When it comes to MMA betting, there are many ways to place your bets. The most popular bet is to pick the fight winner, but you can also choose how a fighter will win – KO/TKO, submission or decision. You can even get more specific by placing a bet on which exact round the fight will end in, for higher payout odds.
Unlike other sports like football or basketball, a fight in MMA can end at any time – a devastating punch to the liver, a spinning back kick to the head or a tight rear-naked choke can put an end to any match in seconds. This makes for a fast-paced, action-packed sport that is incredibly exciting and unpredictable. This unpredictability is a primary reason why so many fans enjoy betting on MMA matches.
The first step when betting on a MMA match is to navigate to the MMA section of your preferred sportsbook. Once there, select the promotion and event you want to wager on to view the full fight card. After that, you can add individual fighters to your bet slip and select your stake. You can also place a parlay bet, where you wager on several outcomes of different MMA fights in one bet slip.
In MMA betting, the moneyline bet is the most basic option. This is a bet on which fighter you think will win the fight, regardless of how they do it (KO/TKO, submission or decision). The odds for this type of bet are listed in either American Odds, Fractional or Decimal format and can be changed to your preferred method by logging into your account and selecting your preferred option.
A popular bet in MMA is the over/under total for a fight, which is set by the sportsbook based on the expected number of rounds the match will last. This is often influenced by the fighting styles of the two fighters, as those with grappling techniques will be more likely to win by submission than a direct striking style.
Some MMA bettors try to do what is known as “MMA Math” to predict the outcome of a fight, using past performances between similar fighters to make their selections. This is a bad habit and can distract from studying fighting film and understanding the skills and styles of each opponent.
Likewise, a fighter’s performance can be affected by how they prepare for a match. A fighter that is close to missing a weight cut may take drastic measures to ensure they tip the scales, which can leave them exhausted and drained come fight night.
Another factor to consider is a fighter’s record against opponents in their own weight class. It’s not uncommon for a fighter to move up or down in weight classes throughout their career, and this can affect how they perform against foes of a different class. This is why bettors should always be aware of a fighter’s weight class when placing bets on MMA fights.