UFC,
Zuffa claim sports first with Polymarket predictions
market deal
Nov
2025
Multi-year
partnership will integrate fan sentiment visualisations
during live UFC fight broadcasts
Polymarket
signed a deal with the NHL last month
Company can offer sports outcome exchanges in all
50 US states
Fanatics and Crypto.com in talks to launch predictions
market product
TKO Group has inked a multi-year partnership with
Polymarket, which will see the integration of prediction
markets into the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
The
deal sees Polymarket become the official and exclusive
prediction market partner of the UFC and the newly
launched Zuffa Boxing promotion – the first properties
to integrate the technology directly into live events.
As
part of the collaboration, Polymarket will produce
the first-ever real time ‘Fan Prediction Scoreboard’
within UFC broadcasts. It will feature data visualisations
covering fan sentiment and perceived momentum that
provides a new engagement metric to complement traditional
sports betting odds.
The
UFC and Polymarket will also work together on a content
series for the promotion’s social channels, which
will highlight potential matchups for UFC fighters
coming off a victory.
As
for Zuffa Boxing, Polymarket will gain in-arena activations
and content opportunities. It becomes the official
brand partner for the promotion, which launches next
January.
“By
partnering with Shayne and his team at Polymarket,
we’re unlocking a new dimension of fan engagement,”
said Ariel Emanuel, executive chair and chief executive
of TKO. “Integrating Polymarket with the UFC
and Zuffa Boxing live experience will help fans interact
with these events in real time, transforming passive
viewership into active participation.”
Polymarket
adds TKO to a growing roster of sports partners, after
agreeing a multi-year collaboration with the National
Hockey League (NHL) last month. Polymkrket is already
available globally and is expected to re-launch officially
in the US next year, after being shut down in 2022.
“Few
sports generate emotion and debate like the UFC,”
added Shayne Coplan, founder and chief executive of
Polymarket. “By bringing prediction markets to
the broadcast and arena, we’re giving fans a
new way to be part of the action — not just watching
outcomes but watching the world’s expectations
evolve with every round.”
Prediction
market exchanges like Polymarket enable fans to trade
based on the outcome of live sport and other major
events. However, unlike sports betting, the exchanges
occur under federal commodities and derivatives regulation
rather than state gambling laws, allowing the likes
of Polymarket to operate in all 50 US states.
The
growing popularity of prediction markets has not gone
unnoticed by established US gambling corporations.
FanDuel this week announced it would launch its own
predictions market product, with rival DraftKings
also planning to do the same.
Meanwhile,
the Financial Times (FT) reports that Fanatics is
in early talks with Crypto.com to jointly develop
a predictions market product.
However,
the presence of prediction market operators is coming
under increasing legal scrutiny from state regulators.
Kalshi, a rival of Polymarket, has been sued by multiple
state gaming agencies which allege the company violates
state laws by offering event contracts similar to
sports bets.
Last
month, Kalshi sued New York’s gaming commission,
arguing that the state regulator is overstepping its
authority by attempting to regulate sports betting
operations that fall under exclusive federal jurisdiction.
News
Flashback
Betting
on UFC 264: Poirier vs. McGregor 3 is available from
San Francisco online courtesy of BetOnline,
which offers a generous welcome bonus (max bonus $1000).
Venues showing Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor from
San Francisco are listed below. These include Irish
Times, Napper Tandy and Kezar Pub.
Multimedia
Spotlight
Venues
Danny
Coyles
668
Haight St
San
Francisco, CA, 94117
415-558-8375
Napper
Tandy
3200
24th Street
San
Francisco, CA, 94110
415-550-7510
Irish
Times
500
Sacramento Street
San
Francisco, CA, 94111
415-217-5060
Where
Can I Watch the UFC 264 From San Francisco
Some
venues will require reservations and cover charges.
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