MMA betting can be a lucrative venture for those who are willing to do their research. Understanding fighters’ strengths and weaknesses, fighting styles, and records is crucial to accurately handicapping a fight.
Using a parlay allows you to combine multiple individual wagers for a larger payout. For example, picking Henry Cejudo as an underpriced underdog against Gregor Gillespie in a parlay would result in a payout of $260 on a $100 wager.
1. Moneyline
Moneyline bets are a type of wager on who will win a particular match. They are one of the easiest bets to place and don’t include any conditions, such as how the game will end (score, knockout, or submission). These types of wagers typically feature decimal odds in North America while fractional odds are often seen internationally.
MMA betting odds can vary depending on the expected performance of each fighter and how much action is placed on each side. Negative numbers indicate favorites and positive ones represent underdogs. The odds will also fluctuate throughout the fight based on real-time betting activity at competing sportsbooks. In addition to moneyline bets, many sportsbooks offer a range of MMA prop bets that allow you to place wagers on specific aspects of the fight.
2. Over/Under
MMMA is a sport that has grown dramatically in recent years. It has now surpassed boxing in terms of popularity and the fights are regularly held in sports stadiums worldwide. This is largely due to the UFC and their frequent televised cards and monthly pay-per-view events.
A common bet for MMA fights is the Over/Under rounds wager. This is a bet on how many rounds the fight will last. This bet is typically offered on three and five round fights.
Over/Under round bets usually come attached to moneylines, if you bet $100 on the over and the fight ends at 2:30 into the fifth round then your bet is a winner. The Over/Under also works if the fight is stopped by a knockout or submission in any other round.
3. Method of Victory
Method of victory bets are a special type of MMMA prop that allows you to wager on how the fight will end. These bets are similar to the Over/Under round betting and are more specific than a fighter to win bet. They also offer higher winnings because the odds reflect the implied probability of each possible finish.
You can place a bet on a knockout, submission or points decision. A fighter can be knocked out by a blow that leaves them on the floor and cannot rise before the referee’s count or they may be ruled out by a doctor as in a technical knockout. A fighter can also be disqualified and a fight can end by a judges’ decision as in a majority, split or unanimous verdict.
4. Rounds
Rounds bets are more precise than the moneyline and Over/Under and can pay off big if you pick the right winner in a specific round. They are not available on every fight but can be worth taking a punt on if you think the fighter is going to win by KO or submission in the round you’ve picked.
Bookmakers often offer groupings for round betting such as ‘round one’ or ‘round three’ to make the bet more manageable. Alternatively you can bet on a specific number of rounds such as ‘under 4.5’ or ’over 4.5’. For settlement purposes half a round is defined as 2 minutes 30 seconds for a two-minute round and 2:29 for a five-minute round. If the fight ends early before the scheduled number of rounds then all bets are void.
5. Parlay
MMA betting is available at most sportsbooks and works the same way as other types of sporting bets. You can place moneyline bets on the winner of a fight, Over/Under bets on the number of rounds a fight will last, and parlays, which combine multiple individual bets for a higher payout.
Another popular MMA betting option is round bets, which predict the exact round in which a fighter will win. These bets are more precise than the moneyline and Over/Under options, and therefore offer a larger payout. However, they are riskier than single-fight bets, as all of the outcomes in the parlay must be correct to win. This is why it’s important to do your research before placing a parlay bet. Especially in a sport as unpredictable as MMA.