MMA is an increasingly popular sport with fans from around the world. As a result, betting on MMA has grown in popularity as well. This article provides an overview of mma betting including how to place bets and tips for making winning bets.
The odds on a fight are determined by how much a sportsbook believes a fighter will win a particular matchup. The higher the odds, the more likely a fight is to end in a victory for that fighter. This can be influenced by how many rounds a fight is scheduled to last, the style of each fighter and their overall record in the Octagon.
As with any type of wagering, the more knowledge you have about a particular fighter and their style, the better chance you will have at placing a winning bet. Luckily, with the ubiquity of MMA and online betting, there is plenty of information available to bettors on upcoming MMA matches. A good place to start is by reading a fighter’s previous fight history. Fighters are divided into a number of weight classes and each class is ranked, so be sure to understand which classes are being fought in a given matchup before you make your bets.
In addition to moneylines and total rounds, MMA sportsbooks also offer a variety of prop bets on each fight. These are wagers on specific aspects of a particular match and can be quite fun to place. For example, a fighter’s reach and speed can be factors in whether they are able to knock out an opponent or keep them at bay. In addition, a fighter’s health history can affect their odds as some have had injuries that will reduce their ability to perform at a high level.
Another popular wager is on the Method of Victory. Unlike boxing, MMA offers three methods of victory: KO/TKO, Submission and Decision (also known as on points). These bets are similar to the fighter moneyline but have much lower payouts. The odds on a KO/TKO or Submission wager are around -330, while the odds for a Decision wager are around +300.
A KO loss can be devastating to a fighter’s confidence and may even cause them to lose the next fight. As a result, bettors should avoid putting money on any fighter who has lost a previous bout by KO.
In addition to traditional moneylines and round totals, MMA sportsbooks often offer Over/Under bets on how many rounds the fight will last. Depending on the style of fighting and the number of rounds scheduled, a sportsbook will set an Over/Under price and add a percentage margin for the house (also called vig or juice). This varies from book to book but is generally in the range of 3-5%. Taking the Over in this type of bet is typically a losing proposition, especially for larger bettors. This is because a large percentage of Over bets are placed just before the fight and the Over/Under line tends to be adjusted accordingly.