Mma betting is a sport that has seen big growth in recent years as more fans take interest in the fights. The sport can be complicated and hard to understand, but there are some things that every bettor should know before making a wager on an upcoming fight. The first thing to do is understand how odds are made and the role that public perception plays into those odds.

MMA fights have many different ways to end, but the most common bet is on a fighter winning in a particular round. In addition, bettors can also place a wager on the total number of rounds that a fight will last. This bet is called an over/under and the payouts can be quite lucrative.

Prop bets are another popular MMA betting option and they can often offer much higher payouts than the simpler moneyline bets. Some of the more interesting MMA prop bets include round betting and the always entertaining method-of-victory bet. These bets allow bettors to place a wager on how a fighter will win, including by knockout (KO), submission, or decision.

A good MMA bettor will also take into account the stylistic matchup of their chosen fighter. For example, is a fighter more of a striker or grappler? If so, what do their past opponents look like? This information will help bettors decide if they have the right fighter picked to beat their opponent.

Another important factor in MMA betting is understanding the fighter’s weight class and how that may impact their performance. Some fighters have a harder time making the weight for their next fight than others, and it’s important to note their progress leading up to the event. Fighters that are close to missing the weight limit can go through extreme measures in order to make it, including starving and dehydrating themselves, which can lead to a lack of energy come the fight’s start.

Mma is a relatively new sport and thus the oddsmakers don’t have as much experience setting lines for it as they do with sports like football, baseball, and hockey. This can sometimes make it difficult to find favorable bets on MMA fights. But, if a bettor does their research and can understand the strengths and weaknesses of the fighters involved, then they should be able to find some advantageous wagers.

There are also a few key factors that can make a bet on an MMA fight profitable in the long run. For starters, it’s important to be selective with your bets and only wager on the cards you have done research on. Also, it’s important to be aware of the full card and how it’s set up so that you can identify the most likely winners of each individual fight. This way, you can avoid over-betting and increase the likelihood of cashing your bets. Finally, be sure to pay attention to the fight’s pregame and in-game betting markets, as these can change drastically throughout the course of a fight.