If you’ve watched MMA fights, you can probably still think back to the excitement and rush you got the first time. The determination, focus, blood, sweat, and tears the fighters put out truly make the sport one of a kind.
Since there is a lot of hype before each MMA event, bookmakers are always competing to give the best odds for the flocks of bettors ready to place their money on fighters. While betting on MMA does have its quirks, there are certain things that you will need to know before putting your money to risk.
Stick around for tips and strategies that you can use before making MMA bets this season.
Types of Bets
Before we give you some tips and strategies, we will showcase the types of bets you can place on MMA fights. Some are so simple that even beginners can gasp in seconds; others are for more experienced bettors and include more complex components. We disclosed the most frequently chosen types of bets that can more easily bring you to a win, even if you have limited MMA knowledge.
Money line bet
The easiest type of bet that you can place in any sport, including MMA, is the money line bet. All you have to do is pick a fighter who you think is going to win. No other factors are included in this bet, like how they win or when they win.
If the fighter you are betting on is the clear favorite, you will have a lower payout, meaning the odds will be low. On the other hand, placing a money line bet on an underdog significantly increases the odds and gets you a better payout; however, it is riskier.
Method of Victory
There are several ways to win an MMA fight. The one that sticks out and bettors usually choose to place their money on is the knockout. Other ways include TKO or technical knockout, submission, and by points. You can bet on all these methods of victory at almost all well-known bookies.
Exact Round Finish
As the name suggests, you have the task of predicting which round the fight will end. As for the method of victory bet, some online sportsbooks will require you to pick a fighter, and some won’t. Nevertheless, you need to predict the exact round the fight will finish; otherwise, you’ll lose your wager.
MMA Betting Tips
In the MMA world, specific organizations arrange events and promote fighters, and no one does it better and bigger than UFC.
Now that we have established which types of bets you want to focus on, here are some tips to guide you while wagering. Keep in mind that there are no guarantees for the outcome of MMA fights; however, following some of the tips can be helpful and save you losses in the long run.
Don’t Just Focus on Statistics
While doing your research is essential, many variables can come into play in MMA. Most of the time, the favorite will be victorious, and previous fights can vouch for his performance.
However, surprises can always happen, and combat sports are wildly unpredictable in that manner. The favorite could lose focus, or the opponent can bust out an unorthodox move, and the script will flip. While you should check the fighters’ previous matches and learn their strengths and weaknesses, you should never underestimate them.
Make Sure your Bet Slip is Correct
Whether you are a beginner or have placed tons of bets in the past, checking your bet slip before submitting is mandatory. Let’s say you want to bet on UFC 280, the Oliveira vs. Makhachev fight. You place your money on Oliveira to win; however, you make the wrong call. The faster you spot the mistake, the quicker you can change it.
Betting Strategies
There are various factors that should be considered before placing an MMA bet. Even if you are fully aware of one fighter’s abilities and strengths, you should still check out the competition. Knowing the history of both fighters, what they like to do, which is their best-performed technique, and their success in previous fights will help you make the right call. Below, you’ll find a few more pointers for creating a successful strategy. MMA is undoubtedly an excellent way to bet, amongst other fan favourites like the range of Blackjack game options available on popular online betting sites.
Age Matters
Age is another important variable of the fighters. Age equals experience, so even if an up-and-comer strolls past his age group, he can be easily outmatched when he comes up against an experienced fighter.
Training Camp
One thing that can be crucial to a fighter’s success which many bettors disregard, is the training camp the fighter goes through weeks before a fight. Coaches, trainers, and sparring partners all have a massive impact on a fighter. With social media today, bettors have sneak peeks at those training camps and can get some data about the fighter’s shape beforehand.
With this, you can compare the durability and techniques of fighters in upcoming matches with your own eyes and decide who is the better bet based on their current fighting state.