UFC Signs Deal with Polymarket: Prediction Markets Come to the Octagon

UFC and Polymarket: A New Era of Fan Interaction

The UFC’s parent company has announced a multi-year partnership with Polymarket, marking a milestone in the expansion of prediction markets in the American sports arena. This agreement paves the way for the official launch of Polymarket in the United States in the coming months. Prediction markets, such as Polymarket and Kalshi, offer users the ability to bet on the outcome of events, including sports competitions. Unlike traditional bookmakers like FanDuel and DraftKings, Polymarket has the ability to operate in all 50 states, even in those where sports betting is illegal, such as California and Texas. Currently, Polymarket is available globally and its official launch in the United States is expected in the coming months. The UFC will integrate Polymarket odds into its live broadcasts and display market activity during the fights through a “fan prediction scoreboard”.

By partnering with Shayne and his team at Polymarket, we are opening a new dimension of engagement for fans.

Ari Emanuel, CEO of TKO, parent company of UFC

Shayne Coplan, founder and CEO of Polymarket, highlighted in an interview the buying and selling dynamics offered by the platform, similar to that of the stock market, allowing users to trade during the course of the matches. The NHL was the first professional league in the United States to announce an agreement with prediction markets. The regulation of prediction markets is a controversial legal issue. Several state gaming regulators have sued Kalshi, a competitor of Polymarket, alleging that the company violates state laws by offering contracts on events that simulate sports betting. Kalshi argues that it is not subject to state jurisdiction and is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, a federal agency. After observing the growth of prediction markets, FanDuel and DraftKings announced their plans to launch prediction markets, including contracts on sporting events, in the coming months. This association with the UFC comes just a week after suspicious bets led to accusations of match-fixing in a featherweight fight between Isaac Dulgarian and Yadier del Valle on November 1. The UFC terminated Dulgarian’s contract and is collaborating with the FBI in an investigation into the unusual betting activity.