MMA betting is a lucrative opportunity for sports bettors willing to do their research. This includes studying fighters’ fighting styles, strengths and weaknesses, and records. It is also important to understand which factors to pay attention to and which to ignore.
The majority of MMA betting handle tends to go on simple wagers predicting who will win the fight, but bettors have plenty of additional options. Some of these involve betting on how long a fight will last or how many rounds it will take to reach the final knockout. These types of MMA wagers are known as prop bets and can provide more accurate predictions than betting solely on the winner of a fight.
One of the best ways to make money on MMA is by placing a parlay. A parlay is a single wager that combines two or more individual bets for a higher payout. This type of bet can be placed on a range of MMA fights, including those taking place in the UFC and Bellator, the two major MMA promotions.
When placing a parlay, be sure to read the odds board carefully and compare the prices of the individual wagers. Some sites list the odds for individual fights, while others only display the total amount a bettor must wager to win the parlay. This will make it easy to identify the shortest and longest bets. A bettor should also consider the number of total points offered by a particular site, as this can help in calculating the maximum potential payout.
In addition to analyzing the fighters’ records, it is vital to study their matchups and the conditions under which they were won or lost. For example, a fighter may have an impressive record against lesser competition, but that does not mean they will perform well in a high-level fight. Similarly, a fighter’s age may affect their performance in a particular weight class. Younger fighters tend to prevail more often than their elder counterparts.
Lastly, it is important to study the fighters’ styles and how they might be used in a particular fight. A fighter’s striking skills, for example, are a key factor in winning a fight. A fighter’s ability to rely on takedowns or submissions to gain an advantage in a fight is also critical. Some fighters have a natural advantage in certain fighting styles, while others must work hard to perfect their skills. For example, Khabib Nurmagomedov has a knack for landing takedowns and can torture his opponents by draining them of their energy.