While putting down a wager on team sports is something many bettors are familiar with, betting on MMA fights can seem like an entirely foreign concept. It is important for bettors to understand MMA betting, which includes understanding the odds, researching fighters and managing your bankroll. Using this information can help bettors avoid some of the unique pitfalls that are specific to MMA betting.
Unlike football and basketball, where teams are scheduled to play each other at set dates throughout the year, MMA fights are negotiated and held on an ad hoc basis by promotions (like the UFC) and individual fighters. Because of this, the MMA market is much more volatile than other sports. Fortunately, sportsbooks have adapted and are now able to offer bettors the option to place wagers on the future outcome of MMA matches.
A big mistake many novice MMA bettors make is doing what’s known as “MMA math.” They compare the record of two fighters, often looking at which opponents each have won and lost against. This thinking can mislead bettors and take their focus away from studying fight film and handicapping styles. It is also important to remember that a fighter’s arc in MMA can be short – it is hard to stay sharp for years, and even the best fighters will show signs of decline after a few fights.
Another thing to keep in mind when placing MMA bets is that sportsbooks will skew the lines to heavily favor the favorite in most situations. As such, it is important to do your research and seek out value bets against the favorite. This can be done by searching for key statistics such as strikes landed, strike absorbed and takedown defense, among others.
One of the more popular types of MMA bets is on Method of Victory. This bet allows bettors to choose how the fight will end, with options including KO/TKO, submission and Going the Distance. Depending on the sportbook, bettors can sometimes place this bet on multiple fights at once by creating parlay bets. However, it’s important to note that all legs of a parlay must be successful in order to pay out real cash profit.
Live MMA betting is an excellent way to get the most out of your experience betting on MMA. You can place bets during a match, and the odds are updated in real-time to reflect betting activity and any new fighter or fight-related news that may affect the line. Live betting is also a great way to take advantage of a sportsbook’s welcome bonus offers, which are typically offered in the form of free bet tokens or money bets.
MMA betting is fast-paced and can lead to some pretty big payouts. For this reason, it’s important for bettors to always manage their bankroll properly and never bet more than they can afford to lose. Managing your bankroll is just as important as conducting thorough research before making any bets, and should be an integral part of your overall MMA betting strategy.