MMA Betting

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in South Africa has seen a significant growth particularly in the last decade with notable achievements by South African fighters on the international stage. The Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) has played a crucial role in developing local talent and raising the profile of MMA within the country. Betting on MMA fights was not very popular in the past as there were limited options but all that has changed in recent times with Mzansibet leading the way with in depth betting markets. Dricus du Plessis's recent success in the UFC, including winning the middleweight title has further increased the sport's popularity. MMA now ranks as one of the fastest growing sports in the country as there is a wave of new young fighters entering the Octagon.

How to Bet on MMA

MMA betting like UFC events can be exciting and potentially profitable if you understand the basics. The key is to find a reputable betting site like Mzansibet that is legal and offers competitive odds. These are the steps to follow to bet on MMA fighting.

• The first step is to complete your registration.
• Deposit funds into your account.
• Claim your welcome bonus.
• Navigate to the MMA section on the left of the home page.
• Select the fight you want to bet on.
• Input the amount you wish to wager and complete placing your bet.

Bettors have two main options when betting on MMA fighting namely, pre-match betting and in-play (live) betting. Pre-match betting allows you to place your wagers before the fight begins, based on your predictions and analysis while live betting takes place during the fight and offers a more thrilling experience This allows you to adjust your strategy and take advantage of shifting momentum or unexpected developments which makes live betting a more dynamic and engaging way to enjoy the action.

MMA Betting Markets

These are the most popular online MMA betting markets that are currently available at Mzansibet. Outright Win Market

The most common way to bet on MMA odds is to wager on which fighter will win the bout. Bookies use factors like head-to-head clashes to set the betting odds, calculating an implied probability for each fighter and then setting a corresponding moneyline for that bet. For example, Fighter A is the reigning champion and is riding a five-fight winning streak in which they’ve been dominant, including four knockout finishes. Fighter B is a veteran of the sport but his career is on a decline after splitting wins and losses in their last six bouts, including two bad defeats by knockout. This will now entail that Fighter A is the favourite to win the match and will have lower odds to win while Fighter B will be the underdog with higher odds to win. A Draw in MMA fighting is a rare occurrence and will be regarded as a longshot bet.

Round Betting. Round market bets include naming the fighter who will win the fight as well as what round the fight will end. This allows wagers placed on 2-way moneyline favourites the chance to return huge dividends so long as the person placing the wager is able to pinpoint when the fight will end exactly.

Method of Victory Market. An MMA fight can be won by any of the following victory methods; Points decision: Many of the MMA fights are decided by points decision as most of the bouts are only 5 rounds. The judges' scores will decide who the winner is after the 5 rounds.

Knockout or Surrender: In MMA, a fighter can get their opponent to “tap out” or surrender during the match. There is also the knockout where the fighter is knocked out and cannot continue to fight.

Technical Knockout: This is when the referee of the bout decides the fighter cannot continue with the fight and stops the bout.

Total Rounds Over/Under This type of bet is very much as the name suggests as bookies will offer odds on whether the fight will go longer than a particular round.

Example: The bookmaker will offer odds like this

• Over 2.5 rounds-1.40
• Under 2.5 rounds-3.10

There could also be a combo bet, where you predict when the fight will and as well as which fighter will win. This type of bet has much better odds but also carries more risk.

Fight to Go the Distance Market.

Another popular MMA betting option is whether the fight will go for the full distance which is normally 5 rounds.Depending on the matchup, style of the fighters involved and the number of rounds scheduled, odds will be calculated with this information. This is where MMA is very different to boxing in the sense that boxing matches are generally 10 or 12 rounds whereas MMA is 5 rounds so there is a better chance that the MMA will go the full distance of 5 rounds.

Other MMA Exotic bets

The bigger fight events like Championship matches have much more betting options for punters. These will include whether the judges score in excess of a certain points total if the match goes the full distance or whether the total number of strikes by a certain fighter will exceed a particular number. These types of bets require a lot of research as you will need to analyse data from previous matches to see if the fighter prefers throwing punches and kicks as opposed to being a grappler.

How to Read MMA Odds

MMA, like most other sports, offers odds that can be viewed in three different formats, namely Fractional Odds, Decimal Odds and American Odds.

Decimal Odds

Decimal odds are arguably the easiest to understand and most popular type of odds. Some betting sites refer to decimal odds as European odds. The best way to explain decimal odds is with the following example. Let's say you place a bet on Dricus du Plessis to win his fight at odds of 1.50 as he is the favorite for the bout. If you bet R100 on Dricus and he wins, then you will receive R150 as this will also include the stake amount of your wager.

Fractional Odds

Fractional odds are a traditional way of displaying betting odds in South Africa. These odds are written as a fraction like 3/1 or 10/3. The number on the left shows the potential profit while the number on the right shows the amount you need to stake to win that profit. For example, odds of 5/1 mean that for every R1 you bet, you win R3 profit plus your original R1 stake back. So a R10 bet at 5/1 returns R60 (R50 profit + R10 stake). Fractional odds like 1/8 suggest a strong favourite, where you need to stake R8 just to win R1 profit. So a R80 bet at 1/8 would return R90 (R10 profit + R80 stake).

