MMA Betting Basics
Written by
MMA Betting is an exciting and potentially profitable form of sports betting. Unlike traditional football wagering where bettors place bets on which team will win a game, MMA bets are placed on individual fighters and the fight itself. This makes MMA betting more unique and challenging, but also more rewarding when done correctly. There are several ways to bet on MMA fights, including Money Line bets, Over/Under, Method of Victory and Inplay betting. These bet types can be combined to create parlays (accumulators) and MMA betting odds are displayed in a variety of formats, including American, Fractional, and Decimal.
The first step in MMA betting is learning to read the odds. These odds showcase how much a bettor can win for their wagers, expressed as a percentage of $100. A favorite is shown as a minus sign, while an underdog is indicated by a plus sign. The lower the number, the greater the payout. The odds for a fighter can change from the moment they are published until the day of the fight, and can be affected by any new information that comes to light.
In addition to understanding the betting odds, it is important to know the rules of MMA. For example, a knockout bet pays out only if the fighter you bet on wins by knockout in the first round. The other way to bet on a fight is through a point spread, which rewards you for picking the winner of a particular round. This type of bet can be made on both sides of the fight and offers a more in-depth analysis of the match.
Lastly, be sure to set a budget before you begin betting on MMA. This will help prevent you from losing more than you can afford and it will help you to stay in control of your gambling. If you’re a beginner, be sure to start small and work your way up as you gain experience. Gambling should not be seen as a pathway to wealth, and you should never bet more than you can afford to lose.
A common mistake that many bettors make is comparing record numbers between two fighters. This can be misleading and will take your attention away from studying fighting styles and analyzing matchups. A lot of bettors are also tempted to do what’s known as “MMA math,” which involves comparing the records of opponents that both fighters have faced. This can be a mistake because the opponents have often been at different levels and the same result won’t always happen in a future fight.
In addition to point spread bets, MMA betting also includes Over/Under and Method of Victory bets. The Over/Under is based on how many rounds the fight will last, while the Method of Victory bet is on whether or not a fighter will win by a KO, submission, or TKO. These bets are popular with MMA fans, as they offer more betting options than standard straight bets.