Betting on MMA bouts involves a number of different wager types. Understanding the odds, researching fighters and their styles, and managing your bankroll are all key to successful MMA betting. By following these tips, you can place informed bets and increase your chances of winning.
One of the first things that MMA bettors look at is a fighter’s records, which can provide valuable information on their ability to win a fight. However, be careful to take these records with a grain of salt, as it can be difficult to determine the quality of a competitor’s opponents from their wins and losses alone. When evaluating a fighter’s record, consider their style of fighting, as well as their strength and conditioning levels. For example, fighters who strike in short bursts and rely on leg kicks can be prone to unanswered strikes early on, while fighters with a more passive style tend to have longer reach that can help them fend off early attacks.
Another popular MMA wager is the Over/Under Rounds, which asks the bettor to predict whether the fight will last more than or less than a set number of rounds. Typically, sportsbooks set these benchmarks at around 1.5 or 2.5 rounds, and it is up to the bettor to decide if they think the fight will end before or after that threshold. MMA fights are much more aggressive than boxing, so bettors should be aware that a bout could end early and make their decisions accordingly.
Method of Victory is another MMA betting market that can be profitable if correctly predicted. There are five ways for a fight to end, including a knockout, technical knockout, submission, decision, or a disqualification. The bettor can also choose to bet on which specific round they believe the fight will end, which can be helpful for betting on a particular competitor’s style of fighting. For instance, a fighter who is more aggressive and tends to go for early knockouts may have a difficult time matching up with a competitor who prefers to build their victories over the course of the bout.
Lastly, MMA bettors should pay attention to a fighter’s weight in the days leading up to their fight, as this can have a huge impact on their performance. Especially in the lower weight classes, fighters can often be dehydrated and exhausted by a late weight cut, which can leave them vulnerable to their smaller opponents. If a fighter misses their weight class, they can face punishment from the referee, and it will also be more challenging for them to fight in the later rounds when they are already fatigued. Be wary of fighters who have struggled to hit their weight goals in the past. They may use extreme measures to avoid losing weight, such as starving themselves or cutting out water and other fluids before a fight, which can negatively affect their performance.
