Max Holloway made quick work of Conor McGregor at UFC 329 on Saturday night, but the main event still drove record betting for at least one major sportsbook.
“Conor McGregor-Max Holloway was the most-bet MMA event in BetMGM history,” trading manager Alex Rella said. “There was heavy action on McGregor as an underdog in his return fight. Holloway winning was a good outcome for the sportsbook.”
McGregor, in his first UFC fight in more than five years, opened as the +250 underdog and was at +240 entering the fight. His underdog odds led to 88% of the total fight bets and 81% of the money wagered backing McGregor to win.
Meanwhile, Holloway drew just 12% and 19%, respectively, as the -300 favorite after opening at -345.
Holloway (28-9 MMA) earned a TKO win against the former two-division champion at 1:09 of Round 1 after McGregor (22-7 MMA) injured the same right leg he had injured in his trilogy loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.
Holloway winning by KO/TKO or disqualification was offered at -145. However, the most popular prop bet for the entire main card at the book was McGregor to win by KO/TKO or DQ at +275.
It also went down as the second most bet combat sports event in BetMGM history, behind only Jake Paul against Mike Tyson.
The event featured 14 fights, including a five-fight main card. Paddy Pimblett (24-4 MMA) advanced his lightweight contender status against Benoit Saint-Denis (17-4, 1 NC MMA) via submission (D’arce choke) 52 seconds into the first round, remaining in the upper echelon of the lightweight championship picture in the night’s co-main event.
The fight proved to be the best outcome for bettors on the card, with Pimblett drawing 87% of the bets and 77% of the money as the +110 underdog. And Pimblett winning by submission was the most-bet prop on that fight at +500.
–Field Level Media
