MMA betting is an emerging sport attracting big money at the sportsbooks. It can seem foreign to those who are used to placing bets on team sports, but if you understand the basics of betting and have a firm grasp of the game’s rules, then wagering on MMA matches will come naturally. The most common types of MMA bets are moneyline/match bets on who will win a fight, over/under bets on how many rounds a match will last, and parlays.
Like in most other sports, MMA betting odds shift from the time they open until the fight night, and any news regarding the fighters might also affect the line. However, there are a few tried and true strategies that can help bettors spot good lines.
For starters, bettors should pay attention to a fighter’s camp. They’ll want to follow social media and see how their training is going, as well as how their weight cutting is going. If a fighter is having problems making the weight class, it can impact their performance inside the octagon. A fighter struggling with the weight cut can become drained, making them appear slower in sparring.
Another thing to consider is the experience level of both fighters. Fighters with more experience tend to be better at predicting the outcome of a fight. They’re more familiar with the style of their opponents, know how to spot any weaknesses, and have a better understanding of their own strengths. This can lead to a more profitable handicapping process.
Finally, bettors should keep an eye on a fighter’s past record against their current opponent. This will reveal any patterns that can provide insight into the outcome of a fight. Oftentimes, bettors will try to do what’s called “MMA math,” where they compare a fighter’s wins and losses to the opponent’s record. However, this is often a mistake because it takes the focus off studying styles and watching fight film.
The MMA betting market has some other unique differences from the NFL and NBA betting markets, but there are several tried and tested MMA betting strategies that can help bettors profit. For instance, some sportsbooks offer a DRAW option on fight odds, which is rare in MMA and can often carry a higher payout than betting on a winner. In addition, bettors can take advantage of the transparency of MMA by following the fighters’ camps and looking for signs that they may struggle at certain points during their training or have any injuries. This can make them look slow or sluggish and potentially lead to an early finish.