Here at NetBet, we’ve got a whole load of great markets for sports betting, and we offer some of the best MMA odds around. We don’t just take bets on individual races, we offer online betting on plenty of deeper markets on our UK betting site. If you want to place any sport bet, in this case, MMA betting, here’s a quick guide on how exactly you should go about it.
What is MMA?
MMA or mixed martial arts is a combat sport involving individuals grappling with their opponent to win a fighting contest. Unlike taekwondo or karate, points are not scored in MMA (that is unless the contest goes that distance). Overall, the aim is to force your opponent to surrender or win by knockout. This will occur when the referee makes the decision that it is not safe for one fighter to continue.
The UFC is the major MMA franchise. Fighters compete against each other for belts in their weight divisions and then must defend the titles to remain in the UFC. Matches take place in the Octagon ring, which is separated, so there is no leaving for the fighters.
MMA rules may be slightly complicated, particularly when determining the winners, which is done in various ways.
The simplest way to win an MMA fight is through knockout (KO) when one fighter inflicts so much damage that the opponent loses their will to continue fighting. Fighters can lose through KO if they are knocked out or cannot move forward.
On the other hand, a technical knockout (TKO) happens with either the ring physician or the referee ending the fight if they consider one of the fighters unfit to continue. For instance, if a fighter gets knocked several types or begins to bleed profusely.
Another possible outcome is submission. Some fighters do better at forcing submissions than others, getting their opponents in chokeholds or twisting their limbs until they surrender. MMA Fighters “tap out” if they give up and lose the match.
Fighters may also lose a bout of their camp yields by throwing in the towel. This may be because they are concerned for their fighter’s welfare and might be adamant about continuing despite enduring severe damage.
Each fight consists of five rounds, and each round tends to last five minutes. The judges’ decision determines the winner if neither opponent has forced a win even after five rounds.
In MMA, fighters must engage actively with their opponent, so there is no room for avoiding conflict. A referee may warn a fighter if they notice them deliberately avoiding conflict. That being said, there are numerous fighting styles and techniques in MMA, and some fighters opt to “strike” sparingly instead of choosing submissions on the ground.
The history of MMA
MMA is a sport that combines techniques borrowed from wrestling, boxing, judo, Karate, BJJ, Muay Thai, etc. It initially came about as a brutal sport without rules but has evolved into one of the most followed spectator sports in the 21st century.
MMA can be traced back to the Olympics in 648 BCE, where the martial training of Greek soldiers was seen as the combat sport of ancient Greece. Sometimes the fights were so brutal that fighters died during the bouts. The sport was later banned in 393 CE.
However, many years later, the sport reemerged in Brazil in the 20th century under vale tudo meaning “anything goes”. It then came to North America in the 90s, with the first event hosted in 1993 in Denver, i.e., UFC 1.
The name stood for Ultimate Fighting Championship (or UFC), which has evolved into the main promoter for MMA events.
2.4 million pay-per-viewers watched Khabib versus McGregor. This was one of the first events that transcended the sport into the mainstream.
UFC has become more prevalent than ever with more than 40 live annual events, broadcasts in over 165 nations and territories, and streaming to over a billion TV households.
How do I bet on MMA?
Before you start MMA betting, you must learn the available types and what they offer. Below are some of the bet types offered at NetBet:
Match Bet or Moneyline
A match or moneyline bet is when the bettor chooses one contestant to win. It makes no difference how the fighter wins, just so long as they do. This is the most popular MMA bet since everyone speculates who could win all the big fights. For example, Fighter A: +200 versus Fighter B: -300.
Parlay Bet
A parlay, multiplier, or accumulator bet is a wager that includes multiple selections. For example, if you believe three contestants will win, you can bet on all three via a parlay bet to raise the payout odds. The only possible way to win a parlay bet is to win all of the selections you make on the bet. Even if only one of the fights is lost, you will not win anything, so while the payout odds are big, so is the risk.
Method of Victory
As mentioned, MMA includes three winning possibilities: KO, Points, and Submission. If you have a strong opinion about how a fight will end, you may bet on the method of victory.
Round Betting
Round betting involves the bettor predicting and betting on which round they believe the fight will finish in. The payout odds with this bet type are also better. You may also bet on a fighter to win during a particular round.
Prop Bets
Prop bets are an all-in-one term for bet types not directly linked to moneyline betting. These are well-liked among bettors since they provide different ways of betting on fights. The payout odds for these bets are also high. Below are some examples of UFC prop bets:
- Fight to go the distance
- How the fight will end
- Fighters touching their gloves
- Points Spread
When you choose NetBet Sport, you can enjoy a whole range of top-quality sports betting markets. Whatever you choose, always remember to bet responsibly. Here at NetBet, player wellbeing is our number one priority – check out our Responsible Gambling tips and tools page for more information.
