Mma is a growing sport, and there has been an increase in betting on MMA fights. This is because of the different fighting styles, entertaining personalities, and high number of fights held each year. Betting on MMA has some unique pitfalls that are specific to the sport, but there are strategies to help you bet smarter and avoid these pitfalls. Here are seven things to keep in mind when placing a bet on a mma fight.
One of the most popular MMA bets is on who will win the fight, which is known as moneyline betting. This type of bet simply states which fighter you think will win the fight, and the odds associated with that fighter indicate how much a bet on them will pay out if they win the fight. Parlays (accumulators) and Over/Under Rounds are also common MMA betting markets. Some bookmakers may also allow you to place a bet featuring a combination of these markets, e.g. Over/Under Rounds + Method of Victory.
MMA matches are often scheduled for multiple rounds, and this can impact how the Over/Under Rounds market is set. Oddsmakers will set an Over/Under total based on the expected number of rounds in the fight, and then they’ll set prices for the Over and Under bets. The higher the Over/Under bets, the more vig or juice is charged to the bettors.
If you’re looking to make a bet on how long the fight will last, be sure to look at the history of similar fights in the same weight class. In general, heavier fighters tend to finish their opponents faster than lighter fighters. This is because they can take more punishment before being forced to stop the fight.
The physical comparisons between fighters can also be important when betting on a fight. For example, if one fighter has longer reach than their opponent, they will likely be able to evade the more aggressive fighter’s early attacks and then prime themselves for a late fight-winning submission or knockout in the later rounds.
In addition to the aforementioned bets, MMA fans can also place prop and future bets on the outcome of a fight. These bets are usually more difficult to win than the standard bets, but they can offer much higher payouts. Prop bets are wagers on specific events that may occur during the fight, such as who will score the first knockdown or attempt the first submission maneuver.
In MMA, there are three main methods of victory: Knockout, TKO, and Submission. When betting on the Method of Victory, it’s a good idea to support the younger fighter in order to maximize your profits. In fact, a recent study showed that when fighters are five years apart or more, the younger fighter wins 61% of the time. The older fighters are often better conditioned, but they’re less experienced and are more likely to be caught off guard by a surprise move. This is why it’s important to research the fighters in each fight and consider their styles before placing a bet on how the fight will end.