MMA betting is an exciting and profitable form of sports wagering. While many novices may be tempted to place a bet on the fight of the week or a fighter with the biggest name, understanding the odds and managing your bankroll are critical for successful MMA betting. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you bet smarter, not harder.

MMMA betting is a fast-growing sport with an ever-expanding fan base. While some big-name fighters only enter the octagon two or three times per year, other fighting organizations promote events on a weekly basis. This makes it possible to find a match on any given day, and it also means there are always a variety of different bet types.

Moneyline MMA bets involve placing a bet on which fighter will win a particular fight. The odds are displayed in a number of formats, but the most common is American odds with a plus or minus symbol to indicate whether a fighter is favored or underdog. The closer the fight gets, the more the odds will shift. If the odds are inflated, bettors can take advantage by betting on underdogs.

Another popular MMA bet is on round totals. These bets are based on how many rounds a fight will last and can provide lucrative payouts. Most sportsbooks set over/under round totals based on how aggressive the fighters are expected to be. However, there are exceptions, so it is important to look at each fighter’s style and past performances when making this type of bet.

In addition to over/under bets, MMA fans can also place bets on the exact round in which a fight will end. This type of bet can offer some of the highest payouts, but it is a very risky bet that requires a lot of research and analysis. Bettors should pay close attention to how a fighter’s weight cutting is going and be ready for any surprises on fight day, such as if they can make it all the way through a round despite being exhausted or if they have a knockout in them in the first few minutes.

A good MMA fighter has a high fighting IQ, which allows them to think quickly and adapt to their opponents’ strategies. In addition, they must be able to spot weaknesses in their opponents’ styles and exploit them. This is especially important in a sport like MMA where the rules are constantly evolving.

A fighter’s training camp and overall health are also important factors to consider when making a bet. MMA is a tough sport and even the best fighters can struggle with injuries or other unforeseen circumstances that could throw off their preparation and lead to a loss. It is essential to follow fighters on social media to keep up with their training, weigh-ins, and other news that can affect their performance on fight night.

A horse race is a spectacle that draws thousands of people to the track to sip mint juleps, admire fancy outfits, and watch horses run for their lives. But behind the gilded facade lies a dark and disturbing world of injuries, drug abuse, and gruesome breakdowns. In the earliest days of organized racing, horses died frequently, but modern drugs and an increasingly vigilant officialdom have made it much safer. Even so, crooked trainers still sabotage the industry and the sport is often corrupt.

On a morning in early May 2022, a horse named Mongolian Groom trotted out of the walking ring before his race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, and toward the starting gate. As he did so, spectators looked at his coat to see whether it was bright and rippling. If so, the animal was ready to run; if not, it might be frightened or angry.

The horse entered the starting gate and jumped clear of it. War of Will, a favorite to win that year’s Preakness Stakes, was ahead of him. The rest of the eleven horses were packed together in a long, narrow group, crowded tight enough to be uncomfortable for the horses and their riders. The surface was dirt, a deep and muddy course that made the runners bounce as they went over it. The rider of a good horse, called a “good trip,” could make the difference between winning and losing.

A jockey rides a horse by holding onto its neck with a strap and pushing it forward in a style called hand riding. A jockey can use the whip to urge the horse on when he feels that it is not going fast enough. He can also give the horse a light tap with the pommel to get it to move its rear end faster. The rider can also rub the horse’s belly with his hands, which makes the animal feel less agitated.

Whenever a horse races, its lower legs take a terrible beating. That is because the horses are trained to be quick, which requires a lot of running, and because horses cannot stop when they tire, as humans can. The lower legs of a racing horse, especially those on an oval track, are prone to injury, straining ligaments, tendons, and joints.

In the earliest days of organized racing, most horses died of injuries. But by the 1920s, a more scientific approach to breeding and training had taken hold. Powerful painkillers designed for humans and anti-inflammatories became available, and racing officials had trouble keeping up with the many new medications that were now used to enhance performance. Blood doping, growth hormones, antipsychotics, and other potent drugs were all common.

In 2020 Congress decided that it was no longer willing to allow animals to die in the name of entertainment, and began enforcing safety standards for horse racing. The new rules reduced the death rate by a significant margin. But the industry is still a crooked place, and its leaders have a lot of explaining to do.