MMA betting can be a fun and profitable endeavor, but it requires careful study of fighters’ strengths and weaknesses, fighting styles, and records. Bettors should also know which factors to consider and which to ignore. For example, many fight fans like to compare the records of a fighter’s opponents, especially those within a particular weight class. In reality, however, there is a lot of crossover in terms of opponents, so this process can mislead bettors and divert attention from handicapping styles and studying fight film.
In addition to traditional moneyline and over/under bets, MMA betting offers a variety of prop and future bets. Prop bets involve wagering on specific events during a fight, and they can be placed on almost anything, from who will score the first knockdown to whether or not the fighters will touch gloves. Prop bets can be combined into parlays to increase the payout.
Future bets are a great way to predict the outcome of a fight, and they can pay off big time if you get it right. Unlike the moneyline and over/under, future bets aren’t subject to fluctuation in odds, making them an excellent choice for predicting the winner of a specific fight. The UFC also offers a range of live bets, which are wagers made as the fight is happening. This type of MMA betting can be more exciting and rewarding, as the odds are updated as the fight unfolds.
Another popular MMA betting option is the method of victory bet, which allows bettors to place a bet on how a fighter will win a fight. Typically, the options are knockout (KO), technical knockout (TKO) or submission. A KO occurs when a fighter is knocked unconscious, while a TKO happens when a fighter is unable to defend themselves due to strikes or when the referee intervenes. A submission is when a fighter is able to take control of an opponent by forcing them into a hold or move that they are unable to escape from.
When placing a bet on a fighter, bettors should look at their record and history of wins and losses in their division and their overall career. In addition, they should be mindful of a fighter’s weight-ins and weigh-outs. Fighters who struggle to make weight often go through extreme measures such as dehydration and starvation in an effort to reach their weight limit, which can affect their performance on the night of a fight. This can lead to a lack of energy, which may impact their chances of winning.