Betting on mma fights is more than just predicting the winner. A good MMA bettor will analyze the fighters’ skills, fighting styles and performance history to find a match that is likely to win. They also need to understand how the fight is scored, which is typically done by three judges from different vantage points and uses 10-point scoring systems. They should also take into consideration how long the fight is expected to last and whether there are any potential knockouts or submissions in the first few rounds.
MMA betting lines are constantly shifting from the time they open until the night of the fight. Depending on the amount of money wagered on a particular fighter, the odds will move up or down, and any new fighter news may affect the odds as well. It is important to compare the MMA betting odds offered by multiple sportsbooks to get the best value for your money.
The main ways to win a fight in MMA are a knockout, judges’ decision (score) and submission. A knockout is the most obvious way to win, but the fighters are not allowed to simply give up and submit. For the judges’ decision, each fighter is evaluated on various aspects of their performances including striking, grappling and cage control from different vantage points by three judges. A winning judge’s decision is a majority, split or unanimous.
To make betting on a specific method of victory easier, some sportsbooks offer bets on the method of victory and round betting. For example, if you are betting on the Nurmagomedov-Ferguson fight and choose to bet on a round win, you can place a bet on the over/under rounds 3.5. If you correctly predict the round in which a stoppage will occur, you will win the bet. This type of bet is more precise than a money line or over/under, and therefore yields a larger payout.
Another popular type of MMA betting is on the futures market. Futures are bets that are placed well in advance of the fight and are continually adjusted by the sportsbook as more bets are made on a specific fighter. If you think McGregor will retain his title, for example, you can place a bet on him at +200.
Lastly, many sportsbooks offer prop bets, which are wagers that relate to specific elements of the fight. These bets are more fun to make than regular bets and can offer large payouts if you can predict the correct outcome. MMA prop bets can include anything from the number of total rounds to how the fight will end.
It is best to use licensed MMA betting apps and websites for your bets. This ensures that your money is safe, your winnings are paid promptly and that the site adheres to state regulations regarding information security and fair gambling practices. In addition, reputable operators have deep pockets and are able to offer competitive MMA betting odds for their customers.