A growing number of MMA fans are starting to wager on the sport. Unlike betting on a team sport, MMA match ups are one-on-one. This makes them less likely to be lopsided and more appealing for bettors looking for a bigger payout. But, just like betting on any other fight, there are a few things that should be kept in mind before placing your first MMA bet.
The main thing to remember when betting on MMA is that the sport is very volatile. It can take just a single lucky punch to completely turn the tide of a fight. This is especially true if a fighter is a favorite in a fight. Those who are accustomed to betting on more traditional sports such as football and basketball may have trouble adjusting to the intricacies of MMA betting.
Mma Betting Odds
While UFC matches are not played on a team, each fighter has a specific weight class that they compete in. These weight classes are used to determine match ups and how much each fighter should be favored or underdog. Fighters are given odds based on their experience and fighting ability. These odds are then used to calculate the expected win percentage of each fighter.
MMA betting odds are displayed in decimal form, making them easy to read. The underdog fighter’s odds have a plus (+) sign while the favored fighter’s odds have a minus (-). Generally speaking, the smaller the odds are, the more likely the underdog is to win the fight.
Another thing to keep in mind when placing a bet on an MMA match is that younger fighters tend to have better win percentages than older ones. However, it is important to note that this statistic does not apply when two fighters are the same age. The best way to pick a winning bet is to examine the fight’s stats and determine which fighter has the highest striking accuracy, strikes landed per minute, and overall power.
Most reputable online MMA betting sites will offer a wide range of markets for bettors to choose from. Some of the most popular include Method of Victory (KO/TKO, Submission, or Points) and Round Props. The latter involves betting on which rounds a fight will last and offers higher payouts than the simple Method of Victory bet. For example, if you bet on the Over on a Round Prop and the fight lasts three rounds, you’ll win $100 for every bet you place. A lot of fighters will try to last as long as possible in a fight so that they can cash out on a Round Prop. This is not ideal for the integrity of the fight, as it could make fighters tempted to take a fight to decision for the sake of a bet. This would ruin the credibility of MMA as a sport.