MMA is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world and betting on it has taken off. MMA odds and lines are posted for each fight and bettors can make wagers on everything from round totals to method of victory. But before you place your MMA bets, it’s important to understand how the sport works and the different types of bets available.
Unlike traditional point spreads on football games, MMA bets are based on the matchup and fighting styles of two fighters. These bets are offered for each match before the fight takes place and can change throughout the week as more information becomes available. This type of betting offers bettors more opportunities to place winning bets and can help increase your bankroll.
When placing a bet on an MMA fight, you’ll also see Over/Under totals and prop bets. Over/Under totals are set on the number of rounds a fight is expected to last and oddsmakers will add a price, known as the vig or juice, on both the Over and Under sides. The Over side is designed to cover the majority of bettors and the Under is meant to appeal to more conservative bettors who prefer a low-risk approach to their MMA betting.
The first thing bettors should know is that MMA has separate weight classes for each fighter. The fights are categorized by these weight classes and matchups typically feature fighters in the same division. The higher a fighter’s class, the more he or she will be favored in a fight. This is due to the fact that a fighter in the lower classes may have more difficulty making weight or adjusting to the larger size of a higher-classed opponent.
A fighter’s MMA record will also play an important role in the outcome of their next fight. A fighter with a good win/loss record will be favored in the futures market because they have already proven that they can compete at this level. Conversely, a fighter with a poor win/loss record will be viewed as a risky bet.
MMA fights are typically split into three or five rounds depending on their length. The over/under total is set on how many rounds the fight will last, and bettors can win money if their bet is correct. Typically, a match with more rounds will have an over/under total of 3.5 or 4.5, whereas shorter matches will have an over/under total of 2.5 rounds.
Method of Victory props are another type of MMA bet that lets bettors wager on how a fight will end. There are three main ways to win an MMA fight, including a knockout, submission or judges’ decision. These bets are similar to the UFC Moneyline but the bettor must predict the method of victory correctly to win.
Often, plus values (or minus values) are available on MMA fights, so bettors can profit 100 dollars or more for every one-hundred dollar bet they place. However, bettors should remember that plus values do not guarantee a profitable bet and only experienced bettors can identify when there is real value in a particular MMA prop.
