MMA Betting Strategies
The world of MMA betting can seem intimidating to those who are unfamiliar with the sport. But wagering on the sport doesn’t have to be a shot in the dark; there are many ways that fight fans can make informed and profitable bets. Understanding the different types of bets and how to read MMA odds is an important first step towards becoming an informed and successful MMA bettor.
The most basic MMA bet is the money line, where a fighter’s odds are compared to those of his opponent in order to determine how likely he is to win the fight. In this type of bet, the higher the a fighter’s odds, the more likely he is to win. The odds for a fighter are displayed on electronic wagering displays and sheets, where the minus symbol (-) represents the favorite and the plus symbol (+) represents the underdog.
Depending on the matchup and styles of the fighters, oddsmakers will also set an Over/Under total for the number of rounds the fight is expected to last. In this type of bet, you can place a wager on whether the fight will end before the scheduled number of rounds or after it. Similarly, you can place a bet on the method of victory, predicting whether the fight will end by submission, knockout, or decision.
In addition to the over/under and method of victory bets, some MMA sportsbooks will offer bets on specific rounds of a fight. These bets are called “exact-round” bets and can offer a much larger payout than standard moneyline bets. In order to place these bets, you must know which fighter is favored in the fight and what their chances of winning are on each of the judges’ scorecards.
Prop bets are a great way for bettors to place bets on unique aspects of a fight that cannot be predicted in advance. These bets often involve a deep dive into the fighting history of a fighter and consideration of factors such as his ground game, striking ability, and stamina. A good example is a fighter who is making a big step up in class and is thus considered an underdog.
One of the most common and profitable MMA betting strategies is to look for underdogs who are poised to upset a favored fighter. This can be a result of a fading favorite, a loss to an inferior opponent, or a fighter’s form dipping from a recent win. In any event, a wise punter will take the time to analyze all of these factors in order to find the best value. It is important to remember that in MMA, just as in any other sport, the reputation of a fighter will outlast his top level performance for only a few fights. If a fighter starts to show signs of declining form in his next few outings, then it is time to search for value and bet against him. The same can be said for a popular fighter who has struggled in his last couple of fights against styles that he typically handles well.