The popularity of MMA has exploded over the last decade. Compared to the relatively slow rise of boxing, MMA has taken the fight sport scene by storm and now holds its own in terms of pay-per-view events. In addition to the UFC, there are many other promotions that host MMA bouts including Bellator, Legacy Fighting Alliance and the women’s-only promotion Invicta FC. With the growth of MMA and its fanbase, it is no wonder that bettors are increasingly interested in placing wagers on the sport.
A great place to start when placing MMA bets is to look at the fighters’ records and the way they have won/lost their fights. Inside a particular weight class, there is often a lot of crossover in terms of the opponents that each fighter has won and lost against. It is easy for bettors to fall into the trap of comparing these records and thinking that one fighter should beat another simply because they both won/lost against the same foes. However, this type of MMA betting can mislead bettors and take attention away from studying the styles of each fighter.
It is also important to note a fighter’s physical traits when placing MMA bets. For example, a fighter with a long reach can be a big advantage in a fight because it allows them to keep their opponent at a distance where they are more susceptible to strikes and a takedown. The age of a fighter is another factor that bettors should consider as older fighters are typically slower and can be caught off guard by a quick strike from a younger opponent.
Another area that bettors should pay close attention to is a fighter’s ability to make weight for a fight. Especially in MMA, fighters can be very close to the limit at their weigh-ins and can go to extreme lengths in order to avoid missing the mark. This can often leave them drained for the fight and at a disadvantage against smaller opponents.
Lastly, bettors should also be mindful of the round totals that are set for each fight. Depending on the matchup, the fighters’ styles and how a fight is expected to end, oddsmakers will set an Over/Under total for the number of rounds that are expected to be completed in a given fight. In some cases, this will include a special over/under for the number of rounds that are expected to end by a specific method (i.e., a KO or submission).
In-play or live MMA betting is arguably the most exciting way to bet on a UFC fight as the odds fluctuate dynamically in real time during the fight. This can give a bettor a great advantage over pre-fight odds which are usually determined by algorithms and traders who fail to see the finer technical details that keen MMA bettors can pick up on.