MMA betting has seen a boom in popularity recently. It’s easy to see why – the sport spans the globe with events and huge betting slates almost every week of the year. Whether you’re a fan of the UFC or a newcomer to the sport, betting on an MMA match can be fun and profitable. But there are a few things to keep in mind before you get started.
Besides the obvious wagers on who will win a particular fight, bettors can also place MMA prop bets that are related to specific outcomes in a given fight. For example, you can bet on how long a particular fight will last. These bets are typically offered well in advance of the fight and are continually adjusted as the fight progresses. Unlike moneyline bets, prop bets don’t require you to put up the full amount of your wager to make a profit.
Another common MMA bet is on the method of victory. You can choose to wager on the winner of a fight by either choosing a submission, technical knockout, disqualification, or judge’s decision. This type of bet is similar to boxing betting and can be very lucrative if you’re right about your selection.
You can also make a bet on the total number of rounds in a particular MMA match. Depending on the fighting styles of the two fighters and the number of rounds scheduled, oddsmakers will set an Over/Under total for a particular fight. Taking the over might be a good idea if the fighters are defensive in nature, but if they are aggressive, you may want to take the under.
It’s important to know the difference between a MMA fight and a traditional boxing match. While both sports involve striking, MMA involves much more grappling and submission techniques. The rules of a fight also differ slightly, with judges taking a variety of factors into consideration, including effective strikes, significant legal strikes, and dominance. In addition, a fighter’s takedown defense is also taken into account. For instance, Khabib Nurmagomedov landed 21 takedowns on Abel Trujillo in their fight at UFC 160.
As a bettors, it is always wise to keep up with the latest MMA news and be familiar with the fighting styles of both fighters involved in a particular bout. You can do this by watching the weigh-ins and following MMA podcasts. This will help you to understand the mental aspect of MMA betting, which is just as important as physical training.
Many bettors like to do what’s known as “MMA math” to determine which fighter has a better chance of winning a given match. This includes comparing the records of opponents and looking for commonalities in their matchups. However, this can lead to misguided thinking and take the focus off of handicapping styles. It’s also crucial to watch the fighters’ weigh-ins before a fight, as missing weight can have serious consequences. In some cases, fighters have to starve themselves or drink excessively in order to make the weight limit.