The Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC, is the world’s leading mixed martial arts promotions company. It is based in Las Vegas, though it holds events all over the world. Betting on MMA matches is very popular, and you can find plenty of sportsbooks that offer a wide variety of betting lines. However, it’s important to know a few tips when placing MMA bets.
One of the most important things to consider when placing a bet on an MMA match is the fighter’s injury history. Many of these fights are grueling, and injuries are common. Some of these injuries are severe enough that a fighter cannot continue with the fight. Injuries are also a big factor when it comes to determining the winning percentage of a particular fighter.
Another way to make a smart bet on an MMA match is to take a closer look at the fighter’s overall record and their opponents’ records. It’s not uncommon for bettors to compare records, but be careful with this type of analysis. Oftentimes, a fighter’s wins are earned against lower-level competition, while their losses come against elite fighters. This can confuse bettors and divert their attention from studying the fighters’ styles.
Lastly, it’s always a good idea to get familiar with a fighter’s training partners. This may seem like too much work for some bettors, but it can help you make a more informed decision when laying money on an MMA match. Seeing what other fighters train with can give you an indication of their skills and how well they may perform in a given match.
It’s also a good idea to study the fighters’ methods of victory in MMA matches. This is especially true when betting on a match with an Over/Under round total. The small number of rounds in MMA matches means that it’s difficult to predict how long the match will last, so you should be sure to take into account the fighting styles of the fighters when making this type of wager.
In addition, be sure to check out a fighter’s recent fights to see how they have performed. Taking into consideration the fact that most of these fights are pre-recorded, you can make a more educated decision when it comes to backing a specific fighter. According to ESPN, several members of the MMA community have made a lot of money by wagering on upcoming fights, and some even earn sponsorships from betting websites. While this is not against the rules, some people in the community worry that this practice may be influencing the outcome of matches. This is particularly concerning because a single bet can yield more than a fighter’s entire paycheck. Despite these concerns, most people ESPN spoke to believe that most MMA fighters and coaches don’t engage in this behavior.