MMA betting is an exciting way to watch professional fighters in action and place wagers on the outcome. Many sportsbooks now offer MMA betting options for both online and land-based venues. MMA is becoming a popular sport for both casual and serious bettors alike and has already become a significant portion of the overall wagering handle at some sportsbooks.

Despite the popularity of MMA, there are some common mistakes that casual gamblers can make when betting on this combat sport. By avoiding these mistakes, you can improve your chances of winning and increase the amount of money you can win on MMA bets.

Avoid Betting on a Favorite

There’s a lot of hype surrounding MMA fights and a lot of people bet on them simply because they like a certain fighter. This can be a big mistake, as it can lead to losing large sums of money.

It’s important to look past the hype and consider a fighter’s style and technique when placing an MMA bet. This is because styles make fights, and different fighters are better at certain techniques than others.

You should also be aware of the fact that a fighter’s style can change based on the opponent they’re fighting and can have a huge impact on their ability to win a fight. This is why it’s important to study fight film and understand how each fighter’s skills and techniques compare against one another.

The best way to bet on MMA is to parlay your bets, which will combine multiple legs to form one big bet at higher odds. This can be a great way to win bigger amounts of money, but it’s a risky strategy that requires careful planning and careful management of your funds.

Betting on a Favorite

A favorite in MMA is the one you feel most confident about winning the fight. Often times, bettors will pick their favorite based on how they like the fighter’s personality and history in the sport. They may also take the time to check their opponents’ performance and their records against their opponents.

Some MMA bettors will try to do what’s known as “MMA Math.” This is when they compare two fighters’ records and decide which one they should beat. The problem with this is that it can cause bettors to focus too much on analyzing styles and studying fight film instead of taking the time to handicap each fighter’s strengths and weaknesses.

In addition, if a fighter’s style is not well-rounded, they could have a hard time putting on a good show in a fight with an opponent who is more well-rounded. For example, if a fighter is primarily a striker but his opponent is more grappling focused, it’s unlikely that the fighter will be able to get in close enough to hurt their opponent.

It’s also important to remember that MMA is a unique sport, and bettors should not just bet on the favorite because they have an emotional connection to the fighter. There are plenty of underdogs in MMA who can have just as high odds and have just as much chance of winning the fight as their favorite.