Betting on MMA fights is a great way to win money and get involved in the action. However, before you place your bets, it’s important to understand some of the different types of wagers and how they work. The best sportsbooks will offer a wide variety of MMA betting options and explain each one to you in detail.
The Moneyline: This is a simple bet that predicts the winner of the match. Bettors can select the winner by a decision, submission, or any other method of victory. Typically, this bet is offered at a slightly higher odds than the outright winner bet.
Fight Winner: This is the most common bet for MMA fans. It covers all fighters who are expected to win the fight, regardless of how they’ll end it – a KO/TKO, submission, or decision.
In the example above, Conor McGregor is considered a favorite to win this matchup, with Khabib Nurmagomedov as his underdog. If you bet on McGregor, you’ll receive a payout of $100 for every $150 wagered on him.
UFC Odds: The UFC is the most popular brand for MMA betting, so it’s no surprise that many online casinos carry odds on the big UFC events. The odds for a particular UFC match will vary by sportsbook, but you can expect to find odds around -150 for a favorite and +120 for an underdog.
Futures: In addition to the outright winner market, most MMA betting sites will also offer odds on who will win title belts in different weight categories. These odds are often high and can be worth betting on for the long term.
Age Difference: Younger MMA fighters are often more likely to win than older ones. This is because younger fighters are more skilled, so they can better survive the rigors of mixed martial arts training.
The average MMA fighter wins 64% of their fights when they are five or more years younger than their opponent. This number is higher when two fighters are 10 or more years apart.
Late Replacements: It’s not uncommon for fighters to pull out of a fight a few days before it’s scheduled to start. This can happen when a fighter is too close to the weight cut, has been drained from overtraining, or has an injury.
In addition, some fighters go on a losing streak after fighting a series of stronger opponents. This can be a sign that they’re getting out of shape or have lost their edge.
Total Rounds: The total rounds of a mixed martial arts fight are a popular bet. Depending on the matchup, style of fighters, and number of rounds scheduled, oddsmakers will set an Over/Under total for each round.
These totals are based on the oddsmakers’ forecast of how long it will take for the fighters to complete all the rounds. Generally speaking, fights in MMA are shorter than in boxing or other combat sports, so this bet can give you a good chance of winning.