MMA betting has gained tremendous popularity in recent years, but it is still a relatively new sport compared to soccer, baseball, and basketball. As a result, oddsmakers do not have as much experience fine-tuning betting lines for MMA fights. This can make the sport unpredictable and variance ridden. While this may be a drawback, it can also provide opportunities for skilled bettors to find advantageous betting lines.
When betting on a fight, it is important to study the fighters’ records and fighting styles. Look at how their styles match up and consider any advantages that one fighter might have over another. For example, a southpaw fighter can often gain an advantage over an orthodox fighter due to the way they naturally move and punch. In addition, it is important to study the fighters’ strike accuracy and the number of strikes landed per minute. These statistics are useful for assessing the chances of a knockout.
In addition to the standard moneyline bet on which fighter will win a fight, bettors can also place over/under bets on the number of rounds the fight will last. These bets are similar to those placed on NFL games, where you bet on whether the total amount of points scored will be over or under a set number. In MMA, the over/under is typically set at 2.5 rounds.
Other MMA betting markets include round props, which allow bettors to predict the exact round in which the fight will end. These bets are more precise than the over/under and offer a higher payout if your prediction is correct. Similarly, bettors can place a way of victory prop bet, which allows them to choose which type of finish they believe will occur (knockout, technical knockout, submission, disqualification, or judge’s decision).
The best mma betting sites have a wide range of MMA betting markets. It is important to shop around for the best prices on these bets, as price differences can seem small but add up over time. In addition, a good MMA betting site should have a wide variety of payment methods and support options.
Unlike other sports, MMA has no definitive winner in every fight, so the oddsmakers must take this into account when setting their lines. Because of this, MMA odds tend to be more volatile than those on more established sports like soccer and basketball. In addition, MMA fights typically have fewer rounds than those in other sports, making it harder for the oddsmakers to build up as much historical data. This can create inefficient pricing, resulting in large movements in the betting line from opening to closing.