How to Win at MMA Betting
Betting on MMA is a popular activity and the payouts can be big, especially for underdogs. But it’s important to manage your bankroll and have realistic expectations. You should never bet more than you can afford to lose, and you should always follow the rules of your jurisdiction. You can also practice different betting strategies to increase your chances of winning. These tried and tested strategies will help you be a successful MMA bettor.
MMA is a contact sport, so bettors should keep in mind that fighters can get hurt at any time. The risk of injury is higher for newer fighters, so the best strategy is to stick with established players who have proven track records. It’s also a good idea to be aware of the potential impact of illegal gambling in the fight community. Some MMA coaches and fighters are believed to be involved in this type of illegal betting, which can have a negative impact on the sport.
One of the most common mistakes that bettors make is to do what’s known as “MMA math.” This means comparing the record of two fighters and looking at which opponents they’ve won and lost against. The problem with this thought process is that it takes away from the important task of studying match film and understanding fighter styles. It’s also easy to miss the fact that a loss to an opponent isn’t necessarily a reflection of their overall talent, and instead may be due to factors such as scheduling or other uncontrollable circumstances.
Another mistake that bettors often make is to ignore a fighter’s style and look only at their win-loss record. While this is a great starting point, bettors should consider other factors such as a fighter’s training camp. Knowledge of a fighter’s camp can reveal clues about how well they will perform in their next fight. For example, a fighter going up in weight class may appear slower during sparring or may have been struggling with a concussion.
Lastly, bettors should be mindful of the risk of a fighter’s inability to make weight. While this is a rare occurrence, fighters can struggle to hit their weight classes, which could result in them being exhausted before the fight even starts. Bettors should also be aware of a fighter’s history with late weigh-ins and the extreme measures that some athletes take to avoid missing their weight classes, such as starving themselves or dehydrating themselves before a fight.
In addition to moneyline and over/under bets, MMA offers several unique prop bets that can offer larger payouts. Method of victory bets ask a bettor to select which particular way their chosen fighter will win the fight, such as by KO/TKO, submission, or judges’ decision. Round bets require a bettor to pick the specific round in which the fight will end, and are usually more precise than the over/under and moneyline bets. This makes them more rewarding, but also carry a higher risk.