MMA betting is one of the fastest growing wagering markets in sports, thanks to the increased popularity of mixed martial arts. In addition to standard moneyline bets, MMA sportsbooks also offer live odds during fights, over/under bets and method of victory betting. However, these types of bets require more knowledge about the fighters and their styles in order to make them profitable. For this reason, it’s a good idea to bookmark the MMA sections at your favorite sportsbooks and check them on a daily basis. By doing so, you’ll learn each sportsbook’s cadence and be able to predict when they’ll post the next round of odds for upcoming fights.
The first step in mma betting is learning how to read the odds for a particular fight. In MMA, the odds are displayed as American odds with a plus and minus symbol. A minus indicates the fighter is the favorite to win, while a plus signifies the underdog is the likely winner. This system is straightforward once you get the hang of it. Using it to place bets on underdogs can help you increase your winnings, as long as you don’t bet more than you can afford to lose.
In addition to analyzing the odds, be sure to take a look at the fighters’ matchup history. A deeper dive into the results will reveal any hidden edges that can give you an edge over the sportsbooks. Consider factors such as stance — whether the fighter is orthodox or southpaw — and fighting styles. Then, see if you can find value in the odds for these edges.
Mma bettors should also consider the duration of a fight when placing an over/under bet. A sportsbook will set a total number of rounds, and bettors can choose to wager on whether the fight will last longer (over) or shorter (under) than that amount. For a more nuanced betting experience, you can also place an exact-round bet, which requires predicting the exact round in which a fight will end. The payouts on this type of bet can be quite lucrative, as long as you know your fighters’ strengths and weaknesses.
