• How to Bet on MMA Fighting

Mixed Martial Arts fighting goes back to the 1980s when it started out in Japan. Almost a decade later it gained a following in America, but the sport was still very much in its infancy. Today MMA still hasn’t quite reached mainstream status, but it certainly has a wider fanbase than ever before. And when sports become popular, sports betting is never far behind.

Now is a great time to get to grips with betting on MMA. We are in the sweet spot whereas a fan you are just as likely to be an expert as those who are setting the lines. Meanwhile, it has become popular enough that you can find an online casino Canada real money offering odds on MMA without too much difficulty. We can’t promise that you will become a millionaire overnight, but here are our suggestions for some of the important things to consider when placing a bet on the MMA.

• Keep your eyes on the odds

MMA is a sport where there can be some big upsets, and thus some great opportunities to make a good profit. One very important thing to keep in mind is that the odds do not depend simply on which contestant is the most likely to win. Bookmakers try to encourage the public to place money on both sides, keeping the amount as equal as possible. This is how they ensure that they will make enough profits themselves. 

What this means is that bookies adjust the odds according to how much money is put down on one fighter or another. If a lot of people are placing bets on the favourite, they will change the odds to make a bet on the underdog more appealing. Watch for the odds to change as match day approaches, and you may find that a small bet on the less favoured contestant has some disproportionately good returns.

• Choose your fights

Don’t just bet indiscriminately on every fight you watch. It may add a frisson of fun to the spectacle, but it’s a terrible strategy overall. Instead, get very familiar with a selection of fighters and bet on those fixtures. If you do intend to place a bet on a particular fight, read up extensively on all the stats and make sure you are very sure of your prediction. If you really must bet on a match that you have little knowledge of, make it a small and affordable one.

• Know the wider context

There are a lot of various factors that can have an influence on a fighter’s performance on any particular day. Some things to take into consideration include how far and from where the contenders have travelled, as well as how long they gave themselves to recover from the journey. Likewise, the climate and altitude of the fight location can give some an edge or a disadvantage. 

• Never bet against an undisputed champion

Never is a strong word, and certainly a few people made a lot of money the day that Holly Holm shocked the MMA world by defeating Ronda Rousey back in 2015. Until that big upset, however, betting against Rousey would have been a waste of money. It is possible that you have the insight to spot exactly the moment that an MMA superstar will have their first big fall. It is more likely that you don’t. 

• Think about fighting style

When MMA first arrived in America, it was greeted with excitement because it looked like the answer to age-old questions of who would win in a fight between a boxer and a practitioner of karate (for example). Although the fighters have come a long way in integrating their fighting styles since then, their core expertise still lies in one style or another. So, one contender with a perfect record could be undone when they face an opponent with a skill previously unencountered.