Bookmakers Cash In on McGregor Defeat as Up to 92% of Money Wagered Backed Him

^{Pictured: Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway}

Conor McGregor’s fight against Max Holloway at UFC 329 proved highly profitable for bookmakers, with most bets placed on the Irishman before he lost in the first round, Reuters reports.

At BetMGM, McGregor accounted for 88% of all bets and 81% of the total money wagered on the fight winner market. The Irishman entered the bout as the underdog, with odds of 3.40 compared with 1.33 for Holloway.

BetMGM representative Alex Rella described Holloway’s victory as a strong result for the company. The most popular prop bet was for McGregor to win by knockout, technical knockout or disqualification, at odds of 3.75.

Betting interest in the fight reached record levels. McGregor vs. Holloway became the largest mixed martial arts event by betting handle in BetMGM’s history.

Among all combat sports events, it ranked second only to the boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson.

According to the New York Post, betting at DraftKings was distributed as follows:

• McGregor accounted for 92% of the total money wagered on the fight winner market and 68% of all bets;
• a McGregor win by knockout or technical knockout attracted 34% of the money and 30% of all bets placed on the method-of-victory market.

ESPN BET reported a similar betting split.

Gambling Park notes that the bout took place in Las Vegas overnight from July 11 to July 12. Early in the first round, McGregor attempted a jumping kick, landed awkwardly and injured his right knee. The referee stopped the fight after one minute and nine seconds, awarding Holloway a technical-knockout victory.