For a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sport that begun 1993, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has certainly exceeded many of the expectations set forth by its founders. From millions of fans across the globe to thousands of fighters going against each other for world-wide rankings and big-prize payouts in jam-packed arenas across 150-plus countries, UFC has become a household name with a reputation second to none in the MMA. You wanna become part of the ever-increasing UFC and MMA handicapping fraternity? If so, join us as we introduce you to the essentialities of UFC and MMA betting.
Preliminarily, it is worth noting that betting on UFC and MMA lines is pretty much the same, with the only difference being that MMA is a big umbrella that houses several other fight-oriented sports, UFC being one of them. The explanations and examples below therefore apply to both fields.
A Closer Look At The Introduction To UFC & MMA Handicapping
Money Line Betting in UFC and MMA
Like in other sports, a money line bet is a wager that is simply placed on your preferred winning UFC or MMA pick. An example of a money line UFC bet would be as follows;
UFC 135 Main Event
- Quinton Jackson +425
- Jon Jones -550
In the above example, Jon Jones is the betting favorite while Jackson is the underdog, as is typically depicted by the – (negative) and + (positive) signs in front of the odds. You would therefore have to wager $550 to win $100 on the Jones odds and $100 to win $425 if Jackson wins the fight.
Betting on Ways to win in UFC and MMA
Other than just betting on the outright winner, UFC and MMA sportsbooks usually offer props on the style a fighter will use to score the win. Generally, the ways to wins in UFC are categorized under the three main styles–winning by submission, winning by knockout and winning by decision. Picking a correct money line plus the type of winning style will mean more profits to you as opposed to just picking the winner. You can, however, decide to select the money line winner only without having to be tied down to picking the style of victory as well.
OVER/UNDER Betting in UFC and MMA
The OVER/UNDER bet is a much-loved wager for most UFC and MMA bettors. This type of bet is placed on how many rounds the fight is expected to last. Here is an example of how an OVER/UNDER bet for a three-round bout would look like:
- OVER 2.5 Rounds -150
- UNDER 2.5 Rounds +130
In this example, the OVER side is considered as the strongest play, but that does not necessarily mean that it is the right play. So if you saw such lines in the betting boards and felt that the bout would last less than three rounds, then wagering $100 for a chance to win $130 on the UNDER side would be recommended, as opposed to betting $150 to win $100 on the OVER side.
Winning in UFC and MMA Betting
The most elementary and crucial tip when it comes to winning in UFC and MMA betting is for you to do as much research as possible on the fighters. Without knowledge on the fighters and what they bring into a duel, you will most likely make an ill-informed betting decision that will lead to losses. And with the dynamic and quick-shifting nature of Mixed Martial Arts bouts, one punch or kick can easily change the course of the fight, so being well-armed with information about the advantages, disadvantages and styles of fighting for the involved contestants is extremely vital.
Another way to encourage profitability in the MMA and UFC lines is to shop for the best odds. Line shopping is just as important as research on the fighters, given that small differences in the lines can be the difference between a winning and losing bet. For example, in one sportsbook, you may find lines for three-round bouts at OVER/UNDER 1.5 only, while others offering alternative lines at OVER/UNDER 2.0, 2.5 rounds and so on. If the fight, for example, is to end in the second round, then having such a variety of betting options to choose from is better than being limited to tight lines.
Finally, you should remember that being a favorite in a fight is not a guarantee for winning. Upsets happen every other day in the MMA, so be sure to assess all the fighters keenly instead of just pounding on the favorite as is often done my most casual MMA betting enthusiasts.
