MMA betting can be a profitable venture for those who are willing to do the research. There are several factors to consider, including fighters’ strengths and weaknesses, fighting styles, and records. It is also important to know which factors to ignore and which ones to pay attention to. By understanding these factors, bettors can accurately handicap fights and maximize their winnings.
The most common MMA wagers are moneyline/match bets on who will win the fight, over/under bets on the number of rounds the fight will last, and parlays. Moneyline bets are easy to understand and similar to placing a bet on football or basketball games. A sportsbook sets the odds for each side of the bet and a positive number represents the favorite and a negative number is the underdog. By analyzing the odds and public perception of a particular fight, bettors can find advantageous prices on underdog bets.
Over/Under bets are another popular MMA wager. The over/under total is the combined number of rounds the fight will last and can be placed on any round during the fight. The over/under total is calculated by weighing the oddsmakers’ expectations of how many rounds will be fought with the fighters’ style and the matchup’s overall history. This calculation is then divided by the number of rounds the fight is scheduled for and the vig or juice is added to the total.
In MMA, matchups are set in specific weight classes. This is helpful when handicapping a fight as it can indicate how a fighter will perform based on their size and experience. It is also helpful to know whether the fighters are orthodox or southpaw, as this can affect how well they will fight. A fighter’s stance can also give them an advantage if they are used to defending that stance against opponents who are not.
Lastly, be selective in placing your MMA wagers. It is not necessary to bet on every MMA fight, especially those with a lot of hype or a headlining name. Instead, look for the most value in the cards that feature a few fighters that you are familiar with and have a strong opinion about.
Method of victory bets are a great way to increase your profits and reduce your risk by limiting your losses. These bets allow you to place a wager on which technique will be used by the winner of a fight, such as KO/TKO, submission, or DQ. While they may be riskier than standard bets, they can offer a much larger payout if your selection is correct.
When making a method of victory bet, it is important to remember that sportsbooks will make an effort to balance the amount of money bet on each side of the bet. However, this is not always possible and public perception can cause the line to move in one direction or another. The best way to avoid this is by studying the matchup and understanding how different fighters’ styles match up, as well as the overall history of each matchup.