MMA betting is a growing segment of the sports wagering industry. There are a variety of bets available, including moneyline wagers on which fighter will win a fight and over/under bets on the number of rounds a fight will last. There are also method-of-victory bets, which are a more in-depth type of bet that allows you to select how a fight will end (knockout, submission, or decision). Lastly, there are round-by-round wagers, where you can make bets on which round a specific fight will end in.
Unlike other major sports, MMA is relatively new on the scene and as such, its oddsmakers don’t have as much experience fine-tuning the betting lines for this sport. This can sometimes provide an opportunity for savvy bettors to find advantageous betting prices. To take advantage of this, MMA bettors should always be sure to study the betting odds for each fight and understand how public perception plays into those prices.
Aside from studying the moneyline betting odds, MMA bettors should also take the time to research each fighter’s recent performances. In particular, they should look for instances where a fighter’s victories came against elite-level opponents while their losses occurred against lower-tier foes. This is because a fighter who has built an impressive resume but is yet to be tested will have difficulty adapting to the pace of a championship-level fight, especially in the later rounds.
Another way to gain an edge in MMA betting is to follow fighters on social media and watch their training camps. This can help bettors determine if a fighter is struggling in training or is dealing with injuries. Additionally, it can reveal clues about how a fighter might perform in an upcoming fight. For example, if a fighter suffers a knockout loss, it can affect their mental game and they may become more cautious inside the octagon.
The most popular MMA bet is the moneyline bet, which is placed on which fighter will win a fight. This bet type offers a higher payout than standard bets, but it comes with a much greater risk as all you need to do is correctly predict the winner of a fight. To increase the profitability of a bet, MMA bettors should consider placing parlay bets on multiple fight outcomes. A successful parlay bet will require all of the selected outcomes to occur for it to pay out.
Depending on the matchup, style of each fighter, and how many rounds are scheduled, oddsmakers will set an Over/Under total for the number of rounds that a fight is expected to last. This will then be offered at a price that includes the vig or juice. Generally, the Over/Under bets on MMA matches are made in the middle of each round, while some sportsbooks offer live round-by-round wagering, which enables punters to place their wagers as they watch a fight unfold.