MMA betting is a legal and an enjoyable way to complement your MMA viewing experience. Wouldn’t it be great to leverage the years of MMA fighter knowledge that you have acquired over the years into earning money and having fun in the process? Ultimately, this guide is focused on betting tips and strategies to help make your MMA betting easier and more profitable.

 Advice and Strategy For Amateur Bettors

1.How do you bet on UFC fights?
In sports like basketball and football the betting is often based on point spreads. However, the odds in the MMA fights are referred to as Moneylines. Basically Moneylines are a way for the sports books to even out the bets placed by the public.

Let’s take an example:
A strong veteran UFC fighter is scheduled to fight a rookie, and naturally more people will expect the veteran fighter to win. So, let’s say the line for the veteran fighter is ‐200. That means for every $2 that you bet, you will get $1 if you win. In the same way, if the line for the rookie is +200, then you will win $2 on every $1 you bet on the rookie fighter.
As you can see, the fighter with the negative number is the favorite whereas the fighter with the positive number is the underdog. Positive moneyline means a bigger payout, likewise, it is often recommended to bet on the underdog as this is the best way to gain large profits – (More on this later)

Why are Moneylines factored into the betting equation?
Simply put, Moneylines must be incorporated into the system, for if they are not, then whenever there is a major imbalance between fighters, you could always bet on the highly favored fighter and win boatloads of money nearly every time.
Sportsbooks adjust the moneylines by changing the betting in such a way that it is balanced, so that one side is not heavily betted upon over the other. Keep in mind however that MMA Moneylines are not variable during a fight. This makes it safer for the bettor as the moneylines do not change as the fight progresses.

How do you place a bet?
In order to bet you need to be associated with a sportsbook. Using a sportsbook, you can bet anywhere between $1 to thousands of dollars.

A Guide to Mixed Martial Arts’ Betting Tips and Strategies

2.How can you fund your online Sportsbook account?
In recent years, a new Bill called the Online Gambling Bill has been passed in the United States. This bill is also known as the UIGEA, The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. There are some sources in the media that say this Bill makes betting illegal. However, this is not the case. What it actually does is lessens the number of ways in which a U.S. citizen can make deposits. Fortunately, there are some easy ways in which you can fund your own Sportsbook account.

• Use Credit Cards: this is the way most online transactions are made. Many bettors use this option for online payment and funding. You can also use debit cards. These two are known to be the best and quickest methods of deposit.
• Transfer the money via your bank: This is one of the easiest payment options. You can either wire the money through your bank or you can ask for an online money transfer. Almost all sportsbooks have this method of transaction available online. All you need to do is contact your sportsbook and they will help set it up for you.
• Send your check by mail: This is usually one of the leased preferred options. Naturally, checks deposited via mail take longer as well. They may take 7 to 10 working days to have the funds in your account. Almost all leading Sportsbooks allow this method.
• Western Union: Western Union is one of the safest and most reliable money transfer services in the world. First you need to contact your sportsbook, they will walk you through the process and will help guide you as to you what steps to follow on the Western Union website. After the transfer is completed, you will be provided a transaction number. Keep in mind however; this service comes at a premium, so there is a charge for this option.
• eWalletXpress: As the name suggests, this is like an online wallet, whereby you can store your money online. eWalletXpress is one of the best and most frequently used services for funding a sportsbooks account. You need to submit your personal information and bank account number. Some money will then be withdrawn from the account to see if the account is active. Once this is done the service is then established.

3. Most Valuable MMA Betting Tips
Mixed Martial Arts is a rapidly developing sport. Unfortunately, the amount of information available pertaining to betting on MMA is limited, but there are a few betting strategies that will help get you on a winning track. There are three such strategies that you can consider:

• Bet on the Underdog: This has always been considered a great strategy in sports betting. In MMA, this has proven to be popular as well. The underdog is the person most people expect to lose the fight. As I mentioned earlier, some fighters are given negative moneylines and some of them positive. The fighters with positive ratings are known as the underdogs. However, the underdogs are often disproportionately under rated, and so betting on them consistently is a great way to ensure profit if your man should pull through and win. (Keep in mind however; it’s best to stay away from the highly rank favorites. Betting against top guys like Anderson Silva or Jon Jones is most often a bad idea.)
• Bet against the majority: One strategy to consider while betting on MMA is to bet against the majority. That is because MMA is a relatively new sport with fighters who are relatively unknown. Likewise, many people bet on all the possible fights without knowing too much about the fighters themselves and many people have absolutely no idea of what they are doing. Although betting on MMA is risky, it is a calculated risk, just be sure that you don’t fall into this trap. Since you got into this with the intention of winning based on your MMA fighter knowledge, remember to do your homework and not just pick fights based on mob mentality.
• Develop a betting System: Don’t just bet randomly. Use a system to bet on fights. Most bettors who get into it seriously have a betting system in place. Like any prediction making proposition, MMA requires a fair amount of study and analysis. It is also incident based. That means it is based on events which have a certain degree of repeatability. You can identify the patterns and trends and then bet accordingly. It is not an easy job, but it is possible to develop a system based on what you know about the fighter histories. Keep in mind the fighter’s style, what type of fight he is comfortable with, injuries, ring rust, the type of fighter he tends to win and lose against, etc. Once you have a system in place, you will be in a much better position to predict the outcome of the fight. This will increase your profits and in turn make you a better bettor.

