MMA betting is becoming increasingly popular, and with the growth of regulated sports gambling in the US, it’s easier than ever to place a wager on the action. However, there are a few pitfalls that bettors should avoid to increase their chances of success.
The first thing to remember is that MMA is not like other sports. It’s a fast-paced sport where fighters are expected to strike often, which can lead to injuries. As such, bettors should study the fighting styles and training habits of both fighters before placing a bet. This research will help bettors determine which fighter is better suited to win in a given matchup.
Another important tip is to always look for value in the MMA betting market. Betting lines in MMA are not as set in stone as they are with other sports, and savvy bettors can take advantage of this by placing bets on underdog fighters. In addition, bettors can also place parlay bets on several outcomes in a fight to increase their profits and lower their risk. However, it’s important to note that parlays require all of the bets to come through correctly in order to win.
In MMA betting, the odds on who will win a fight are usually listed as + and – signs. The – sign indicates that the oddsmakers believe the underdog fighter will win the fight, while the plus sign means that the favorites have more chance of winning. The higher the number on the underdog’s odds, the less likely a sportsbook believes that the fighter will win.
Besides the main event, there are usually a few other fights on a fight card. In order to maximize your profits, you should be selective and only place a bet on the fights that you are most confident about. You should also only place a bet on a fight that you feel has the potential to end in either a KO/TKO, submission, or judge decision.
Another way to increase your profits is to bet on MMA props. These bets are special wagers that cover specific aspects of a fight and can range from the amount of punches thrown to what color a fighter will wear in the ring. These props are typically harder to predict than the outcome of a fight and can provide significant payouts.
Many MMA bettors make the mistake of doing what’s known as “MMA math.” This is when they compare records of opponents and assume that, because FIGHTER A lost to FIGHTER B, FIGHTER B should beat FIGHTER A. This is a flawed logic that can mislead bettors and take their focus away from studying fighters’ skills, weaknesses, and tendencies.
One of the most common mistakes made by MMA bettors is overbetting. Overbetting is a problem because it leads to more losses than wins. Overbetting can be avoided by knowing the proper money line prices for a particular matchup and determining how much you want to stake on each bet.