MMA betting is a unique form of sports wagering. Unlike traditional team sports, where you place your bets based on how well your team is doing, MMA wagers are made primarily on individual fighters and their fighting styles. This type of wagering requires a lot of research and understanding of the sport’s statistics and history. It can be a bit daunting for newcomers to the game, but the right strategy can lead to some serious cash.
The most common bet in MMA is the money line, which is a single bet on a specific fighter. This bet is based on the expected winning percentage of each fighter and can vary from sportsbook to sportsbook. Odds for a fight will change from the moment they open until the night of the fight, depending on how people are betting and any news that might come up. You can also bet on prop bets, parlays (accumulators) and over/unders. The over/under is a bet on the number of rounds the match will last and can also vary from sportsbook to sportsbook.
Another popular MMA wager is the method of victory, which is on how a fight will end, whether it will be by knockout, submission or points decision. This bet can also vary from sportsbook to sportsbook and offers a larger payout than the round bets. Some sportsbooks will allow you to be even more specific and bet on the exact method of victory, which can increase the potential payout even more.
Futures bets are a great way to wager on an upcoming event and can result in some large wins if your picks turn out to be correct. However, beware of making bets based on hype or storylines that may not be true. Those bets are often wrong and will cost you in the long run. Instead, focus on your research and stats, and only place bets if you have them.
It’s important to stay informed about fighters’ training camps and their recent performances. If a fighter has been inactive for a while or is coming off a KO loss, be wary of placing a bet on them. These types of losses can wreak havoc on a fighter’s confidence and may cause them to lose their edge in the octagon.
One of the best ways to make more money when betting on MMA is by using what’s known as parlays. These are multiple bets on different fights that are combined into one large wager with higher odds than if you were to place individual bets on each fight. Those who understand how to correctly use this technique can make some serious money while still enjoying the thrill of MMA wagering.
One mistake many bettors make is doing what’s called “MMA math.” This is where they look at the record of a fighter and try to compare it to their opponent’s record. They will often see that a fighter has lost to a certain foe, and that should mean that their current opponent should win, right? This is a big mistake that can take the attention away from studying fight film and understanding fighting styles.