Fight sports have seen explosive growth over the last decade. Once the domain of boxing, the UFC and other MMA organizations have grabbed the spotlight with high-profile events that fill major stadiums around the world every week. In addition to live televised fights, monthly pay-per-view events have become an integral part of the fight fan experience. This has led to a massive increase in wagers on MMA events.

Mma betting is similar to placing bets on a boxing match, with the most popular bet types being moneylines and over/unders. However, MMA fights have a few unique factors that can make them more challenging to handicap.

The physical traits of fighters can have a significant impact on how a fight will play out. In addition to height and reach, other important statistics include fighting style and weight class. A fighter with a longer reach can keep an opponent at bay with long punches and kicks, while heavier fighters usually have more power but slower speed.

It’s also important to consider a fighter’s recent performance and their history inside the weight class. Many fight fans fall into a trap called “MMA math” where they compare a fighter’s record to the records of other fighters in their same weight class. This can easily fool bettors into thinking that a fighter should beat another because they share the same win/loss record. However, it’s far more useful to focus on a fighter’s level of competition and how they’ve won or lost against them.

Mma fights are often won by submission or a judges’ decision, so bettors should place some bets on these outcome options. However, it’s important to be mindful of the fact that these bets aren’t always as lucrative as other bet types. If you place a bet on Ferguson winning via submission and he loses, you won’t receive a large payout. For this reason, a better bet is to place a round bet. A round bet allows you to pick the exact round when a stoppage will occur and is more precise than simply choosing whether a fighter wins or loses.

Round bets are specific to MMA matches and can yield a larger payout than moneylines or over/unders. For example, if you place a bet on the Nurmagomedov-Ferguson fight and the fighters win in the third round, you will earn a larger payout than if they won in the first or second rounds. This bet type is more difficult to place than other MMA bets but can offer an exciting way to add a little extra excitement to the action.

Unlike traditional sportsbooks, online MMA betting sites allow you to make bets from the comfort of your home or office. This can save you time and money, especially if you don’t live close to a UFC event or prefer to bet from the convenience of your smartphone. Some MMA betting sites even have mobile apps that allow you to place bets in seconds, so you can get the action started quickly and easily.