When betting on MMA, understanding the odds, researching fighters, and managing your bankroll are essential to being successful. Many MMA bettors, however, make mistakes that can hurt their profitability. They often place bets based on emotion or their favorite fighters, which can lead to a loss. They also tend to over wager, putting too much money at risk on each wager. To be successful, MMA bettors should be selective with their full cards and focus on the bets that they have done the most research on.
MMA betting involves a variety of different types of wagers, including moneyline bets on the winner of a fight, over/under bets on the number of rounds a fight will last, and parlays. The most common bets are the moneyline and over/under bets, which are similar to those on football or basketball games. A moneyline bet simply involves picking a fighter to win a fight, and the odds are given for each option. A favorite is typically reflected by a minus symbol in front of the odds, while an underdog is shown with a plus sign.
An MMA over/under bet is set by a bookmaker based on the expected number of rounds a fight will last, taking into account the fighting styles and experience of the two fighters. The bookmaker will then assign an Over/Under price and offer bettors the chance to place their bets on either side of the total. An MMA over/under bet is often more lucrative than a straight bet, as the payout is higher when the bet wins.
Prop bets are a popular feature of MMA matches and can be placed on various aspects of the fight, such as how it will end (KO/TKO, submission, or Decision). These bets are available at most online sportsbooks. They are not as profitable as standard bets, but they can still provide a good source of income. A common mistake of MMA bettors is placing too many prop bets. This can result in a large variance in winnings and losses.
The most important thing to remember when betting on MMA is that fighters are individuals, and they have strengths and weaknesses. This means that a favored fighter will not always win a fight, even if they have the best records and most popularity. Instead, bettors should spend real time researching each match and comparing the fighters’ records, ages, and physical attributes.
It’s also a good idea to keep up with the MMA media and news to stay on top of any developments that could impact your bets. For example, if you hear that one fighter suffered an injury in training camp, this could sway your predictions on how the fight will unfold. In addition, if you see that one fighter is more comfortable in the grappling department than another, this may also affect your predictions for Method of Victory and Duration bets.