Mma betting is more than just picking a winner; it involves making wagers on specific outcomes within a fight. Betting options vary and are based on fighters’ histories, styles, strengths, weaknesses, recent performance, coaching team, and even their stance (orthodox vs. southpaw). The goal is to understand the different MMA betting markets and maximize your potential payouts by identifying and capitalizing on value.
The most basic MMA bet is the money line. This bet offers odds on the winning fighter and assigns each fighter a percentage chance of winning the fight. Favorites are usually listed as minus symbols, while underdogs are indicated by plus signs. Moneyline bets can be made on any outcome in a fight, including the first round or whether a fighter will win by submission or knockout. In addition, a bet on Method of Victory is also an option; this type of bet allows bettors to place wagers on how the winning fighter will win the fight—by KO/TKO, submission, or decision.
Often, the most profitable bets in MMA are those that bettors make based on their research and analysis of a fight. This includes studying fighters’ histories, styles, and performance in similar matchups. In addition, bettors should take into account the weight classes of each fighter; those that struggle to make weight often undergo extreme measures to avoid cutting too much and can be drained by early rounds of fighting as a result.
Another way to improve your MMA betting skills is by placing bets on the Over/Under round totals for a given fight. Depending on the matchup, style of the fighters, and number of rounds scheduled, oddsmakers will set an Over/Under total for the expected number of rounds that the fight will last. The Over/Under price is then determined by a combination of the oddsmakers’ calculations and the added vig, or juice, that sportsbooks charge to cover their operating costs.
Understanding the MMA betting market allows bettors to capitalize on juicy live odds offered by sportsbooks. Typically, these odds will fluctuate based on the action inside the octagon, so bettors should check multiple sportsbooks to find the best prices and maximize their profitability.
It is also important for MMA bettors to analyze the judging system and determine how a decision will be rendered. For example, a fighter with long reach may be able to hit his opponent from a distance that his opponent cannot reciprocate without maneuvering to get close enough. This advantage can lead to a decision win for the fighter who lands more strikes and has better defensive skills. Similarly, a fighter who has a strong ground game can overwhelm opponents with takedowns and submissions.