MMA betting is an exciting and potentially profitable form of sports wagering. The sport has grown in popularity in recent years, thanks to its entertaining personalities and various fighting styles. While many bettors are new to MMA, there are a few important things to know before placing a wager. For example, it is important to research fighters’ styles, records, injuries, and recent performances. You should also pay attention to their weight and reach.

Betting on MMA matches can be done at online sportsbooks, which offer a variety of betting markets and up-to-date odds. It is also important to manage your bankroll and set limits for yourself. This way, you can avoid getting caught up in the excitement of a fight and lose track of your spending habits.

In-play betting is the most exciting and lucrative form of MMA betting, but it can be difficult to master. Its advantages include the ability to place bets while watching a fight and the opportunity to take advantage of blunders by other bettors. However, the downsides of in-play MMA betting include the difficulty in finding the right lines and interpreting live odds.

The most basic bet is the moneyline, which is based on the likelihood that a particular fighter will win. This type of bet can be placed on either a favorite or an underdog. The payout of a moneyline bet will depend on the amount that is wagered, with favorites offering lower payouts and underdogs providing a higher reward.

Another popular MMA bet is the Over/Under rounds total, which is a prediction of how many total rounds the fight will last. Oddsmakers will determine the over/under total by evaluating a number of factors, including the fighters’ styles and the expected pace of the fight. For example, a pair of wrestlers may have a high over/under round total, while two strikers will likely have a low one.

Besides the method of victory and total rounds, MMA bettors can also make wagers on the round in which the fight will end. A bet on the specific round will be settled if the fight is won by KO/TKO, submission, or technical decision. Another option is to place a bet on the fight going the distance, which is settled by decision.

In MMA, the line on a fight will shift from the moment it opens up until the night of the fight. This is due to the number of bets being placed and any news that might affect the odds. Moreover, different sportsbooks will feature a variety of odds expressions, including American, fractional, and decimal. Choosing the correct expression will help you understand and interpret the MMA betting odds correctly.

A common mistake made by bettors is to compare the records of opponents and then assume that a fighter with a better record will win. This is a flawed thinking process and can distract bettors from studying the fighters’ styles. Likewise, comparing the last three opponents can give bettors a false sense of security when placing a bet on an underdog.