Mma betting is an emerging sport that’s drawing in big money at the sportsbook windows. In addition to the standard bets on a fighter to win or lose a fight, more advanced bettors try to predict how many rounds a match will last and the method of victory. These bets can have a higher risk and payoff than traditional moneyline wagers, but they can also offer more profit opportunities.
The most common MMA bets are on the Over/Under total number of rounds a fight will last. The Over/Under total is set by oddsmakers based on the expected fighting style of the two fighters and their past performances. Some bettors like to look at a fighter’s stance, such as orthodox or southpaw. This can give them an edge if one fighter is much stronger in a particular stance compared to their opponent.
Another important factor is the level of opposition a fighter has faced in his or her career. Often, a fighter will have a great record against lesser opponents but then suffer in the ring when facing better competition. In this case, bettors should take note of how many losses a fighter has suffered against foes who are equal in skill and experience.
It’s also helpful to study the way a fighter reaches their opponent and then breaks them down. For example, fighters who use boxing as their primary fighting style can usually throw a lot of punches that can stun or damage their opponents. However, they’ll struggle if they go to the ground with a wrestler that is more proficient at grappling and holds their opponent down using various chokes and locks.
A fighter’s striking stats should also be considered when placing a MMA bet. Stats such as striking accuracy, strikes landed per minute, and strikes absorbed per minute will give bettors an idea of the fighter’s overall skills in the ring. Those with more impressive stats should be expected to win more frequently than their opponents.
Method-of-victory bets are unique to MMA and allow bettors to place wagers on how a fighter will win their upcoming fight. Typically, there are three different methods of victory in MMA: submission, knockout (KO), and judge decision. Unlike other forms of combat sports, MMA does not have a point system to determine the winner of a fight. For instance, a bet on Demetrious Johnson to win via submission would net you +120 if he wins the match in round eight. Similarly, a bet on Tyron Woodley to win by knockout in the first round would yield you $230. This type of bet is a great option for bettors who want to avoid making a complicated decision in the ring.