MMA betting is an exciting and lucrative way to place bets on fights. There are many different mma betting strategies that can be employed, but it all comes down to research, smart bankroll management, and a deep understanding of the fighters involved in each fight. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced bettor, these tips can help you become more successful at MMA betting.
Understand the odds and public perception
One of the most important things to understand when placing MMA bets is how oddsmakers set their lines. Sportsbooks and oddsmakers are commonly looking to balance the money bet on both sides of a wager. This can affect the pricing of a bet and make it difficult to determine which side is favored by the public. Understanding how this works can help you make better bets by finding prices that offer more value than expected.
Understand how judges score a fight
Judges in MMA are looking for a number of different factors including effective striking, takedowns, and dominance. A judge will often award points for significant legal strikes landed on the opponent, but they will also deduct points if they are illegal or considered excessive. For example, a fighter may score a knockout when they hit their opponent with a hard right or left to the head. Similarly, a takedown can be awarded for any number of submission holds or moves, such as a choke hold.
Understand the different bet types
Unlike boxing, MMA features multiple weight classes and fighters will move up or down in class depending on their success. This can have a big impact on their ability to cut and maintain weight. Fighters that struggle to make weight are often forced to take drastic measures in order to avoid failing a weigh-in. This can leave them exhausted and drained before the fight even begins.
A fighter’s history in a specific weight class is another important factor to consider when placing bets. Some fighters are able to adjust to different weight classes much easier than others, and this can be reflected in their fighting styles. For example, a fighter coming off a heavy KO loss might lose their aggressiveness or risk-taking in the octagon.
Understand the over/under bet type
Besides moneyline bets, MMA betting offers a variety of other prop bets, including over/under bets on how long a fight will last and methods-of-victory wagers. Methods-of-victory bets allow bettors to try and predict how a fight will end, such as by a KO, technical knockout, decision, or submission. Some of these bets have higher payouts, such as a bet on a fighter to win by submission or a KO within the first minute.
Mma bettors can also parlay their bets to increase their potential returns. However, parlaying bets requires a higher level of risk and should only be done with funds that you can afford to lose. In addition, parlaying bets can limit your profit opportunities as you’ll have to win all of the bets in a parlay in order to cash out.
