MMA or Mixed Martial Arts is a full-combat sport that utilizes 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, some sports purists have derided MMA as a bloodthirsty event devoid of boxing’s grace or wrestling’s strategy, 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 mean bettors have pre-match and live betting opportunities galore.

BetRivers Online Sportsbook is known by MMA enthusiasts as one of the best MMA sportsbooks in the world, too. Here, you’ll find the latest odds, results, and odds boosts to make every wager more exciting than the last.

Check out our series of MMA betting tips to help you understand MMA odds, as well as strategies behind some of the most important MMA betting systems.

Understanding MMA Odds

If you’re a little confused by MMA betting odds, you’re not alone. But with just a little practice you’ll be able to read the odds at a glance. BetRivers displays MMA odds in the American odds format, which is standard in most casinos and sportsbooks in the U.S. Read below for more information on American odds.

American 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: McGregor = -150 and Poirier = +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 McGregor 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 McGregor is the favorite at -150. You must bet $150 to win $100. Poirier is a +200 underdog. You would only have to bet $50 to win $100.

Working with American odds will take some practice, but after a few fights you’ll be able to see your potential payouts easily.

Moneyline MMA Betting

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.

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.