For people who only bet on team sports, wagering on MMA fights can seem intimidating. But, as with all types of betting, the key to success is understanding how to read MMA odds, researching fighters and events and practicing responsible gambling habits.

The X’s and O’s of mma betting

While the MMA world is filled with talented fighters, only a handful can compete in a big-time fight. These fighters are the main draw to MMA and are the ones most fans want to watch fight. However, the majority of the fights that take place are between lesser-known fighters and the odds for these fights can be a bit more complicated. This is because a fighter’s win/loss record and other factors can affect the odds of a fight. This is especially true if a fight has a high payout potential.

The odds that appear on a sportsbook’s site and app are calculated by a number of factors, including the wider betting market, statistics, data and more. In the case of a MMA match, the odds makers will examine the history of each fighter’s previous fights and look at their injuries, weather forecasts and more. The odds are then reflected on the MMA odds board by a plus or minus sign, with the minus sign indicating the favorite and the plus sign indicating the underdog.

In addition to betting on who will win a particular fight, MMA bettors can also place bets on how a particular fight will end. This includes betting on a specific method of victory (submission, knockout or decision) and over/under bets on how many rounds the fight will last. In the case of over/under bets on round totals, the yes bet wins if the fight lasts through all scheduled rounds while the no bet loses if it is stopped before the final scheduled round.

Betting on a MMA fight is easy and convenient with the growing popularity of the sport and online MMA betting sites. Many sportsbooks offer a dedicated MMA section of their site or app where bets can be placed and tracked. You can also find live MMA action by visiting the Bet Live section of your favorite sportsbook.

MMA is an exciting and dynamic sport with many opportunities for bettors to win big. By learning the different bet types, conducting research and practicing responsible gambling habits, you can maximize your chances of winning and enjoy the adrenaline rush of betting on a MMA fight.

The most common MMA bet is on the winner of a particular fight. These bets are offered by most sportsbooks and are generally fairly simple to make. The payouts are based on the odds of each fighter, with a higher number indicating a better chance of winning. These bets are available in both cash and prop form. Prop bets are more difficult to predict, but can have much higher payouts than the standard money line. Those looking for a more risky wager can place over/under bets on round totals, which are based on the total number of rounds a fight will last.