A burgeoning industry, mma betting allows bettors to place wagers on the outcome of combatant-specific and fight-related events. MMA is a full-contact sport that blends elements of different martial arts and combat sports, including boxing, karate, muay Thai, wrestling, judo and jiujitsu. Despite being derided as a bloodthirsty event devoid of the grace and finesse of traditional boxing, MMA has garnered popularity around the world due to its fast-paced action, which lends itself well to prematch and live betting.
Aside from analyzing fighters’ overall MMA fighting style, you should also pay close attention to their previous fights. Look at how they fought in those fights and consider their strengths and weaknesses. Watching previous fights gives you a clearer picture of how each fighter operates in the octagon, as they will likely use a similar strategy against upcoming opponents.
It is also important to consider exterior factors that may impact a fighter’s performance, such as how much they need to travel for the bout, when and if they have to cut weight, and their injury histories. The latter is especially crucial, as it can drastically change a fighter’s style and approach to the match.
The oddsmakers for a given fight will set an Over/Under total based on the expected number of rounds in the bout. This number is then divided by the bookmaker’s margin, or vig, to calculate the odds on the Over/Under. As a result, the more rounds a fight lasts, the higher the Over/Under.
In addition to over/under bets, MMA betting markets offer a variety of other prop bets, such as method of victory and round bets. These bets are based on hyper-specific components of each fight and carry a higher risk than the standard moneyline bets.
Regardless of the type of bet you choose, it’s imperative to find a sportsbook that offers an extensive selection of MMA betting markets. Some smaller operations limit the amount of betting markets available for a given fight, but the top MMA wagering sites feature a wide range of options to suit all preferences.
Once you’ve located the MMA betting section of your preferred sportsbook, navigate to the specific promotion and event you want to bet on. From there, you’ll be able to view the fight card and make your selections. You can then add the fighter you want to bet on to your bet slip, as well as any other bets, such as round and method of victory props.
Once you’ve selected the fights on which you want to bet, check the MMA odds for each one. The odds on each fighter reflect their probability of winning, so you’ll need to compare them with the odds on the other fighters in the same fight. This will allow you to see if the odds are fair and can help you decide whether to place a bet or not. It’s worth mentioning that some fights can be extremely close, and this can affect the MMA odds as well.