MMA betting is an adrenaline pumping experience for both fight fans and gamblers alike. However, there is a big difference between making any old wager and placing a smart one. The secret to success in MMA betting goes well beyond doing your research, although this is an important aspect of all successful sports gambling. It also involves understanding how to make the most of your bankroll and avoiding some unique pitfalls that can trip up even the most experienced bettors.
Depending on the matchup, style of fighters and the number of rounds that are scheduled, oddsmakers will set Over/Under totals for each MMA bout. The Over/Under line is expressed in positive and negative values, with positive numbers indicating a favorite and negative ones indicating an underdog. The Over/Under total is then divided by the house’s margin of profit, known as vig or juice, to determine the actual price of the bet.
Moneyline MMA bets are a great way to wager on an outright winner of a specific match. The favored fighter will carry a minus symbol in front of their odds, while the underdog will have plus symbols in front of them. The higher the discrepancy between the odds, the more likely a fighter is to win.
Prop bets, or proposition bets, are an exotic form of MMA betting that focus on predicting occurrences in a specific fight. These bets often offer better payouts than standard wagers, and can also be included in parlays. However, it is important to note that all bets in a parlay must be correct for the bet to win, so be sure to check out the rules of each sportsbook before placing a prop bet.
Another type of MMA bet is on Method of Victory, or MOV. This is a bet on whether a specific fighter will win by KO or TKO. Typically, hard hitting fighters like Francis Ngannou will have a strong chance of winning via these methods.
In addition to knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each fighter, it is crucial to pay attention to a fighter’s history in their specific weight class. For instance, some fighters may struggle to cut down their weight for a fight and go through drastic measures to avoid missing the weigh-in. This can leave them drained and vulnerable for the duration of the fight, giving their opponent an advantage.
Similarly, it is important to note how a fighter’s victories and defeats have come against the competition. For example, some fighters have built up impressive wins over inferior opponents, while others have made a name for themselves in the UFC against top-level competition. This will give bettors an indication of the quality of a fighter’s wins and losses, as well as how they adapt to different opponents.