) and then kabaddi (contact sport).
Wrestling (combat sport) and boxing (combat sport) are also popular in India, and since MMA (also a combat sport), in particular, the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), has become more mainstream over the past few years, India is just one of many countries that have embraced the sport.
Although there are currently no famous UFC fighters from India, the sport is still extremely popular. It has a universal appeal, and Indian sports fans seem to be loving MMA. People in India can also now easily watch major UFC fights from their Wi-Fi/internet-connected smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer.
Over the coming years, if the popularity of MMA continues to grow as much as it has in just a few short years, there’s a good chance MMA training academies and coaches will start becoming more common in India, so we could one day see a UFC world champion from India.
One top MMA fighter to keep an eye out for is Pratik Yashwant.
Where is it possible to bet on MMA/UFC fights if I live in India?
If you live in India and want to place a wager on any upcoming MMA fights at a reputable online sports betting website (also known as an online bookmaker), the most trusted website you can turn to for today’s UFC betting odds is the official 10CRIC10.com website.
This highly recommended online sports betting site is known for having thousands of sports betting markers with some of the iGaming industry’s most competitive sports betting odds. The 10CRIC website is controlled by a reputable operator with an excellent reputation.
It has overwhelmingly positive reviews from several top online sports betting review sites, and it’s fully licensed by Curacao e-Gaming.
They have pre-match MMA betting services, where you can place a bet before the fight takes place (in some cases, several weeks before the fight), and in-play betting (aka live betting) services, where you can place MMA bets as the fight unfolds.
The website is protected by SSL encryption, so you have nothing to worry about regarding your online security. It accepts Indian Rupee, and you can deposit and withdraw using several popular Indian online payment methods. Examples include the following:
- Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards – the minimum deposit amount is ₹1,000
- Net Banking and UPI – min. deposit ₹1,000
- AstroPay prepaid card – min. deposit ₹1,000
- Neteller digital wallet (also known as an e-wallet) – min. deposit ₹1,000
- eZeeWallet – min. deposit ₹1,000
- Jeton – min. deposit ₹1,000
- DogeCoin, Ethereum, and Bitcoin cryptocurrencies – min. deposit ₹1,200
10CRIC will never add any fees/charges to your deposits, but the payment provider may add a nominal fee, so always check before selecting which method you would prefer to deposit with. Don’t forget that you can also claim a new player welcome bonus on your first deposit here.
What big MMA/UFC fights are still to come in 2023?
Don’t worry if you have already missed some of this year’s biggest fights because there are still plenty to come over the coming weeks and months. Let’s start by taking a look at some of October 2023’s biggest fights you will soon be able to watch and place a bet on.
- UFC Fight Night 229 at the UFC Apes in Las Vegas – October 7
The three main fights will be Alex Morono vs. Joaquin Buckley, Joe Pyfer vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan, and Grant Dawson vs. Bobby Green.
- UFC Fight Night 230 at the Apex in Las Vegas – October 14
The three main fights will be Jonathan Martinez vs. Adrian Yanez, Jennifer Maia vs. Viviane Araujo, and Sodiq Yusuff vs. Edson Barboza.
- UFC 294 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi – October 21
The four main fights will be Anshul Jubli vs Mike Breeden, Nassourdine Imavov vs. Ikram Aliskerov, Paulo Costa vs. Khamzat Chimaev, and Islam Makhachev (c) vs. Charles Oliveira. This fight between Oliveira and Makhachev will be a fight for the UFC Lightweight Championship.
You also have the upcoming UFC 295 on November 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York, UFC Fight Night 232 on November 18 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and UFC Fight Night 233, which is also at the Apex, this time on December 2.
Who are the best MMA/UFC fighters to watch in 2023?
If you look at the official UFC Men’s Pound-for-Pound Rankings 2023 right now, you will see that Jon Jones (heavyweight) is currently ranked number 1. At number 2 is Alexander Volkanovski (featherweight), and at number 3 is Islam Makhachev (lightweight).
You then have Leon Edwards (welterweight) at number 4, Charles Oliveira (lightweight) at number 5, and Sean O’Malley (bantamweight) at number 6.
Kamaru Usman (welterweight) is now ranked at number 7. Sean Strickland (middleweight) is ranked at number 8. Israel Adesanya (middleweight) is now at number 9, and at number 10 on the UFC Men’s Pound-for-Pound Rankings in 2023 is Alexandre Pantoja (flyweight).
What to remember when betting on MMA/UFC fights
Before placing a bet on any UFC or MMA fight at licensed sports betting sites like 10CRIC Sports, always remember to do your own research. It can help you place more strategic bets. Also, try to understand what the odds are trying to tell you so you can place even more informed bets that are more likely to return a profit.
You must first register a free account to place real money bets in India at licensed sites like 10CRIC. It takes less than a minute to do, provided you are at least 18 years old, and it can be done from a desktop or mobile device.
Never spend money that you can’t afford to lose just by placing MMA bets, and always remember to gamble responsibly by staying within your budget.