MMA Betting Basics

Betting on MMA fights is a fun and exciting way to make money, but it’s important to understand the basics of the sport before placing your wager. MMA betting involves more than just picking a winner – it’s also about understanding the different types of bets you can place and how they work.

Money Line: This is the most basic type of MMA bet, where you simply pick a fighter to win and they are assigned odds that determine your potential payout. The higher the odds, the more likely a fighter is to win.

Over/Under Rounds: This bet is similar to a totals wager in sports, except you’re betting on how many rounds the fight will last. The over/under number is set by a bookmaker and is usually expressed as “over” or “under.” If the over/under bet wins, the payout is greater than the amount risked on the bet.

Method of Victory: This bet is placed on how a fight will end, including a split decision, KO/TKO, or FOTN. The payout will vary based on how the fight ends and is determined by a combination of judges’ scorecards. If one fighter wins on two judge’s scorecards and loses on the third, it is considered a push and the bet is refunded.

Knockout loss: While a knockout victory will not damage a fighter’s physical condition, it can affect them psychologically. A fighter who suffers a devastating knockout can become more cautious, and it can change their style in the octagon. For this reason, MMA bettors should always analyze a fighter’s record and performance before betting on them.

MMA Point Spreads: These MMA betting lines help to limit the potential payout of a moneyline bet on a favorite by adding points to a fighter’s total on the judge’s scorecards. For example, if a fighter is +5.5 points on the scorecards, they can only lose by up to 5.5 points combined, which reduces the chance of losing a moneyline bet in the event of a 30-27 or 50/45 unanimous decision win.

Unlike traditional sportsbooks, MMA betting is offered in multiple formats, including live events and online. In addition to traditional cash bets, MMA fans can also place prop and future bets. These bets are based on occurrences or non-occurrences that will not impact the overall outcome of a fight. Examples of these bets include who will get the first KO, which fighter will attempt the first submission maneuver, and how many rounds a fight will last. Prop bets can have very large payouts, but they aren’t for everyone and should only be placed by experienced bettors.