UFC signs deal with prediction betting platform Polymarket

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 collaboration promises to revolutionize the way fans interact with UFC fights and events. Prediction markets, such as Polymarket, allow users to speculate on the outcome of events, including sports competitions. Unlike traditional bookmakers, Polymarket has the ability to operate in all 50 U.S. states, even in those where sports betting is illegal. Polymarket is expected to officially launch its platform in the United States in the coming months, following its current global availability. The UFC will integrate Polymarket’s odds into its live broadcasts, displaying market activity during fights through a “fan prediction scoreboard”.

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

Ari Emanuel, CEO of TKO, parent company of UFC

Shayne Coplan, founder and CEO of Polymarket, highlighted in an interview the possibility of buying and selling, as if they were stocks, during the fight, which could change the way users interact with sporting events. The announcement of this association comes at a time of growing interest in prediction markets within the world of sports. The regulation of these markets is a legally debated issue. Some state gaming regulators have sued Kalshi, a competitor of Polymarket, alleging that the company violates state laws by offering event contracts that simulate sports betting. Kalshi argues that it is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, a federal agency. FanDuel and DraftKings have announced that they will launch prediction markets, including sports event contracts, 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 1st. The UFC terminated Dulgarian’s contract and is collaborating with the FBI in an investigation into the unusual betting activity.