Mixed martial arts is an adrenaline-fueled sport that seamlessly blends striking and grappling techniques from a wide variety of martial art disciplines. MMA betting is a fast-growing form of wagering on the sport that can yield big profits for those who know how to make wise bets. Understanding how odds work, conducting thorough research and managing your bankroll are all key to successful MMA betting.
Betting on a single fighter to win their next fight is the most common MMA wager. Typically, sportsbooks will offer a moneyline on each fighter, with the favorite sporting a minus symbol and the underdog sporting a plus symbol. This indicates how much a bettor would have to bet to earn $100 in profit, and it’s an easy way to quickly gauge a fighter’s chances of winning.
Besides the moneyline, bettors can also place Over/Under bets on various aspects of a fight, such as how many rounds it will last or how many punches or kicks will be landed. These bets are generally very simple and can be made at most online sportsbooks. The Over/Under line is usually set by the sportsbook and will be based on an expected value of a particular element of the fight.
When placing a bet on an individual fighter, be sure to look at their entire fighting history, not just their most recent results. A fighter’s recent victories may be impressive, but they could have come against inferior opponents or while he or she was still working through injury. A deeper dive into a fighter’s record can help bettors identify weaknesses and uncover opportunities to win bets.
Besides the method of victory, MMA bettors can also place bets on specific types of finishes, including knockouts and submissions. These bets can also be placed on the round in which a fighter will win, and MMA judging is generally done based on a three-judge scorecard system.
In addition to betting on individual fighters, bettors can place a variety of other wagers, such as props, parlays (accumulators) and in-play bets, which are placed as the action unfolds. In-play bets are updated live as the fight takes place and can lead to some big payouts if the bet is correct. Regardless of which type of bet you choose to place, it’s always important to stay within your budget and never chase losses. Gambling should be a fun and entertaining way to engage with the sport, not a path to financial worry. Set a budget for yourself, and recognize when you’ve had enough to stop gambling. For more information on responsible gambling, visit Responsible Gambling Ontario.
