MMA Odds at BetRivers Illinois Sportsbook

MMA or Mixed Martial Arts is a full-combat sport characterized by the use of moves from different martial arts and combat sports. Its athletes incorporate techniques from boxing, karate, Muay Thai, wrestling, judo, jujitsu, and other disciplines. For years, purists have derided MMA as a bloodthirsty event devoid of boxing’s grace, but it’s become one of the most popular sporting events of the past two decades.

It’s not just the sport itself that’s grown more popular – MMA betting is spreading throughout the world. The fast pace of these fights lend them to prematch and live betting opportunities galore.
At BetRivers Illinois Sportsbook, we feature all of the biggest MMA and UFC fights. Check out our series of MMA betting tips to help you understand MMA odds, as well as strategies behind some of the most common MMA betting systems.

MMA Betting Fundamentals – Understanding MMA

Before you bet on MMA, make sure you understand the basic fight rules. For example, participants only fight individuals who are of the same weight category. Otherwise, heavier fighters would often have a tremendous advantage over smaller competitors.

The fights occur in a ring or cage measuring 20 square feet by 32 square feet. Matches feature three rounds, each of which lasts 5 minutes. To defeat their opponents, fighters are only allowed to use legal strikes, grappling, and throwing techniques. Illegal moves or strikes may result in disqualification.

How MMA Fights Are Won

It might seem obvious how fighters win MMA matches – but often, declaring a winner is harder than you might think. MMA fights can be won in different ways. A knockout is the most exciting result, and that’s when the winning fighter knocks down the opponent and he or she doesn’t get back up to resume the contest.
But if the matches can also end in submission, a decision, a forfeit, a TKO, or a no contest. Often, the ruling of the judges determines the outcome.

Understanding MMA Odds

American MMA odds are easy to understand. They show you how much money you have to wager to win $100. The odds are always preceded by either a plus (+] or minus (-) symbol. The symbols tell you whether you need to bet more than $100 (-) or less than $100 (+), to win $100. And that’s the basic rule behind American odds – they are all about how much money you must wager for a payout of $100.
Let’s assume these odds: Fighter 1 = -150 and Fighter 2 = +200.
In American odds, you always know that the minus [-] symbol means that you will have to bet more than $100 to win $100. Minus (-) odds represent the favorite. So, naturally, because that fighter is expected to win, you have to bet more in order to win a substantial payout. Odds with the plus (+) symbol indicate the underdogs. You can see that Fighter 1 is the favorite at -150. You must bet $150 to win $100. Fighter B is a +200 underdog. You would only have to bet $50 to win $100. Working with American MMA odds will take some practice, but after a few fights you’ll be able to see your potential payouts with just a quick glance. Remember that anytime you have questions about odds or potential payouts, our customer service team can offer you answers 24/7!

How to Bet on MMA Online

At BetRivers Illinois Sportsbook, you can choose from many different MMA betting options, Moneyline betting is the simplest way to bet on MMA fights -- you simply choose which fighter you think will win the match.

You’ll see moneyline betting options at every sportsbook. For example, let’s assume Ciryl Gane is favored at -325 to beat Alexander Volkov, who comes in a +250 underdog. In this MMA online betting scenario for Gane, you would win $30.77 on a $100 bet if he wins. For Volkov, you would win $250 on a bet of $100 if he were to pull off the upset.

It’s easy to see who the favorites and underdogs are at a glance -- a plus sign (+) means that fighter is the underdog and a negative sign (-) represents the favorite.

Over/Under MMA Betting System

An over/under wagering system allows you to guess whether the match will go into the later rounds or not. For example, if the match is scheduled for three rounds, the over/under will be at 1.5. For you to win the over bet, the match must go beyond the midpoint of the second round.

When it comes to the five round matches, they are often listed at 2.5 (so, if you bet the over, the fight must go beyond the midpoint of the third round for you to win your wager).

As with boxing betting, don’t get swept up in the media hype surrounding a big fight. MMA betting requires careful statistical analysis combined with your experience and intuition. Each fighter responds differently to high-pressure situations – so adjust your betting strategies accordingly.