As the MMA industry continues to grow and regulated sports betting becomes more available, mma betting has emerged as one of the sport’s most popular wagering options. However, there are many factors to consider before placing a bet on an upcoming fight. In order to place a winning bet, bettors must take the time to research fighters and make observations that can help inform their selections. This type of research can be as simple as studying a fighter’s statistics like strikes landed and taken, and as complex as conducting a full video analysis of a fight.
Betting lines are a great way to assess the odds for a given match, but bettors should also consider betting markets that focus on the method of victory and rounds completed. These prop bets can provide more valuable information about a fight than the moneyline prices, which are often influenced by public perception and skew heavily toward the favorite.
In addition to offering moneyline bets on upcoming MMA matches, most legal online sportsbooks offer a number of MMA betting props, or exotic bets that are based on occurrences or non-occurrences not directly related to the outcome of a fight. Some of these props are available for both pre-fight and live betting, meaning that bettors can place their wagers while a fight is taking place. These props can be an excellent way to make a few extra bucks while watching your favorite fights, and they are especially helpful when it comes to betting on the upcoming UFC fights.
Depending on the matchup and fighting styles of the two combatants, oddsmakers will set an Over/Under total on the number of rounds the fight is expected to last. This over/under price is then adjusted by the sportsbook’s vig or juice, to reflect the implied probability of the fight reaching its specified round total. MMA betting props are often focused on the Over, but they can be lucrative for bettors who know what to look for.
In-play MMA betting, or live betting, is the best way to bet on an upcoming fight, and can be even more lucrative than pre-fight betting. While live odds are typically determined by algorithms and traders, they fail to consider the nuances of a fight that keen MMA bettors can pick up on. In-play odds are also dynamic and constantly changing based on what’s happening inside the octagon. This can often lead to bettors making the right call on a fighter when their odds are low, or making the wrong bet when the odds are high. This is why it’s important to shop around for the best MMA betting odds and take advantage of any price differences that may exist.