In the world of mixed martial arts, mma betting has become an extremely popular and lucrative activity for fighters and sports bettors alike. The sport is massively popular and events are held all over the globe. The UFC in particular is the cream of the crop as they attract some of the biggest names and hold mega-events every week of the year.
Before placing a wager on an MMA fight, it is important to consider the fighters’ records, fighting styles, strengths and weaknesses, and any injuries or recent performance history. In addition, a thorough knowledge of the scoring system used in MMA is vital to make educated bets. MMA betting odds are typically listed in the form of moneylines, with positive and negative numbers representing the odds for each fighter.
Betting on a fight’s total rounds is also an excellent way to place a bet. This type of bet is similar to over/under wagers in other sports and involves betting on how many rounds a fight will last. For example, if the over/under is set at 2.5 rounds and the fight lasts three rounds, you will win $150 if you bet on the over. However, due to the different fighting styles of MMA fighters, this bet is not always as easy to predict as it may seem.
Unlike boxing, MMA fights end either by knockout, submission, or judges decision (score). For this reason, one of the most popular ways to bet on a MMA match is on how it will end. If a fight is between two strong strikers it might be wise to bet on the knockout, as it’s more likely than a submission victory. Alternatively, if the fighters are known to be good grapplers, taking the under on this type of bet might pay off.
It is also worth paying attention to the weigh-ins prior to a fight. In some cases, extreme dehydration during a weight cut can reduce the cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, making a fighter more susceptible to a knockout. This can often be seen in the form of a fighter ‘fading’ towards the end of a fight.
Mma fights are also typically scored by a panel of three cage-side judges, who award points for a variety of factors, including effective striking, takedowns, and dominance. Takedowns are a significant factor in judging an MMA fight, as they show a dominance of the opponent and can cause serious damage. For example, Khabib Nurmagomedov landed 21 takedowns on Abel Trujillo at UFC 160. This was enough to give him the decision victory, as he clearly showed dominance with his submission tactics.