Mma betting is a fast-growing market at sportsbooks and online. It’s become especially popular for UFC fights, with massive pay-per-view events selling out stadiums across the world. But it can be difficult to keep up with all the action and know what to look for. Luckily, we’re here to help.
Moneyline bets are the most common form of MMA betting, and involve placing a wager on which fighter will win a specific bout. Oddsmakers set these odds using head-to-head comparisons between fighters and their opponents, calculating an implied probability of each competitor winning the fight. The fighter with the highest implied probability is the favorite, while the one with the lowest is the underdog.
When analyzing a moneyline, be sure to take into account any injuries or other influencing factors that could impact the outcome of the fight. For example, a fighter who has been suffering from an ankle injury may be at a disadvantage. Another thing to consider is a fighter’s weight class at the time of the fight. Fighters who struggle to make the weight limit can be forced to undergo extreme dehydration and starvation leading up to the event, which can lead to an inferior performance in the ring.
While a lot of bettors try to do what’s known as “MMA math,” where they compare the record of a fighter against the record of their current opponent, this can be misleading and take away from studying fight film. In addition, the stance of a fighter—whether they’re orthodox or southpaw—should be taken into consideration when handicapping a fight. Southpaw fighters often have an advantage over orthodox opponents who are not used to fighting them.
Another popular type of MMA bet is the over/under on how many rounds a fight will last. Because of the different styles of fighters, this bet is sometimes more difficult to place than it is in other sports, such as basketball or football. However, if you’re betting on two defensive fighters who are expected to have a shorter fight, taking the over might be a wise choice.
Lastly, you can also place bets on the method of victory or how the fight will end in terms of either a technical knockout or submission. This type of bet is more likely to offer plus values than the other types of MMA betting, as it offers a higher probability of winning your bet if you correctly predict which fighter will win a specific fight.
Mma has experienced explosive growth in recent years, and the sport’s biggest stars have been filling some of the world’s largest stadiums for monthly pay-per-view events. The popularity of the sport has also led to a boom in betting, with multiple fights per card and numerous bet types available for each matchup. Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering making your first bet on an upcoming MMA event.