MMA is one of the most popular combat sports in the world. With major promotions like the UFC and Bellator holding events on a weekly basis, there is no shortage of MMA betting opportunities. However, successful MMA betting requires an understanding of the sport’s rules and fighters’ skill sets. This can be challenging for bettors who are new to MMA betting, but it is essential to making money in this arena. Fortunately, a few simple tips can help bettors get started on the right foot.
The first step in MMA betting is joining an online sportsbook that offers a variety of fair MMA wagering lines. It is important to choose a sportsbook that has a reputation for integrity and security, and accepts credit cards and other common forms of payment. The best sites also offer a mobile application that makes placing wagers on the go even easier.
When it comes to MMA betting, the most basic type of wager is called a moneyline bet. This bet is placed on a specific fighter to win the fight, with odds reflecting how likely it is that the fighter will win. Favorites will usually have a minus symbol in front of their moneyline odds, while underdogs will have a plus sign in front of their odds. Moneyline MMA bets can be placed on full fights or individual rounds, and they are typically available for both live and pre-fight betting.
Another type of MMA betting is the over/under bet, which is placed on the number of rounds a fight will last. This is a popular bet in football and basketball, but it can be more complicated in MMA, where different fighting styles make it hard to predict how many rounds a fight will last. However, there are resources available to bettors that can help them determine how many rounds a fight will last, and there is often value in placing a bet on the under side of the over/under.
It is also important for bettors to understand that all fighters have strengths and weaknesses. Even the most famous fighters, such as Conor McGregor, can be caught off guard by a well-placed strike from an underdog. This is why it is so crucial to study fighters’ past performances and coaching history before deciding on which fighter to back in any given situation.
In addition to standard moneyline and over/under bets, MMA betting has a variety of other interesting wagering options. Method of victory props allow bettors to place a bet on how they think a fighter will win, such as by KO/TKO, submission, or decision. Round group and round betting are also popular MMA wagering options, and bettors can even make a bet on how a particular round will end. These types of bets are often ignored by casual bettors, but they can offer a lot of potential profits for those who know the sport.