Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) isn’t just about heart-pumping fights and breath-taking techniques; it’s also a sport that has long been a magnet for betting enthusiasts. As far back as the beginning, wagers have been placed on the outcome of fights, while bookmakers have been busy churning out odds on the matches.
As MMA’s popularity has soared to stratospheric heights, and the world of sports betting is gathering pace thanks to the internet, betting on MMA fights has become one of the most popular forms of sports gambling. Major MMA events can draw in millions of dollars in wagers.
Nowadays, for every professional MMA fight, there are countless sportsbooks offering odds on them. Betting on MMA has become more convenient and more comprehensive for punters today, as it’s a breeze to find sites like betJACK.com that offer odds, predictions, match previews, news updates, and a lot more.
Let’s take a look at how the betting scene around MMA looked in its earliest days and what makes MMA so popular among sports bettors. See what powers the deep connection that exists between betting and MMA.
Betting at the Beginning of MMA
In the childhood days of MMA, betting was a wild and woolly affair. With no regulated betting system, fans had to rely on their own wits and guts, placing bets on underground fights. The thrill of the fight was only magnified by the rush of putting hard-earned cash on the line.
With no formal bookmakers offering odds, punters found their own ways to get it done. From small-time betting pools to back-alley bookies, nothing could keep them away from the exhilaration of combat sports gambling. As MMA gained wider recognition and mainstream appeal, the betting industry took notice. Bookmakers began to offer formal betting options, with odds on individual fights and tournaments.
Today, the world of MMA betting is a multi-million-dollar industry, drawing in fans from all over the world, eager to place their money where their mouth is.
The Connection Between MMA and Betting: What Makes MMA So Popular Among Punters
When the UFC was founded in 1993, its focus was on determining the best fighting styles in a real combat situation. But as MMA began to gain mainstream popularity and become a more organised sport, sportsbooks began offering odds on MMA fights, and punters could place bets on a wide range of outcomes.
Many MMA events and organisations have been designed specifically to cater to bettors. So, what are the reasons for this bond between MMA and betting? Here are some of them:
- The nature of the sport itself: The thrill of watching a fight intensifies when you’re putting your money on the line.
- Unpredictability: There are many factors that influence the outcome of an MMA fight. Nobody can say how the fighting style or physical attributes of one fighter will match up against the other. Stats can’t tell the whole story.
- Offers a wide range of outcomes to bet on, including the winner of the fight, the method of victory, and the round in which the fight would end.
The Takeaway
As MMA grows bigger and bigger, the connection between the sport and betting will most likely continue to strengthen. This is especially the case as the sports gambling industry is leaning heavily on online betting operators, enabling bettors to wager from anywhere, any time. However, like any form of gambling, betting on MMA carries risks and should be done responsibly.