MMA betting can be an exciting and rewarding way to engage with the sport, but it is important to understand the odds and types of wagers before placing your bets. By understanding the basics of MMA betting, you can improve your chances of winning and increase your payouts. Additionally, it is essential to practice responsible gambling and recognise when to step back from the action if necessary.
The most straightforward MMA bet is the Moneyline bet, which involves picking which fighter you think will win the fight. The relative strength of each fighter is reflected in the odds, with favourites having a plus symbol and underdogs having a minus symbol. The odds are displayed in decimal, fractional, and American formats. The more you know about each fighter’s strengths and weaknesses, the better your odds of making a winning bet.
In addition to the basic Moneyline bet, MMA fans can also place Over/Under bets. These bets involve predicting how many rounds the fight will last and whether it will finish before (under) or after (over) the total number of rounds set by the sportsbook. MMA betting is more aggressive than boxing, so this type of bet offers the opportunity to take greater risks and potentially earn higher payouts.
Betting on individual round outcomes is another popular option for MMA bettors. However, be aware that a single mistake can derail your whole parlay. For this reason, it is important to research each fighter’s performance history thoroughly and look at their overall fighting style. For instance, fighters with larger frames are more likely to run out of steam in the later stages of a fight, while those who rely on quick strikes may be able to score more points but could lose control of the fight as a result.
Mma betting can be even more lucrative with parlays, which combine multiple bets into one wager with a higher payout. Parlays are riskier than individual bets and all bets must succeed for the parlay to pay out. Parlays are especially suited to MMA betting, which has the potential for huge upsets and unpredictable endings.
Mma stars like Conor McGregor and Francis Ngannou draw a lot of attention, but their visibility correlates to marketability and not necessarily viability in a given matchup. Ring rust is a real concern for star fighters who opt to hold out for bigger paydays, leaving them vulnerable to exploitable defensive weaknesses.