When we discuss the terms of combat sports, there’s nothing quite as good as UFC. After all, you don’t want to be like the people who placed their bets on Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm, do you? People lost millions back then. Keep reading to learn how UFC betting works!
Learn How to Read the UFC Odds
First of all, like many other things in life, you cannot expect to be any good in predicting the odds of anything if you have no prior knowledge about the mater. With that being said, we need to equip you with at least some basic understanding of this sport and the winning fighters. Only then will you be able to successfully predict the outcome.
In the UFC, there are three different types of UFC betting: American odds, Fractional odds, and Decimal odds. The first one is more often referred to as the Moneyline odds. There is a handful of things you can do to try and educate yourself just a bit more before you decide to invest some additional cash into the whole UFC betting business.
First of all, you have to get well informed about the background of a particular fighter. Once you manage this, you need to keep up with their weight changes and measures, because mixed martial arts fighters tend to lose a significant amount before the match.
Furthermore, you should pay close attention to a particular fighter’s battling technique. This could be a turning point in the game. Also, it is essential to figure out if a fighter has better attack or defense style. If you can, you should observe their training, at least once. It can be a good preview of what is about to happen.
Finally, observe the fighter’s energy and willingness to finish each sparring and exercise. You should also bear one thing in mind: sportsbooks tend to offer lower odds for strong fighters — it’s just what they do.
Betting Odds: Decimal
Now, this is, by all means, the most accessible type of UFC and MMA betting you’ll come across. The odds are easily understandable. In order to calculate your winnings via decimal odds, just multiply your stake with the odds. For example, if you placed a $15 bet at odds of 1.57, just multiply 15 by 1.57 in order to calculate the size of your return. So 15×1.57 equals $23.55 return from your original $15 bet. See? Easy-breezy.
Betting Odds: American (Moneyline)
These odds are calculated on how much money you have to place to win $100. Here, the odds are always selected with either a plus or a minus symbol. These are here so that the sports bettor could determine if there is a need to bet more or less than $100 in order to win $100. Basically, everything revolves around a $100 stake.
Don’t panic just yet; we know this may look a bit confusing at first glance. But the reality is that once you get the hang of it, it’s not so hard to learn and develop many betting strategies accordingly. Remember — out of all types of betting, this one is the most popular, and for a good reason.
For instance, let’s say the Fighter A= -150 and Fighter B= +200. You should be aware that every time you see the minus symbol, it means that you’ll need to bet over $100 to win $100. Minus odds are often pretty safe bets since you’re betting on the favorite. On the other hand, the plus symbol represents the underdogs. Having this in mind, it’s clear to see that the favorite fighter is the one with -150. In this case, if you want to win $100, you would need to bet at least $150. Alternately, the second fighter is an underdog. If you are planning to win $100 here, you only need to bet $50.
Betting Odds: Fractional
This type of betting odds is prevalent in the United Kingdom and Ireland. European islanders find the best usage for them in Horse and Greyhound Racing. And just like the American odds, Fractional ones may seem like a puzzle at first. To prove our claim, here’s an example.
If you intended to place $50 on odds of 6/4, this is how it would work out: First of all, you add the fraction numbers together — in our case, six plus four equals ten. Then, you divide the final number, in this case, ten, by the second one, which is four. Ten divided by four equals 2.5. After this, multiply 2.5 with your wager. 2.5×50 equals 125. Hence, your return if you plan to bet $50 at the 6/4 odds would be $125. Voila!
Just remember, no one can actually predict who wins the fight at the end of the day. Each fighter has their good and their bad days. Also, the method of combat that worked on a particular fighter might be disastrous on another one. But we believe that’s the charm here after all — because you never know how the game will end. After all, both betting and fighting are for entertainment purposes only.