MMA Betting Basics

MMA betting is a popular and growing activity. It can be fun and exciting, but it’s important to be aware of the risks involved and manage your bankroll accordingly. By understanding the odds and researching fighters, you can make intelligent wagers on upcoming fights and increase your chances of winning. It’s also important to avoid placing bets based on emotion or personal bias.

Those who have a solid grasp of the basics of sports betting will find the transition to MMA betting much easier than those who don’t. Mma betting involves a wide range of wager types, from picking the winner to predicting the method of victory and even the round in which the fight will end.

Mma betting is often presented in the same manner as other sports, with odds indicating the payout you would receive if you bet on a specific outcome. The odds for a favorite will be indicated by a minus sign (-), while the underdog’s are shown with a plus sign (+).

One of the most popular types of mma betting is on the Over/Under round total. Depending on the matchup and the style of fighters involved, oddsmakers will set an Over/Under number for the expected number of rounds in the fight. Oddsmakers then add a markup known as vig, which is designed to give them a profit on each bet.

The Over/Under line is a great way to get in on the action without having to know everything about each fighter’s fighting style. A basic understanding of how each fighter’s style and stance can affect their opponents is all you need to know. For example, a southpaw fighter can have an advantage over an orthodox fighter due to their natural stance.

Mma wagering is also available on the winning method of a match, with bets offered on knockout, decision, and other methods of victory. In addition, you can also place a bet on how many rounds the fight will last. This is an excellent bet type to take when you don’t know which fighter will win the fight or by what method.

Upsets are not uncommon in MMA and can lead to big profits for bettors who correctly handicapped the fight. The classic example is Matt Serra’s upset win over Georges St-Pierre at UFC 69, which sent shockwaves through the MMA community and delivered significant windfalls to those who bet on Serra. This is why it is important to follow fighter camps, as knowledge of training camp injuries and other information can be critical to making an educated guess about the outcome of a fight.