Betting on mixed martial arts has become big business, necessitating fighters to be aware of how much money is on the line for themselves and their opponents. A recent video from former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya who sponsors betting site Stake seems to indicate that fighters may not necessarily do this openly.
Video footage captured Adesanya shouting out his sponsor during a prefight news conference prior to his fight with former champion Anthony Pettis at UFC 281. This wasn’t an isolated incident – in fact, UFC’s new rules prohibit fighters from discussing odds during their bouts and bar “insiders” (coaches, managers, athletic trainers, medical professional staff members etc) from placing bets involving any fight they know anything about (i.e. coaches managers athletic trainers medical professional staff or anyone with access non-public information regarding either fighter/matchup).
That doesn’t mean fighters don’t take advantage of the betting market, though. According to ESPN in January, some fighters had sponsored betting companies and used social media channels such as Facebook to share betting tips about every fight involving themselves or teammates as well as others involving competitors from other organizations. Some had even set up specific accounts where they placed bets.
Beyond ethical concerns, this type of behavior can also hinder a fighter’s performance inside the cage. While they may not experience physical injuries from knockout losses, losing confidence may still result in changes to fighting style or approach which eventually result in defeat for that fighter in octagon bout.
Understanding MMA as a different sport from boxing requires understanding its unique tactics and strategies. There are more ways for fighters in MMA than boxing to win their fight, such as one-punch knockouts and submission holds which can turn an unfavorable fight around quickly – this makes MMA much more tactical and dangerous than its boxing counterpart.
Bettors interested in MMA can also utilize various props available for each fight to place wagers. Popular options for each bout include the Method of Victory and Round Props bets; these wagers focus on which style of victory a fighter will achieve in his fight – such as KO/TKO, submission or judge decision – making for exciting betting possibilities. Successful MMA bettors understand odds well to find optimal value bets.
Live betting or in-play wagering has quickly become the dominant form of MMA gambling, offering many advantages over pre-fight betting. Notably, odds tend to be higher during live action betting at most online sportsbooks – although choosing an efficient bookie that maximises long-term profitability is essential – otherwise, your bankroll will quickly deplete itself!