The MMA fight sport has experienced explosive growth in recent years. Once a niche market, big UFC pay-per-view events now rival boxing in popularity and the fights attract large audiences. This has made MMA betting very popular.
Before placing a bet, it’s important to understand the basics of MMA betting. Many sportsbooks offer a variety of different types of wagers, including the moneyline, method of victory and round totals. Customers can also make parlays, which increase their potential payouts. However, these bets typically have lower returns than single bets.
A key to MMA betting is studying the styles of fighters and how they match up against one another. Some of the most important stats to look at include striking accuracy, number of strikes landed and absorbed per minute, as well as stance (such as orthodox vs. southpaw). In addition, it’s important to look at how a fighter has fared against their opponent in the past, particularly when it comes to their losses and wins.
Another popular MMA betting wager is the over/under round bet. This bet lets bettors predict how long the fight will last based on the style of fighting and their experience. For example, if a fighter has only won two of their four previous fights, the over/under will be higher than if a fighter had a perfect record.
Method of victory bets are also available for MMA matches. These bets let players predict how the fight will end, whether it’s by knockout, technical knockout, submission or decision. Some of these bets may also include the ‘cage ejection’ option, which refers to whether a fighter will be forced to leave the octagon after being thrown out by the referee.
It’s also important to study a fighter’s record in their current weight class and how they stack up against other fighters in the same division. Some fighters are able to cut and maintain their weight better than others, which can affect their performance in the octagon. This is especially true if a fighter is moving down a weight class as they can often struggle to make the limit.
It’s also a good idea to watch the weigh-ins prior to a fight to see how much weight each fighter has lost or gained. Those who are lighter can often move faster in the octagon and have an advantage over those who are heavier. Lastly, it’s helpful to consider a fighter’s age as some older fighters might not have the same speed and power as their younger opponents. The more knowledge a bettor can gather on these issues, the better they’ll be at placing MMA wagers.