Putting down a wager on MMA fights is easy enough, but making smart MMA bets requires more than just picking the fighter you think will win. Successful MMA betting involves thoughtful research, strategy, and thorough analysis of both fighters and fight odds. It’s not a shot in the dark, but rather an intellectual exercise with a high payout potential.
While MMA is still relatively young as a sport and a betting market, the intersection of MMA and sports betting is evolving rapidly. New technologies, including augmented reality and virtual reality for training and tactical simulations, are on the horizon, bringing fresh possibilities to the sport and a whole new layer of betting excitement.
In addition to traditional moneyline bets on which fighter will win a particular match, MMA sportsbooks offer several additional betting options for fans of the sport. These include prop bets, which are specific wagers on specific events during a fight, such as whether the fight will end by submission, knockout, or decision. They also offer Over/Under bets on the number of rounds a fight will last. These bets are calculated by the oddsmakers based on the fighting styles of the combatants and their respective track records against opponents with similar style.
A key part of understanding MMA betting is the plus and minus system. The higher the probability a certain fighter will win, the lower the odds they’ll have, and vice versa. This is reflected in the moneyline odds, where favorites will have a minus symbol in front of their odds, and underdogs will have a plus sign.
One of the most interesting aspects of MMA betting is the option to place a parlay bet, which combines multiple bets on individual fighters and matches into a single wager. This type of bet offers a greater potential payout than placing individual bets, but all selections in the parlay must win for you to be paid.
Another popular MMA betting option is to bet on how the judges will score a particular fight. There are three types of judge’s decisions: unanimous (all three judges favor the same fighter), split, and majority. Odds on split and majority decisions tend to be longer, with bigger payouts if you get them right.
Lastly, there are bets on the round in which a particular fight will end. Depending on the fighters’ fighting styles and the number of rounds in a fight, oddsmakers will set an Over/Under total for how many rounds the fight will last. For example, if two fighters are both known for their ground game, the oddsmakers may set an Over/Under of 2.5 rounds.
As with all sports, MMA has its fair share of upsets, and the oddsmakers can’t account for every situation that might arise in a given fight. Nevertheless, keeping up with the latest fighter trends and studying their track record against opponents with similar styles can help you make informed bets on which underdogs are worth backing.