MMA betting is growing in popularity and availability. There are a few different wagering options that can be placed on MMA matches including moneyline bets, over/under bets on the number of rounds a fight will last and method-of-victory bets. The latter is a type of bet that can be made on how a fight will end, such as by knockout, technical knockout, decision or submission. This type of bet can increase the excitement of a fight and can also lead to a larger payout.
Despite the growth in popularity of the sport, many bettors are not well versed in the nuances of MMA betting. This is because MMA betting is relatively newer to the sports betting scene when compared to football, basketball, baseball, and hockey. As a result, oddsmakers have not had as much time to fine-tune the betting lines for MMA matches as they have for other sports that they have more experience with. While this can create some confusion for the average bettor, it can be advantageous in certain situations.
Prop bets are another common form of MMA betting. These bets are similar to those placed on regular MMA fights but offer more specific outcomes that may affect the outcome of a match. A few popular MMA prop bets include the first knockdown, whether the fighters will touch gloves before the fight starts, and which fighter will attempt the first submission maneuver. These bets generally have higher minimum and maximum wager amounts than other MMA bets, but they can be a fun way to spice up a MMA fight.
A key to successful MMA betting is knowing your fighters and the competition they face. A bettors should understand the style of each fighter and take into account how their opponents have performed against them in the past. In addition, bettors should always take note of the weight classes a fighter fights in and how close they were to making or missing their weigh-in. Fighters that struggle to make weight can often have their strength and energy sapped by the process, leaving them drained before the fight even begins.
Those who are familiar with sports betting will find the basics of MMA betting rather easy. In general, a moneyline bet is placed by picking one fighter to win over the other. The method-of-victory bet is slightly more complicated as it requires a deeper understanding of the MMA scoring system. A KO (knockout) is a clear winner while a TKO or decision is decided by the referee, who protects the hurt fighter by stopping the fight. A submission is a more subtle point of victory, where the fighter taps out or gives up his or her fight by throwing in the towel. As a result, the method-of-victory bet is more difficult to handicap than other MMA bets.