Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is one of the world’s fastest growing sports which has enjoyed widespread viral success, especially thanks to the likes of Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather. Because of this, learning about MMA betting is something which is going to be an ever-increasing useful skill for any wannabe punter.
Since the early 1990s, MMA is something which has captivated a worldwide audience and it now has its very own betting market – MMA betting – which has millions of participants worldwide who wager huge amounts of money, especially during peak fight seasons and when major tournaments are taking place.
MMA is a combat sport which allows pretty much anything, from punches and kicks all the way through to elbowing and grappling; it is a very hands-on style of fighting which can be quite shocking and really does make for some interesting viewing.
If you already know a little bit about boxing betting, you will be able to learn about MMA betting a lot easier – there are some similarities – but there are some key differences which you need to be aware of when you participate in MMA betting.
MMA Rules
The rules of MMA can simply be summarised as the following –
- MMA bouts involve rounds which last for five minutes and the majority of matches last for around three rounds, whereas large fights and title fights will last for five rounds.
- Fighters can be knocked out as well as technically knocked out, where their opponent floors them and forces them to submit whilst on the ground. The other fighter gives in by ‘tapping out’.
- MMA takes place in an octagonal cage to allow for wrestling and kicking to take place.
Types of MMA Betting
As with boxing and other sports, there are several types of markets when it comes to MMA betting. If you are at all familiar with the basics of boxing betting, you will already know these –
- The money line
This is exactly the same as it is in boxing – the money line simply refers to betting on one person to win a match. - Total rounds
Again, like in boxing, the total rounds bet involves betting on how many rounds a match will last for, either over or under. Due to the smaller number of rounds which take place in MMA, this often means betting on whether a match will last ‘the distance’ (i.e. last until the end) or not.
When it comes to learning about MMA betting, understanding the different plays and their strengths and weaknesses is something which can give you the competitive edge and help you win larger sums of money through well-informed bets.
There are a number of different fighting styles in MMA and it makes for a hugely dynamic sport. As a result of this, it is important to learn everything you possibly can about it before you start delving into MMA betting – it is worth it in the end and you can only really place well-informed bets on MMA by spending some time learning everything there is to know.