Mma betting is a fast-growing sport due to the entertaining personalities and different fighting styles of the athletes. However, there are many nuances to this type of wagering, and it requires careful statistical analysis and experience to see through the hype. You must take into account the role of promoters, judges and the press and pay close attention to fighters’ training camp to develop a solid handicapping strategy. The better you become at this, the more you will improve your chances of making smart bets and enjoying profitable wins.
There are several betting types specific to MMA, including over/unders, round bets and method of victory bets. These bets are more complex than the standard point spread and usually come with a higher payout. To place a Method of Victory bet, you must predict how the winner will win the fight (knockout, submission or judge decision). For example, if you place $100 on Demetrious Johnson to win by knockout and he wins in the second round, you would win $120.
Another popular MMA betting type is Over/Under rounds bets, which are placed on how many rounds the match will last. This bet is based on the total number of rounds the fight will last and the oddsmakers set the over/under by taking into account a fighter’s fighting style and fighting history.
Some MMA fans make the mistake of using a formula to calculate their expected win percentages. This approach is flawed because it takes into account only a few of the important factors that affect the outcome of a fight. The truth is, there are countless factors that can impact a fighter’s performance, from their nutrition to the quality of their training camps, and the psychological effect of a bad loss on them.
When placing a MMA fight bet, you should also consider how a fighter will react to high-pressure situations. Some fighters are able to perform well under pressure, while others succumb to it and struggle in the cage. Moreover, the judging system in MMA can be influenced by corrupt or incompetent judges who may favor showboats and superstars over underdogs.
Another important consideration when placing a MMA bet is to do your research on the fighters’ past performances and training camp. Many MMA bettors want to do what is known as “MMA math” and compare the records of opponents to determine whether one fighter will beat another. However, this is a flawed process and can distract you from studying fighters’ style and watching their training camp. Moreover, a fighter’s losses may have occurred against elite-level opponents while their wins were against lesser competition. This can give them an unfair advantage in a fight.
