A growing number of fans have been betting on MMA fights, and it’s not hard to see why. MMA is an exciting sport that features brutal combat and unpredictable endings. A single devasting punch or tight rear-naked choke can turn the tables in an instant, and savvy MMA bettors know how to read the odds to find value.
Despite UFC president Dana White’s insistence that gambling among fighters and coaches is “not OK,” ESPN spoke to several people who work in the MMA industry and found most believe that wagering is common. Often, it’s sponsored by betting websites and advertised on social media. And, in some cases, the fighters themselves benefit from it by getting paid to promote it. Israel Adesanya, for example, shouted out his betting sponsor Stake at the prefight news conference for his most recent fight.
In-fight – or live – MMA betting is one of the most exciting ways to place a bet on a fight, and it can offer significant payouts when done correctly. However, this form of MMA betting can be difficult to master and requires knowledge of a fighter’s techniques and fighting styles. This will allow you to spot in-fight opportunities and take advantage of odds that aren’t available when placing pre-fight bets.
Mma betting offers many types of wagers, including moneyline bets and props. A moneyline bet is a simple wager that states the winner of a particular match, while props are specific to certain aspects of the fight. For instance, you can bet on how a fighter will win their fight by selecting either a knockout or submission. You can also place a bet on how many rounds a fight will last, or the over/under total number of rounds. These types of MMA betting require more research than standard moneyline or over/under bets, but they can yield higher payouts.
The most important thing to remember when placing a bet on an MMA fight is that gambling should not be seen as a pathway to financial success. Always set a budget for how much you’re willing to spend on your MMA wagers and never play beyond that limit. Also, avoid making large bets just to try and recover from a loss. Finally, be sure to understand the rules and regulations of your state before placing a bet on an MMA match.
Mma bettors should make it a point to follow a fighter’s training camps and keep up with the latest MMA news. Knowledge of a fighter’s style and their ability to adjust to different opponents will provide valuable insights when handicapping a fight. In addition, a thorough look at a fighter’s wins and losses can reveal key trends that can help you identify a potential winning bet. For example, a fighter with more wins from top-tier opponents will likely be more prepared than a fighter with more victories from lesser competition. Likewise, understanding whether a fighter is right-handed or left-handed can also be helpful in analyzing a fight.