There is a difference between betting an MMA title fight and any other fight on the card. MMA bettors looking to have success should understand these distinctions. In this article, we look at six differences and how bettors can take advantage of them.
Key Points
– Betting on an MMA title fight should be approached differently than any other bout.
– The public has a huge impact on an MMA title fight.
Public Interest
A title fight will get greater public interest than any other bout among casual bettors. They are the most publicized and frequently most hyped battles. Title fights are the ones that draw in casual fans and encourage them to place a wager on the contest.
This has a few significant effects for more serious gamblers. The betting volume on these contests will be significantly larger than on a typical fight. Lines will shift quickly as a result, oddsmakers will have to put in more effort to set them in the first place.
Bettors will have to pay closer attention to what the general public is thinking and its effects. There’s also a good chance that the public will be strongly biased in favor of the champion. At the very least, the public will back the fighter who has received the most attention.
As a result, the action in this fight will be more one-sided. This can make it more difficult to locate value on the favorite. This does not imply that you should automatically back the underdog, but it is worth considering.
MUST READ: MMA BETTING IMPACT OF DROPPING WEIGHT
MMA Title Fight Media Attention
In certain situations, there is sort of a chicken-and-egg situation between the media’s attention and the general public’s attention. Because more people are likely to care about these fights, the media will focus more on them.
The more the event is covered by the media, the more likely it is that all the important storylines around the fight will come to light. Media outlets that don’t cover fighting as much will build up hype on these fights to attract readers.
As a result, certain stories with compelling narratives will receive more attention than they probably should. This can influence the betting public as they make their betting decisions. This is something that experienced bettors need to monitor when gambling on UFC fights.
Pressure on the Champion
There is always significant pressure on a reigning champion. Oftentimes, a new champion will struggle to defend his belt. Once a guy puts on the belt, everything changes.
Everyone wants to beat him because he is the man with the target on his back. In comparison to when he was moving up the ladder, his time is much more in demand. He now has to deal with the pressure of being a champion and dealing with the limelight that goes along with it.
Too many fighters have trouble adjusting to the role of the champion. It’s often easier being the underdog heading into an MMA title fight.
Pressure on the Underdog
To get to a title fight, a challenger had to put forth a lot of effort. Challengers often climb the ladder by beating other solid fighters. There can be pressure on the challenger that he may not be used to.
Most challengers are the underdog in an MMA title fight. A challenger often only gets one shot at a title. If he loses badly, he may never get another shot. For an MMA fighter, getting a chance at winning a championship is the ultimate goal.
Going into a title fight, the pressure is, of course, great, but no one expects the challenger to win. Thinking that way, the underdog has nothing to lose and may fight even better.
Impact of the Crowd on an MMA Title Fight
The crowd has a significant influence on a fight. There is no question that fans are nearly always at their loudest and most animated during the main event fight.
They are also more likely to support one fighter over another. That fighter is typically the favorite. Remember, the betting public is made up of casual bettors who love favorites.
Fighters can feed off of the audience at times. That can be difficult for a challenger. However, a challenger that puts up a strong fight can often sway the crowd in his direction. That can further fuel the underdog in his upset bid.
The Last Fight
Unless there are multiple championship fights on the schedule, the title fight will usually be the final bout of the evening. From a betting standpoint, that might be significant. It can alter your MMA strategy.
Bettors who have fallen behind could try to recover their losses in this match. Those who are in the black can do whatever they like. They may be likely to take a chance that they otherwise would not.
While watching all the action, keep an eye on the odds for the title bout. Late, aggressive action in some of these preliminary fights can lead to some last-minute fluctuations in odds. Sometimes, it pays to wait until just before the fight to place your bets.