4.A glossary of the MMA betting jargon
Before you can start betting on MMA fights, you need to know a few commonly used terms which will help place your bets. There are a few words specific to MMA betting, most are listed here:

• A Bookie: This is the person who will take your bets. Online bookies are usually known as sportsbooks.
• The Chalk: The chalk is the person in the fight who has better odds at winning the fight. As discussed earlier, this is the person who has negative odds.
• The Dog: This is a short form for the underdog. This is the person who has positive odds. It is also possible for an underdog to have negative odds. The only thing is that the negative number is greater relative to his opponent.
• Edge: This is the edge or the advantage you hold when you bet on the fight. There might be several reasons. More information, better odds etc.
• Even Money: The acronym for this is EVN. This is when both the bets are at a 1:1 ratio or are evenly matched.
• The Favorite: As the name suggests, this is the fighter who most people think will win the fight. The bookies denote their favorites with a negative sign before the name.
• Handicapping: This is all the research you do and the strategies you use when you bet on a fight. This can be practiced and then perfected with knowledge.
• Handle: This is the sum total of all the money bet on the fight.
• Limit: This is the maximum amount of money that an online sportsbook will allow you as a bettor to place on the fight.
• Line: The odds for the fight are also referred to as the line.
• Moneyline: The odds for a fight are always expressed in terms of money. So, if your moneyline says +300 means for every $1 you bet, you will win $3.
• Odds: This is a number specified by the sportsbook which signifies what they think are the odds of a fighter winning.
• Opened: These are the opening odds or the odds that were set when the line was first opened.
• Parlay: This is a combined bet. For you to win bet, all the fighters you bet on must win their respective bouts.
• The Prop Bet: This is predicting the exact outcome. Like some fighters boastfully pick the round in which they will beat their opponent. If you guess correctly, you get paid at higher odds than in a normal bet. 6
• The Sportsbook: This is the company or the website that you can make your bets with.
• Square: This term is usually referred to a beginner in the field of MMA betting.
• Totals Bet: This is a lesser or greater than bet. The sportsbook first bets what it thinks will be the number of rounds the fight lasts. You can bet above or below that.
• Underdog: As referred to earlier, this is the fighter who has positive odds. For example if you bet $1 on the Underdog at +200 and he wins, you’ll win $2.

Advanced Strategies and Theories for MMA betting!

Now that you know the basic steps and strategies, let’s move on to the more advanced tactics that will help you enhance your betting skills.

5.Profit from public opinion!
When people bet on sports, many of them tend to lose money. This clearly suggests that they are betting the wrong way. The main reason these bettors are losing money is because they are either using a flawed system or none at all. Before ever making a single bet the first thing you must do is establish a betting system and stick with it. Avoid making your picks based on emotional reasons, just because you like a particular fighter doesn’t mean he will win you money.
Here is an example of a system that may work for you as it often does for me:

1. Check the online blogs and online MMA betting columns: The MMA columnist will make their pick and write about the person whom they think is the favorite to win the fight and why. Be sure to make a note of that fighter.
2. Next get public opinion: Many anxious betters enjoy expressing themselves in public forums. They will mention who their favorites are and also reasons for the same. You will usually find on almost all the popular forums long discussions about whom the public thinks will win the fight.
3. Check the odds: Visit various sportsbooks online or here (http://kojunkie.com/betting‐lines) and check the odds. Look for whom most people choose as the underdog. Believe it or not this is the one you might actually want to bet on. 7
4. Find out the favorite: If a lot of people really like a fighter who is considered an underdog, I will usually bet big on the favorite in this case. This doesn’t usually happen very often but when it does it’s a great opportunity for MMA betting enthusiast.
5. Stay informed and well researched: As mentioned earlier, you need to do a lot of handicapping before you place your bet. Keep in mind injuries or ring rust from not fighting on a regular basis, also find out if a fighter had a particularly hard time making weight as this may negatively affect fight performance.

Keeping all of the above in mind, you can see that betting in MMA is somewhat counterintuitive whereby; betting against the public is one of the surest ways of making money from MMA fights. My main bets are usually underdogs and or very small favorites, and as a general rule stay away from any favorite above ‐310 or higher.

6.How to make money in the long run
It is possible for any beginner to bet on a fight and make some money. You can get lucky. But, if you are looking to be a long term bettor, you need discipline, determination, effort and dedication.

You must spread out your bets. The most important thing for you to do is to broaden your finances so that you have 2‐3% available for individual fights. As an example, if your bankroll for the entire duration (let’s say a year) is $1,000 then your bankroll for one fight should be about $20 to $30. You need to bet consistently.

