As mixed martial arts evolves into a polished sport complete with professional athletes and mainstream media coverage, betting on MMA fights has become an inextricable part of the UFC experience. It’s not uncommon to hear commentators talk about the latest MMA betting odds while discussing a match or hyping upcoming fights. It’s no wonder that MMA is one of the fastest growing sports in North America and now offers more betting options than ever before.
The most common MMA betting wager is the Money Line, which is a straight up bet on who will win a specific match. Oddsmakers set the Money Line by taking into account the fighters’ styles and history of winning and losing. The negative (-) number represents the money line favorite and the positive (+) number is the underdog. For example, Jon Jones is a -225 money line favorite to beat Alexander Gustafsson, so if you put $100 on Jones to win, you will win $225.
Another popular MMA betting option is the Method of Victory. This is a bet on how the winner of a specific fight will win their bout, including points, KO/TKO/DQ, and submission. This type of bet is more complex to handicap than a straight up bet as fighters’ styles can clash.
In addition to the standard bet types, there are a variety of other MMA betting options, such as Round Betting, Over/Unders, and Double Chance bets. Depending on the fighting styles of two combatants, it can also be beneficial to consider their stance. For instance, orthodox fighters are at an advantage when facing southpaw opponents as many of these fighters are not used to defending the stance against left-handed strikers.
While MMA is not as well established as other major sports leagues, it does have millions of fans across the globe and has the potential to make big wagering profits as states legalize MMA betting. In addition, MMA is already being offered in a number of online and land-based sportsbooks.
Unlike other sporting events, the MMA betting odds are constantly changing and adjusting. This is because of the nature of the sport itself and the reliance on individual athletes to perform. A fighter who is having a bad training camp or has been injured can drastically affect the MMA betting odds. It’s important for a bettor to keep an eye on the MMA betting lines and pay close attention to the oddsmakers’ reasoning for their changes.
A great place to get started with MMA betting is at DraftKings Sportsbook, which features an easy-to-use mobile app that can be downloaded on iOS Apple and Android devices. The site offers a safe, secure betting environment and a fast, hassle-free withdrawal process. You can even place a bet in-play on a fight as it’s happening! This feature is offered by many top online sportsbooks and allows you to see how the odds change in real time. It can be a great way to hedge your bets if the favourite gets off to a slow start or if you think that a fighter is fading towards the end of the fight.