A growing number of sportsbooks are offering wagering on MMA fights. While this form of betting is still not as popular as bets on team sports, it is becoming increasingly available and can offer a different type of thrill to fans who enjoy betting on individual combatants. While many bettors are new to MMA betting, it is possible to win money if you follow the right strategy. Here are some tips to help you get started:

The first step is a thorough research of both fighters. This involves looking at their past performance as well as their style of fighting. It is also a good idea to look at how often they fight, their ages, and physical attributes.

Once you’ve studied the two fighters, you should make a decision about who will win in a particular matchup. If you have a clear idea of how the fight will play out, you can place a bet with confidence. This is because you can avoid putting your money on a bet that will not pay off, which can lead to frustration and loss.

MMA odds are usually displayed in a format similar to point spreads on football games, where the favorite will be indicated by a minus sign (-) and the underdog by a plus sign (+). The higher the discrepancy between the odds, the greater the potential payout.

In addition to the standard bets, MMA sportsbooks also offer a variety of prop bets, which allow you to bet on any event that could occur during a fight. These bets can range from predicting the method of victory (submission, knockout, or decision) to specifying what round a fight will end in. These bets can increase your potential winnings, but they come with more risk than standard bets.

When placing a bet, it is important to remember that MMA bouts are typically 5 rounds long. This means that you can bet on a specific round, which has a much lower payout than betting on the overall fight winner.

The best way to maximize your MMA wagering opportunities is by making parlays, which are multiple bets that combine for a larger payout. For example, you can place a bet on Khabib Nurmagomedov to cover against Justin Gaethje and then add bets from other matches like Jorge Masvidal to beat Nate Diaz. The more legs you add to your parlay, the bigger the payout will be if all of them hit. However, it is important to note that you must be correct on all of the individual events in your parlay for a payout to be made. If even one of your bets loses, you will not receive a refund. For this reason, it is important to place your MMA wagers early in order to maximize your profit potential. This is especially true for MMA props, which are likely to change over time and can dramatically impact your final return. Fortunately, most online sportsbooks let you combine props into your parlays for increased odds.