MMA Betting 101 How Does MMA Betting Work?

Mixed Martial Arts is one of the sporting success stories of the last twenty years. It’s grown from a series of fringe events to being arguably the most important of all the combat sports.

Betting on MMA has kept pace with this growth and it’s now one of the most popular areas of the Unibet sportsbook. Please read on and we’ll tell you more.

Let’s start with the basics. There are two key questions to answer.

1. What are MMA odds and what are they saying?
   
2. What MMA betting options do you have on sportsbooks in the US?

We’ll start with the odds. Two fundamental elements are underlined by odds.

1. The probability of an event happening such as either fighter winning
   
2. How much you will be paid in return for a winning bet

Here’s an actual MMA bet to explain things.

This is a bet on the result of a UFC fight between Jonathan Martinez and Vince Moralez. Each has a three-digit number next to their name. Martinez carries a minus prefix and this means that he is the favorite.

Morales’ odds start with a plus symbol. This makes him the underdog.

So, we’ve already taken care of probability. The odds tell us that Jonathan Martinez has a higher chance of winning this fight. Similar odds split the favorite and the underdog for every single MMA bout that we cover.

Remember that odds also confirm payouts. The answer to this question lies in the specific figures.

1. At odds of -240, you would need to stake $240 on Martinez to win $100
   
2. At odds of +183, a bet of $100 on Morales would win $183

The suggested stakes are just illustrations. It’s important to know that the chosen stake is your decision only.

Public Betting in MMA

If you’ve never heard of the phrase, ‘betting with the public’, we’ll explain. The wider betting community is responsible for finding the favorite and the underdog. They start to bet as the options open and the majority of stakes go on the stronger fighter.

All that our odds setters need to do is step in and confirm the final figures.

This is another example of probability in action. The public are telling us who has a better chance of winning. It’s then up to you to decide if they are right or whether they are talking nonsense.

We’ll show you how to do that a little later.

What are the different types of bets in MMA?

We’ve shown you the starting point. A bet on the winning fighter in an MMA fight is known as the Moneyline. It’s not always easy to pick the winner but it’s a simple option to understand. Which of the two fighters will win?

If you are just starting out on your MMA betting journey, then we recommend this as an opener. But there are alternatives.

#1: Total Rounds in MMA Betting

Most fights in all MMA divisions last for a maximum of three rounds. The bout can end inside those three rounds for a number of reasons including a knockout or a disqualification. This bet in the MMA comes in the form of an over/under bet.

Unibet has an option for total rounds betting and here’s an example.

The probability element tells us here that the fight is expected to go the distance. The clear favorite is Over 2.5 Rounds which is quoted at odds of -265. Under 2.5 Rounds is the underdog at +190.

Favorites don’t always win. You can consider the strengths of the two fighters and make up your own mind.

In this example, if the fight goes into the third round, winning bets pay at -265. If the fight ends before the second round has been completed, wins pay out at +190.

#2: Method of Victory bets in MMA Betting

MMA fights can be finished off in a number of ways. There can be knockouts, technical knockouts, submissions or disqualification. Fights can also be decided by the judges based on points at the end of the contest.

Unibet have MMA bets available on Method of Victory. It asks how you think the fight will finish. Options will include Fighter A by Knockout, Fighter B by Knockout plus permutations of all possible outcomes.

Consider the Method of Victory bets and make your call.

#3: Round Betting in MMA

This is a bet on the round in which you think the MMA fight will end. There are six possible options here.

• Fighter A in Round One
  
• Fighter A in Round Two
  
• Fighter A in Round Three
  
• Fighter B in Round One
  
• Fighter B in Round Two
  
• Fighter B in Round Three
  

The contest can go the distance and either fighter could win at the very end. If you think that will happen, the Method of Victory bet is the better option.

Study career records of the two men or women involved, and you should find some clues as to how the next fight will finish.

#4: MMA Parlays

Pardon us but what’s a Parlay? It’s simply a multiple bet with two or more picks. North of the border in Canada, it’s a legal requirement to use a parlay instead of a single bet. In the USA, it’s completely optional.

There are two types of Parlays you’ll find when you’re betting on MMA fights online. The first of these can combine selections from within one fight.

This is a single-fight parlay from an MMA fight between Sam Hughes and Elise Reed . We’ve gone for Hughes to win and the fight to finish in two rounds or less.

As you add selections to your betslip, the odds are updated. When a stake is typed in, the potential payout appears. The Place Bet button will then turn yellow. If you’re happy with how everything looks, click on that button.

MMA Parlays can also be made across two or more fights.

We’ve kept faith with Sam Hughes while adding two more Moneyline picks. Chase Hooper to win and Joseph Holmes to win are the two extra selections. The total odds for this 3-leg parlay are +759. We input a stake and the potential payout is shown.

Remember, nothing will happen until you click on that big yellow button. If it all looks good, click away and the bet rides.

The odds may look far more interesting, but you need to remember the crucial mechanics behind a parlay. All of those picks need to win. If one or more fail, the entire bet is lost.

Parlays aren’t for everyone, but the list here shows that there are lots of MMA betting options.

Tips and Strategies For MMA Betting

Now you know all the different bets in MMA betting how do you approach them? We’ve been doing this since 1997 so we’re in a good place to offer you some advice. Let’s start with:

#Tip 1: Public Perception

We’re going back to the beginning here. The factor of probability is worth mentioning again. The MMA odds show us the favorite. Public betting in the MMA tells us that they have a higher probability of winning.

Favorites won’t win every time. Wouldn’t that be dull? The rise of the underdog is one of the most beautiful things about sport. It’s now up to you to decide whether the public has got it right this time.

How do you do that? You can start with some number crunching when you’re about to bet on an MMA fight.

#Tip 2: Research and then Research some more

If you’re not going to blindly follow the public, we salute you. But what happens next?

The best way forward is via research. MMA stats are out there, and we urge you to use them. Here are some points to look out for.

Form: Study a fighter’s record. Look at their overall ratio of wins and losses. Now see how they’ve performed in recent battles. Are they reaching a peak in their career or is form starting to dip?

Form is an obvious but important starting point.

Now look at any Head to Head results. Have these fighters met in competition before? If so, what was the outcome? There are no guarantees that the same thing will happen again but there can be useful pointers.

All of this information is accessible via a host of reference websites. Find it, use it and it can help you form your MMA betting strategy.

#Tip 3: #Tip 3: What type of bettor are you?

You may already know the answer. If you’ve bet on other sports then you’ll know your profile. If not, just ask yourself some questions.

Do you like the appeal of a parlay?

There is a higher level of risk and reward with a parlay. The odds look so much higher when the betslip opens. Payouts can increase but please don’t forget that counterbalance. If one or more selections lose, the whole bet loses.

You may prefer to keep it simple. If so, the Moneyline bet is the place to be. It may not always be easy to pick a winner but there are only two options in the Moneyline. Will Fighter A or Fighter B win?

Other MMA bets require a different approach. Method of Victory asks you to look more closely at a fighter’s record. That might appeal to those who like to go deeper with their analysis.

If you don’t already know what type of bettor you are, why not take some time to decide.

#Tip 4: Making use of Unibet’s MMA Betting Offers and Promotions

We are crazy about our odds on Unibet and we know that we have to keep them competitive. We know that you have choices for MMA betting and we are delighted that you are here.

We’ll maintain those competitive figures while offering you a chance to claim more value. Offers and promotions can include free bets, matched bonuses and price boosts, subject to terms and conditions.

They can all have the potential to make a difference to returns and bankrolls. Make sure you opt in for notifications or, you can keep checking the promotions tab of our website. We don’t want you to miss out.