Any amount that you bet consistently is called a unit. You can bet as many units as you like on a fight. Someone may choose to bet just one unit on a fight whereas others may bet 3 to 5 units. It depends on your mindset. Thrifty individuals will usually bet the exact same amount on all fights.

Start Small: Start by placing small bets, with a small amount. The next question is how small? Well, let’s say you bet a 100$ on a fight. If you lose this money, it should not faze you. This “small” amount should be the ideal amount you should start with. Gamble only as much as you are able to lose without feeling emotional about the amount lost.

Let Go: If you have lost a certain amount of money, let it go. Don’t be in a state of obsession to get that money back. You need to understand that you win some, you lose some. When you don’t stop betting, you are playing into the hands of the bookie. There are bad days and there are good days. Don’t cry over it or go into a betting spree to recover your loss. Keep a clear mind set, because there will be other days when you are on a winning spree!

Bet only as much as you can afford: Remember to wager only the amount which you can afford. If you need some money for something important like a house or a college education, do not wager that money! MMA betting is best done for fun, do it only as a hobby or for entertainment. Even if you run into an awesome winning streak refrain from getting carried away into believing that this should be your source of income or livelihood.

Know when to stop: When you are losing continuously, you need to understand that enough is enough. Be pragmatic, STOP! Or else you may end up losing all your money by being emotional and taking further losses.

7.Learning to Convert Moneyline into percentages

Bettors who are new to MMA betting generally do not understand how the moneyline predicts the chances for a fighter to win the fight. This is normal, it is much easier to understand percentages. Likewise, if you have any difficulty converting moneylines into winning odds, you can first convert moneylines into percentages to see what the winning odds for a particular fight are.

To convert Moneyline into percentage for a winner:
You first take the amount you need to bet to win a dollar. You then divide this by the sum of the amount you will need to bet to win a dollar and add $1 to it. This will help you calculate your favorite’s percentage.

Or formulated as:
The amount needed to bet to win $1 /(Amount you need to bet to win $1 + $1) = the Favorite’s win %.
As an example, let’s denote the amount you need to win a dollar as X. Then in this case the favorite’s percentage will be calculated as X/ (X + $1) ( assuming that X is also in dollars)

So, if the moneyline for a favorite is ‐500 you now need to bet $5 to win $1. So X in this case is $5. Therefore your favorite’s percentage is calculated as 5/(5 + 1) . The favorite’s percentage in this case = 83.33%.

To convert Moneyline into percentage for the underdog:
The formula for calculating favorite’s percentage for an underdog is slightly different. Let’s say that the amount you will need to bet for an underdog to win is Y. Likewise, the underdog’s percentage can be calculated as 1/ (Y + 1 ).

Or formulated as:
1/(Amount won if betting $1 + $1) = The underdog’s win %
For example, let’s assume the moneyline for the underdog is +400. That means you need to bet $1 on the underdog to win $4. Y in this case is $4. So, your underdog’s percentage in this case will be 1/ (4 + 1) which is 20%. The underdog’s winning percentage in this case is 20%.

But if you add these (that is 83.33% and 20%) it adds up to more than a 100%! So the question remains, where did the extra 3.33% come from? This is the bit that the sportsbooks receive. Every sportsbook makes a certain amount of money from the fight irrespective of who wins or loses. Hence, the sportsbook earns a commission of 3.33% in this case.

8.Over betting and Under betting:
In a UFC fight, you can also bet on the number of rounds a fight will go to. Your sportsbook will put up a predicted number of rounds the fight will last. You can, in turn, bet whether a fight will go above or below that number. You need to remember a few things while over/under betting on these fights.

• One basic thing that you need to know is how many rounds the fight is scheduled for. You may bet on a large number of fights in a calendar year. And, you may tend to forget how many rounds a particular fight is. Fights for major titles usually last for 5 rounds. However, all other fights apart from major fights will last for three rounds. These may seem like simple numbers to remember. But what’s simplest to remember is also the easiest to forget. Hence, many people forget this when over/under betting.
• You need to conduct a detailed research. You must know the type of fighters who are involved in the fight. You must also know a past history of their fights. This research can serve you very well when you bet on these fights. For example, if you know a fight is between two fighters who like to fight defensively. This means they are prepared to be patient and win through points rather than through decisive knockouts or submissions. Then it would be unwise to place an under bet on this fight. You can also make a detailed chart and tables seeing how long the fighters have lasted in each of their previous fights. All this data can be easily obtained from the sportsbook or online. The more informed you are, the better your chances of predicting the over/under bet.

In conclusion, keep in mind the information laid forth in this guide before betting on MMA fights. And, as repeatedly mentioned, be sure to do a lot of research and handicapping before you invest in these fights. Have a system in mind, take calculated risks, do not get carried away, know when to stop, stay on the right track, and Good Luck!

Provided to you by KOJunkie.com & TheMMAMovement.com  Team