MMA betting is quickly becoming more popular as the sport grows and legal sports betting becomes more available. Unlike traditional sports, where bettors can place bets on the outcome of an entire game, MMA betting is more focused on individual fights. This means that bettors must be able to understand the matchups and analyze the odds on each fighter. The goal is to be able to make the best bets with a lower risk and maximum payout.
One of the most common MMA bets is the moneyline, which allows bettors to predict whether a specific fighter will win a given fight. This bet type is similar to the odds in other sports, with underdog fighters having a plus sign and favorites having a minus sign. However, there are also a number of other bet types that are unique to the sport. These include the Over/Under, round bets, and method-of-victory wagers.
Over/Under bets on a fight are based on the total number of rounds that the fight will last. Oddsmakers set these numbers by analyzing the matchup, fighting styles of the two fighters, and how long previous fights between those same fighters have lasted. The Over/Under price is set by the oddsmakers and includes the vig or juice, which is how the book makes its profit.
The Over/Under is not as lucrative as a single-round bet, but it can add more excitement to a fight. If you bet $100 on the Over, and it wins, you’ll receive $150. However, if the Over doesn’t win, you’ll lose your stake.
Another popular bet is a round bet, which is made by predicting the winner of a particular round of a fight. These bets are often offered in between rounds, when the fighters are in their corners preparing for the next round. The odds for these bets are dynamic and change as the fight progresses.
Occasionally, a fighter will withdraw from a fight before it begins, and this can cause the odds on that fighter to move in favor of the replacement. However, in the past, replacement fighters have won less than 40% of their matches, so this type of bet may not be wise.
A final MMA bet type is the live round bet, which allows bettors to place a wager on an upcoming round during a fight. These bets can provide a fast-paced way to bet on a fight, but they carry more risk than other types of bets.
Bettors can also parlay MMA bets to increase their potential return. This is a great strategy when placing bets on heavy favorites, which have smaller returns than underdogs. However, parlaying bets also carries more risk since each bet is dependent on all the other parts of the bet to win. Nevertheless, if you do it right, it can be a very profitable way to place a bet on an MMA fight.