MMA betting is a fun and exciting way to place a wager on an upcoming fight. It also gives you the opportunity to win big money if you can pick the right fighter to win.
Unlike other sports like football or basketball, where there is a favorite and underdog, MMA betting has more variance. This means that one lucky punch can make a favorite vulnerable and cause him to lose. However, if you know how to bet on MMA matches and use your smarts, there are many different ways to win money.
Props and Betting Guides
In addition to traditional moneyline bets, there are some unique MMA betting odds that can be very profitable. In these cases, you’ll need to be very selective and choose the most beneficial odds available.
You may find a better price on a prop bet that you didn’t expect, and it’s always a good idea to shop around. You can do this at most online sportsbooks.
Bets on Method of Victory
The most common MMA betting odds are for the winner to be either a knockout or submission. Those bets offer more precise results than the over/under and moneyline bets, so they tend to pay out a bit higher.
For example, if you think that Demetrious Johnson is a better striker and he will beat Tyron Woodley via a knockout in the final round of the fight, you can bet on this type of victory by placing a bet on the win-over-moneyline option at +120 odds.
If the fight goes to the full three or five rounds, you can bet on a decision victory. This is a much more difficult proposition than the over/under or moneyline bets, but it’s worth a shot for MMA bettors.
Consider Opponents and Style
There are a lot of similarities between boxing and MMA, and this can make it easy for bettors to get confused about the fighting styles of their opponents. In general, orthodox (right-handed) fighters have an advantage over southpaw (left-handed) fighters. The latter have a hard time defending orthodox stances, while orthodox fighters usually win against southpaws due to their superior striking.
You’ll want to consider each fighter’s record against their current opponent, as well as past opponents in the weight class they’re in. This is especially true when comparing two opponents inside the same weight class, where there can be a lot of crossover.
A fighter’s history of KO defeats can also affect their mental game. A fighter that has lost a KO is likely to be more cautious, which can hurt him in the octagon. This is why MMA bettors should be careful when capping these fighters, as they’re likely to lose a lot of their edge and become more conservative.
The odds on a fighter’s ability to cut and maintain weight are another important factor in determining their value. Those who move down in the weight class often have a harder time making it under the limit, but some are able to do so easily and others are not.