Every MMA fight is a spectacular mix of martial arts. This sport is equally exciting to fans of Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Greco-Roman wrestling. Sometimes, all of these styles are concentrated in one bout! Aside from showing astonishing discipline, athleticism, and raw power, MMA is also a popular choice for sports bets.
Making money as a shrewd bettor requires knowledge and foresight. In addition, the odds are rather confusing for beginners. Follow our guide and learn to monetize your passion!
How to Read the Odds
Most bookmaker sites have a similar interface and logic of the betting board. Choose providers that are licensed and have a positive track record. You need an expert website with casino reviews to find a gambling platform, and betting is not different. Do some research before picking a site, and look for high ratings and positive feedback. Here are the main types of wagers, which require different levels of risk tolerance from the bettor:
1. Moneyline
Most commonly, you see the two rivals and their respective moneyline odds. This type of bets is the most basic, as the outcome depends on who wins. The odds depend on how likely each fighter is to win.
Thus, you can see who is the underdog (marked with “+”) and who is the favorite (marked with “-”). For example, a favorite like Nurmagomedov may get -310. The bigger the number, the stronger the expectation that this fighter will emerge victoriously.
If you have a low risk tolerance, stick to betting on the favorite. However, this usually yields more modest rewards. In our example, if you want to get $100 in profit from Nurmagomedov’s victory, you need to wager $310.
Suppose his rival is Ferguson, whose odds are +230. The bigger the number, the stronger the expectation that the underdog will lose. In this case, you do not need to wager as much on the fighter to get profit. Betting just $100 is enough to get $230 if your prediction pans out.
2. Prop Bets
These are typical for fights that are closely matched or attract the most interest. Both risk and payoff are often higher, and the financial result depends on a precise outcome. The most common examples are:
MMA over/under
Suppose Nurmagomedov is scheduled to fight against Ferguson, and the prop bets for the match offer an over/under of 4.5 rounds. This means that the fight is expected to last for 4.5 rounds, and you will be betting on the longer or shorter duration, not the winner.
“Over” means that the fight will last beyond the 2:30 mark in the fourth round. “Under” means that it will be shorter. This may happen due to a technical decision, a stoppage, or disqualification.
Round Bets
In this scenario, you need to pick both the winner and the deciding round — i.e., predict when the stoppage will happen (knockout or submission). This requires more precision than the other two types of bet, so the payout is also bigger.
Parlay
This is a combination wager, where all the bets must win to provide a payout. Parlay is the riskiest path, as you can wager on different money lines, round bits, and over/unders. Consequently, these bets are also the most rewarding.
Final Words
Different types of bets in MMA let you bet on the winner, the length of the match, the deciding round, or all of the above. Beginners should start with the simplest form of predictions to limit their risks. Stick to the moneyline bets, and sharpen your foresight gradually. Eventually, you may be able to profit even from the most complicated parlay bets. At this point, you will achieve true mastery. In Africa, this sport is also very popular and the best betting sites in Uganda offer their services in this sport.