MMA is an exciting, high-octane sport that seamlessly blends striking and grappling techniques from a range of martial arts disciplines. This unique, unpredictable nature makes mma betting a challenge for both experienced bettors and newcomers alike. The best way to bet on MMA is to understand the game’s fundamentals and make calculated decisions based on careful analysis. Mma betting requires a deeper level of analysis than other sports, including the ability to assess fighters’ histories, styles and recent form.
Unlike football or baseball, where the most common bets are point spreads, in MMA betting the most popular wager is what’s called a Money Line. The odds on a Money Line tell you how much you can win if the fighter you choose wins, and they’re displayed in American, decimal or fractional format. Odds for a Money Line will change as the fight draws closer, so it’s important to check them regularly. You can also place prop bets, parlays (accumulators) and futures wagers in MMA betting. Prop bets are exotic wagers on occurrences or non-occurrences that won’t directly affect the outcome of the fight. They include things like who will score the first knockdown or attempt the first submission move. The odds for these bets are often lower than for a Money Line, so they can offer better value.
Another popular type of MMA bet is the Round Bet. These bets are placed on which of the five possible ways a fight can end: KO, TKO, submission, decision or disqualification. A KO or TKO bet is simple enough, but a decision or disqualification bet is more complex. A decision bet can only be won if one of the judges has a higher score than the other two, and you’ll lose if all three judges have the same score.
An OVER/UNDER bet is set by the oddsmakers on the number of rounds that a fight will last, based on the style and fighting history of the two fighters. They will then set a price for the Over and Under, which includes vig or juice, depending on how likely they think it is that the fight will go the distance. To help you decide if the Over or Under is the better bet, you can look at fighters’ takedown numbers, their record against fighters with similar styles, and how many rounds they’ve fought in past fights. However, it’s important to remember that stats can be misleading – personal vendettas, rivalries and rematches are all factors that don’t always show up on the numbers sheet.