MMA betting is different from other forms of wagering on combat sports, but there are tried and true strategies that can make the sport a fun and profitable activity. The key to successful MMA betting is to manage your bankroll and set realistic expectations. This way, you can avoid the risk of losing too much money and continue to improve your betting skills. You should also know that MMA is an unpredictable sport, and you should never bet more than you can afford to lose.
Besides the typical moneyline bet, mma betting offers more complex bets such as round and method of victory props. The latter involves choosing how a fighter will win the fight, either by knockout, submission, or judge’s decision. These bets usually have larger payouts than the traditional moneyline wager. In addition, you can place a round bet on which specific round the stoppage will occur.
A lot of people get into mma betting to try to cash in on the upsets. However, this is a dangerous tactic that can lead to overbetting and bankroll management issues. In order to be successful, you need to understand the fighting styles and strengths of each competitor. It is also important to take into account any injuries or recent performance history that may affect the outcome of a particular matchup.
The oddsmakers at a reputable MMA betting site will list the odds for each competitor in a fight, with a negative number indicating the favorite and a positive number indicating the underdog. The higher the odds of a fighter, the more money you need to wager to win a bet. For example, if the odds for Robert Whittaker are -255, you will need to bet $100 to win $255.
In MMA betting, the Over/Under (O/U) total is a popular bet that predicts how many rounds a fight will last. Typically, non-championship fights last three rounds and championship or main event matches will go five rounds. In general, a more defensive fighter will tend to go the distance for longer, so taking the over might be a good option.
Moreover, paying close attention to the weigh-ins of both fighters can help you make better decisions regarding your MMA betting. This is because fighters who are close to missing their weight class often go through extreme dehydration measures in order to cut weight. This can diminish the amount of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, making them more susceptible to a knockout.
Other MMA betting props include first blood and which fighter will have the first takedown. Nevertheless, these bets aren’t always easy to make, especially because of the unpredictable nature of MMA. Therefore, it is important to stay focused on your research and not put too much stock into the pre-fight predictions.