MMA betting is unlike other forms of sports wagering as it involves a single bet on a specific fighter to win a fight. This means that a fighter’s odds to win are much more volatile and less predictable than in a team sport like football or basketball where one lucky play can make a difference in the outcome of a game. This type of betting is also more action oriented and can be quite profitable. However, it is important to remember that upsets are more likely to occur in MMA, so be sure to hedge your bets if you are able to do so.

The most common mma betting wager is a moneyline bet, which is a simple bet on who will win the fight. The odds on this bet indicate how likely it is for the fighter to win, with a favorite carrying a negative sign (-) while an underdog will carry a positive sign (+). In addition to moneyline bets, there are also other types of MMA betting including over/under round totals and method of victory props. In-play betting, or live MMA betting is a great way to place bets during a fight and offers many advantages over pre-fight betting.

Live MMA betting offers bettors the opportunity to make wagers on upcoming rounds of a fight while the fighters are in their corners preparing for the next round. This type of MMA betting is often more accurate than pre-fight bets as it is made by humans and not robots. In-play MMA betting is also a great way to bet on methods of victory props, which allow you to bet on how a specific fighter will win the fight via KO/TKO, submission or technical decision.

In order to make the most accurate predictions on a fighter’s chances of winning, it is important to research their past performances as well as their current training camp. This will help you to understand their strengths and weaknesses as a fighter and give you an idea of what they might do in the ring. In addition, you should be aware of any injuries or illnesses that could impact a fighter’s performance.

Another way to improve your MMA betting is to line shop, which is the practice of looking at multiple sportsbooks in order to find the best prices on a particular bet. It is important to line shop because the odds on a particular bet can shift from minute to minute, depending on the amount of public money being placed on one side of the wager and any new information that might come out about the fight.

Understanding how the odds work and how public perception affects them is an essential element to making profitable MMA bets. Oddsmakers are commonly looking to balance the money being bet on both sides of a wager and will adjust the lines accordingly in an effort to achieve this goal. Having an understanding of this can help you to make better decisions about which side of a bet to place and can also give you a good sense of the value of a bet.