Types of bets on MMA fights

Mixed martial arts, or MMA, is recognized as the most spectacular and exciting out of all contact sports. Often, the turn of events is so unpredictable that it causes an adrenaline rush for the fighters and the audience.

MMA first appeared in ancient Greece but developed and received official recognition only in the mid-90s. No-rules fights contributed to the development of martial arts in general, and there are more than 1,000 schools of mixed martial arts around the world. There are three recognized martial arts leagues in the modern world: UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), Pride and Bellator.

In recent times, a whole business industry has been created around martial arts, which goes beyond being purely interested in fighting as a sport. For example, the profit of the promotion campaign in 2019 of the UFC league alone amounted to 900 million dollars. This includes lucrative sponsorship offers, broadcast rights, and betting.

In terms of betting, a popular sport is always especially attractive for bookmakers and fans. Yet the MMA representatives are also interested in the high coefficients of their fighters because this is of a significant value for the rating of athletes. If the cappers have identified a favourite, then he is definitely trustworthy.

Types of MMA bets

Even the smallest bookmakers will offer the bettor a large selection of bets on MMA fights. On top of that, bookmakers working closely with sports analysts will provide the player with insight into the verified coefficients in each individual case.

Let’s review the most common types of bets in MMA fights.

1. Fight outcome betting (who will win, lose, draw)

This is an easier option which is great for those just beginning to grasp betting basics. This variant of bet can be placed in any sportsbook. The decision not to place bets can be made only when the skill level of the fighters is too different. This means that there is a heavy favourite (the coefficient for the win of one of the fighters is less than 1.01), and the bet itself will not bring any profit to either the shop or the players.

2.Early victory betting

Compared to the first option, the chances that the bet will work are less, but the coefficient is much higher. You will not be able to win by blindly following the announced coefficients. To get a win, the client of the bookmaker shop needs to have analytical abilities and certain knowledge of the chosen sport.

This version of bet is generalised (the fight will end early by any of the proposed outcomes) and more selective.

Knockout is quite common in MMA, especially in the heavyweight category. The fight ends with a technical knockout less often than in boxing, but it is still quite possible. The only difference is that not only the judge can decide on a technical knockout and deem the fighter unable to continue, but also his corner and even the athlete himself.

The bet that the fight will end using a submission hold has an even higher coefficient and is popular among professionals. Disqualification of a fighter due to bad sportsmanship in the octagon or at his personal request occurs quite rarely and is hardly ever used in betting.

3.Points victory betting

Since the visual appeal is very important for the audience, the fight rarely ends with a victory on points. But it does not mean that it is impossible to place a bet on this outcome, especially if the fight is not determined.

Knockdown is more of an exception in MMA fights and is not particularly popular with customers of bookmakers. The bet, in this case, is considered a winning one if at least one knockdown is recorded during the match.

4.Total rounds betting

Betting on the number of rounds held requires a careful and reasonable approach. When drawing up a contract with a bookmaker, it is necessary to know the rating of the fight: a regular fight lasts three rounds of 3 minutes, and a title fight consists of 5 rounds of 5 minutes each.

5.Special betting

This category of bets is allowed only during title fights (high-level fights) and has the highest coefficient. In this option, bets are placed on the fight ending due to an injury of one of the fighters or on the possibility of points deductions.

To increase the probability of winning, it is necessary to understand the nuances of the chosen sport. In MMA fights, an extremely important factor is the athlete’s rating. It is based on the statistics of recent fights, the athlete’s level of preparation, and the state of health before the fight. Having conducted your own analysis of the rating of fighters, it is worth comparing it with the coefficients offered by bookmakers. There are also many websites for this purpose, with forecasts from experienced sports analysts.

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