Mixed martial arts betting is one of the fastest-growing wagering markets at online and land-based sportsbooks. While the UFC has dominated the industry for decades, fans have also taken to other promotions like Bellator and ONE Championship to place bets on exciting fights. This growing interest has led to the addition of MMA betting options at many of these top-rated sportsbooks, including DraftKings Sportsbook and BetRivers.
When placing a bet on an MMA fight, it is important to understand how the odds are set. Unlike other betting markets, MMA odds are dynamic and will change over the course of the fight, based on the real action taking place. This is especially true for methods of victory bets, which can see significant changes in the odds as the fighters exchange punches and kicks. For example, if a fighter is able to knockout their opponent and win by submission, the bet will pay out at a much higher odds than if they simply win by a technical knockout or a unanimous decision.
It is also important to consider the physical traits of each fighter when assessing their chances of winning. For example, a fighter’s reach is a key statistic that can often make or break their ability to keep their opponents at bay. Fighters with long arms tend to be able to score more punches and may also have an advantage against southpaws (fighters who fight left-handed).
A fighter’s age is another factor that can influence their ability to win. While experience and wisdom are valuable assets in MMA, younger fighters can be explosive and fierce on the inside of the octagon. In fact, in MMA fights where the fighters were five years apart or younger, the younger fighter won 62% of the time.
Lastly, MMA bettors can also place a bet on the total number of rounds in a particular fight. This is similar to an Over/Under wager in other sports, with the oddsmaker setting the over/under amount and a price for each bet. If the bout is expected to last more than five rounds, then the over/under will be set at the 4.5 round mark or higher.
As an added bonus, MMA offers prop bets, which are additional bets that can be placed on a variety of different aspects of a particular fight. These bets are generally available at a lower limit than the main bets and can include things like the number of seconds it takes for a fighter to score a knockout or whether or not a fighter will attempt an unscheduled submission. Depending on the sport and the specific fight, these bets can be fun to place and can offer a great way to spice up an already exciting match.