American Odds

This is the least used of the three types of odds in South Africa. The odds are denoted with a negative(-) or a positive(+) sign. A plus sign or positive odds indicates the potential profit you could make on a R100 bet. A minus sign or negative odds represents the amount you would need to bet in order to win R100.

Major MMA Events Covered by Mzansibet

MMA has grown into a global sensation which attracts fans with its exciting mix of striking, grappling and of course ground or floor fighting. As the sport’s popularity continues to rise, numerous MMA promotions have emerged worldwide. These range from major international organizations to smaller regional ones that help develop grassroot talent. Each promotion provides a platform for fighters to showcase their skills and climb the ranks of the sport. As with most sports, once it becomes popular, betting on the sport always increases tenfold with MMA being no different.

There are various different MMA organisations with the most popular one in South Africa being the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) which was established in 2010 and has been instrumental in providing a platform for local fighters. UFC has been a major force in promoting and developing MMA talent in South Africa, holding regular events and producing notable fighters.

Several local fighters have made their mark in MMA, including Drikus Du Plessis who is the current UFC Middleweight Champion and the first South African to achieve this feat. He has also held EFC titles in both welterweight and middleweight divisions. Don Madge is another who has competed in both EFC and UFC, previously holding the EFC lightweight title.

Bellator MMA is another MMA organisation recognized for staging major events and showcasing top-tier talent. Known for featuring renowned fighters such as Cris Cyborg and Rory MacDonald, Bellator blends experienced veterans with promising newcomers to deliver action-packed and competitive bouts that appeal to a global audience.

ONE Championship is the premier MMA organization in Asia. It stands out for its diverse range of martial arts, including Muay Thai, kickboxing and MMA. With elite athletes like Demetrious Johnson and Eddie Alvarez, ONE has built a loyal fanbase and continues to expand its presence on the international stage.

MMA Betting Tips and Strategies

Since there is no guaranteed way to win your MMA betting, you can however give yourself the best possible way to increase your chances of winning by following some tips and strategies. These are some tips to consider before starting your online MMA betting.

Research the fighters

Don’t limit your bets to just the main event as the undercard fights can often offer better value. Take the time to research each fighter carefully. For example, an undefeated record doesn’t always tell the full story especially for boxers early in their careers. A 8-0 or 10-0 record may look impressive but many of those wins could be against weaker opponents designed to boost their profile. By digging deeper into their fight history and level of competition, you can spot potential mismatches which will give yourself a smarter edge when placing your bets.

Different fighter styles

The name says it all: mixed martial arts. Fighters use different styles which makes for exciting matchups. Some prefer to stand and strike, using punches and kicks while others focus on wrestling or jiu-jitsu to take the fight to the ground and try to win by submission. When you bet on MMA, it's smart to look at how these styles match up. One fighter’s style might give them an edge over the other. Also, like in boxing, a fighter’s stance matters. Left-handed (southpaw) fighters can have an advantage over right-handed (orthodox) fighters because they're harder to prepare for.

Fighter record

When looking at UFC betting odds, most punters start with a fighter’s win-loss record. While this offers a quick snapshot, it often doesn’t tell the full story as the bookies already factor records into the odds. Numbers alone can be misleading without context. It’s important to dig deeper into who those wins and losses came against. A fighter may have a few defeats but if those losses were close fights against top-level opponents, then they could still be worth a wager. In many weight classes, fighters often face the same rivals. Comparing how each one performed against common opponents can reveal useful insights when predicting the outcome of a matchup.

Form of fighters

Just as in any other sport betting, the form of the MMA fighters is crucial. The major difference here, unlike in other sports, is that the fighters do not have bouts every week or every month. The top MMA fighters only have bouts after a few months so tracking their form is not difficult. The most important factor is to try and find out as much information as to how their training for the bout has been going and the weight of the fighter is another factor to consider.

Fighters weight

MMA has several weight divisions with fighters often moving between them based on their goals and the level of competition. Some fighters handle weight cuts well, while others, especially those dropping to a lower class, may struggle to stay under the limit. It is vitally important for punters to watch how fighters manage their weight in the lead-up to a bout. The official weigh-ins take place the day before the fight. Fighters who are close to missing weight might resort to extreme methods like dehydration, skipping meals or overtraining. These last-minute efforts can leave them physically drained before the fight even starts, putting them at a disadvantage. In these types of cases, avoid betting on that fighter.

Promotions and Bonuses for MMA Betting

Players joining Mzansibet can take advantage of the great welcome bonus which can be used to bet on your favorite MMA fighter. To claim this bonus, all you need to do is sign up and make your first deposit. There are also other great promotions on the site like Bonus Spins on selected casino games. Look out for other exciting promotions before there is a major MMA fight like a world championship title match.

Conclusion

Online MMA betting is here to stay and in fact is only going to grow as more South Africans bet on the sport. The continued success of local fighters will see punters continue to flock to bet on MMA. Once the major title fights are hosted in the country, MMA popularity levels will be raised to new heights. Get the best MMA odds at Mzansibet by joining this site today.