The MMA betting market can be exciting and rewarding, but it’s important to understand the various types of bets and how odds are determined. This helps you maximize your potential payout and make informed decisions. Remember to be responsible with your money, and never place a bet you can’t afford to lose. By mastering the basics of MMA betting, conducting thorough research and exercising discipline, you can increase your chances of winning big.

Money Line: This is a bet on which fighter you think will win the fight, and it’s usually priced at negative odds. This type of bet can be placed anytime up until the fight starts. Odds can fluctuate based on betting patterns, so be sure to monitor them frequently.

Over/Under: You can bet on whether the fight will last longer (over) or shorter (under) than a set number of rounds. This bet is especially popular for matches that feature multiple rounds and can be placed during live betting, meaning you can wager on the outcome as the fight unfolds.

Method of Victory: This bet requires you to predict which way the fight will end, whether by a knockout, submission or judges’ points/decision. It’s important to consider fighter style when making this bet, as a left-handed fighter can have an advantage over an orthodox fighter. Also, a fighter’s striking stats can be a good indicator of their ability to win a particular matchup.

Often, bettors will compare the overall record of two fighters to decide who they should bet on. However, this process is flawed and can distract bettors from analyzing fighter film and studying matchups. For example, a fighter’s losses may have come against higher-level opponents while their wins came against lesser competition.

Mma odds are calculated by sports statisticians and mathematicians who use a variety of factors to determine a fight’s odds. They take into account fighter injury history, past performances, weather forecasts and more. While these factors aren’t necessarily indicative of the outcome of a specific fight, they can help bettors narrow their selections and focus on the most likely winner.