MMA has grown dramatically over the last few years to become one of the most popular combat sports. Its popularity has seen it surpass boxing as a sport with regular televised events and monthly pay-per-view fights that fill stadiums worldwide. It is therefore unsurprising that betting markets for mma have also grown, with many sportsbooks now offering a wide range of wagering options. This article takes a look at the different types of bets available for MMA fights, as well as the best sites to place these bets.
Moneyline Bets
The most common type of MMA wager is the money line. This bet simply requires you to predict which fighter will win a fight and the payout on a winning bet is determined by the odds of your chosen fighter. Odds are usually presented with a negative (-) or positive (+) sign to indicate the odds of the favourite and underdog respectively. For example, if Jon Jones is listed as a -300 favorite against Alexander Gustafsson he will have odds of -300 which means that you must risk $100 to win $300 (your initial bet plus your profit).
Method of Victory Wagers
Another popular way to place a bet on an MMA fight is on the method of victory. This bet allows you to make a prediction on how a particular fight will end, with the payout depending on the method of victory chosen. Typically, a fighter can win by KO or TKO, by submission, or on points. A decision win is less common, and can only be achieved if the judges determine that one fighter clearly dominated their opponent and landed more critical strikes.
Round Props
A round prop is a wager on how many rounds a specific fight will last. It is often accompanied by an over/under format and can be won by correctly predicting whether the number of rounds will exceed or fall short of a specified amount. These types of bets are especially popular for MMA fights which generally take place in three or five rounds, with a 1-minute break between each round.
Fight props are a great way to add some variety to your betting on a MMA fight, and can be found at many online sportsbooks. These bets can include a variety of different things, such as which fighter will draw first blood or attempt the first takedown. They can sometimes be very profitable, and are a fun way to add some excitement to your MMA betting. However, be aware that these bets can be prone to a large variance in outcome, so it is important to understand the risks involved before placing a bet. You can also place a parlay, which is the combination of multiple bets on different outcomes of a single fight. Be sure to check the rules and regulations of your sportsbook before placing a parlay, as some bet types can not be parlayed. Also, remember that with each leg you add to a parlay, your probability of winning will decrease.