MMA is growing by leaps and bounds, with fight events generating massive pay-per-view sales. The sport has grabbed the attention of fight fans around the world and sports betting books have taken note. MMA betting is becoming a mainstay at online and land based sportsbooks, although it still accounts for only a small percentage of the overall wagering handle.
The sport’s explosive growth is great for those that enjoy betting on fights, as the number of events and wagering options is expanding rapidly. The biggest MMA promotions, like the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), now host events worldwide and hold multiple fight cards each week. There are also a number of top-notch fighters on the rosters of these events that make for excellent betting opportunities.
There are a number of different ways to bet on MMA, and it’s important to understand the rules and regulations for each type of wager. Some of the most common include moneyline bets, method of victory bets and total rounds bets. A moneyline bet is a simple wager on the winner of a particular bout, and odds are determined by the amount of money wagered and the likelihood that the fighter will win the fight.
Method of victory bets are a unique type of bet in MMA, and they predict how the fighter will win a particular fight. There are usually three different methods of victory in MMA: knockout, submission or judge decision. If a fighter has a history of winning by submission, then you may want to bet on their ability to submit their opponent in the first round.
Similarly, over/under bets on the number of rounds a fight will last are common in MMA. It’s worth noting that some fighters struggle to make weight for their fights, which can impact the number of rounds a bout lasts. It’s also worth considering a fighter’s style when placing over/under bets. If a fighter is very defensive, then the over bet may not come in as easily as the under bet.
Another thing to consider is how the fighters’ records against each other compare. Many bettors try to do what’s called “MMA math,” where they look at the record of a fighter and then compare that against their opponent’s record. However, this can be misleading because fighters often face opponents with similar records and skill sets.
In addition, it’s important to take into account how judges score a fight. They will take a number of factors into consideration, including effective striking, grappling, dominance and aggressiveness. In addition, they will take into account the number of illegal strikes landed, which can result in a deduction of points by the referee. Also, they will evaluate a fighter’s takedowns and submissions. Khabib Nurmagomedov, for example, has a reputation for his dominance on the ground and for landing takedowns that drain his opponents of energy. In addition to these factors, the judges will also evaluate the fight’s atmosphere and the crowd’s reaction to the fight.