How to bet on UFC with new MMA betting calculator

by MMAmania.com on Jun 6, 2008 9:59 AM EDT

Hey MMAMania.com readers ... this is Damon D from BetUS Sports Radio (a series of sports betting related podcasts). It's likely that you may have heard of us before -- Jesse Holland is a frequent guest on my "Fight Talk" show, sharing his infinite mixed martial arts knowledge from time to time.

MMAmania.com often passes along the latest odds from our sportsbook for each UFC event for those fans who prefer to make the fights more interesting and possibly make some nice scratch in the process.

To check out the latest betting odds for UFC 85: "Bedlam" and make some wagers CLICK HERE.

Don't know what the any of that means or what you are doing? No problem. That's the reason for this post.

On my show I cover all the major sports to bet on, including football, baseball and basketball. But what really turns my crank is mixed martial arts. Football may pay the bills, but MMA wets my whistle (I don’t know what that means but you get my point).

I try my best to educate people and promote the sport wherever and whenever possible. And unlike others in the industry I try to turn down the douche dial a little bit.

Now as an MMA sportsbook analyst I get to do a lot of cool stuff, but regardless of where I am or who I’m talking to I continually have to answer the same question about MMA odds:

"What the #%*$ does minus 200 mean?"

Well, I’ve written a balls load of explanations and explained it to people countless times. Some people get it and others never will.

To help everyone calculate the odds easier we finally made a betting calculator that will do all the math for you instantly. It takes all the odds and crunches the numbers so you don’t have to hurt yourself trying to add anymore.

To check it out right now CLICK HERE.

For those who want to know a little extra background on how this works let's quickly go through how lines are set and adjusted to better understand the philosophy behind the numbers.

So let’s start off easy. Minus(-) = FAVORITE. Plus(+) = UNDERDOG.

The number that comes after the minus is how much you have to RISK to win $100 and the number that comes after the plus is what you WIN if you risk $100.

For example, if a fighter has a -200 after his name it means that you would have to RISK (or bet) $200 to win back $100. If it’s +200 -- and you bet $100 -- then you would win back $200.

Again, if the concept is still too damn confusing remember to check out the UFC Bet Calculator right here.

There are a few extra things that you should probably know about these odds. Now bear with me because it’s kind of detailed, but it could also make you a lot of money in the long run.

First off, you’ve never met a bookie with a part time job, meaning that regardless of how ridiculous you think a line might be oddsmakers are in reality extremely intelligent. And if they weren’t huge sports fans, they’d be designing rocket engines for NASA or something like that.

So take the line seriously ... always.

Secondly, lines are set for money to come in EVEN on both sides of a fight. In a perfect world, if every fight, game or race had exactly half the people betting on either side the risk for a sportsbook is minimized.

Therefore, in high profile bouts public opinion is a major factor in making a line.

An example that I like to use with last season’s New England Patriots. The lines for some of their games were ridiculous, but it had more to do with the perception of how good they were and not their actual skills.

The problem is, if they’re playing a winless Miami team, NOBODY would put any money on Miami unless they thought they had a remote chance to cover. And since the Patriots were all over the news and setting records and being awesome this would inflate the line to make it easier for Miami to cover in order to keep the money even on both sides.

This is the same reason you will see a line move leading up to a fight. If a balls load of money is coming in on GSP at -300, oddsmakers will make it less profitable to make a bet on him and you will see the line creep up to -350, -400 etc., and a more profitable to bet on Matt Serra whose line will increase (from say +350 to +500).

Therefore, if you think a low profile underdog can win a fight wait until the drunken Las Vegas weekend money starts rolling in. Because as the high profile favorite gets all the dough laid on him your little doggie will start getting sweeter. (Ask anybody who waited on Serra – St. Pierre 1 who got him a +1200 right before the fight).

Well that’s that. If you have any questions for me about this stuff comment here on MMAMania.com and I’ll be sure to reply.

Remember to check out the latest betting odds for UFC 85: "Bedlam" and make some wagers RIGHT HERE.

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Comments

That was a very easy to follow explanation of what the numbers mean after the + and – symbols. I don’t know how anybody could not get it after that. I have never bet real money on a fight, but this explanation makes it tempting to try it for the “first” time.

by UFCAddict on Jun 6, 2008 10:11 AM EDT reply actions

la verga es

by Ryosuke on Jun 6, 2008 10:26 AM EDT reply actions

If you guys do have any questions about MMA betting — such as parlays, etc. — I’d ask them now. Damon will answer them. Keep in mind he’s not giving betting advice — just some help with how the whole system works.

by MMAmania on Jun 6, 2008 10:29 AM EDT reply actions

I have about 15 bets in on this PPV already, and I’m still going! I got a few parlays that I really like. My favorite of the parlays being Kampmann/Davis/Hughes which is paying out at a bit over 3 to 1. I also backed it with a Kampmann/Davis/Alves which is paying out at 6.6 to 1. I got a LOT riding on Davis. I can’t believe that he is only -105 for his fight against Swick.

And DAMON, I DO HAVE 1 QUESTION.

Ever since the last PPV, BetUs has not been posting the over/under for the number of rounds the fight will go. I REALLY liked to bet on those, but I havent seen them recenly. Are they gone for good, or will they be back?

by ViolentMike on Jun 6, 2008 10:36 AM EDT reply actions

hey mike, does the insurance on betus cover all losses or just deposit losses? I deposited 350, but l lost around 10,000 last week, not too fun!!

by kevin on Jun 6, 2008 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions

Kev, I don’t even know of insurance on betus. Hopefully Damon can explain.

I do know that I am not allowed to wager more money than I have in my account.

by ViolentMike on Jun 6, 2008 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions

deng kev! after the saturday cbs i stopped betting on mma. sounds like you should too bro. i’m not trynna tell you what to do, but with that kind of cash, you could invest that sh*t into foreclosure properties or other stuff.

by kama kaze on Jun 6, 2008 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions

lol ok kama kaze. I NEVER lose money on mma! I gamble every day, a bad week isn’t going to stop me. I’m not one of those losers who finds it necessary to only talk about the amount I win, I’ll admit I lose too. Don’t worry, I haven’t lost money gambling over the course of a year in at least 10 years…and even then, I’ve only had 1 losing year in the 15+ years I’ve gambled!

by kevin on Jun 6, 2008 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions

10Gz is major in my world. so yea just trying to help. so do you think saturday cbs was fixed? or just terrible refereeing/judging? cuz i think its retarded to bet on something that i think is fixed.

by kama kaze on Jun 6, 2008 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions

If you think the fight is fixed, you should do what I did and bet on the side that’s benefitting from the fix. I said numerous times before that fight that there was no way Scumbag Shaw would allow Kimbo to lose, so I went with that. I don’t have absolute definitive proof that the fight was actually fixed, but there were just way too many coincidences for me not to think it was, i.e. fight getting stood up when Thompson had side mount, fight not getting stopped after 50+ elbows in round 2 and a judge somehow giving Kimbo the round, fight getting stopped with Thompson still on his feet in the middle of the ring.

by PW on Jun 6, 2008 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions

anyone who didn’t put major money on kimbo is dumb! there was zero possibility that he would lose. he could have got ko’d and somehow would have won that fight!

by kevin on Jun 6, 2008 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions

and kama kaze, I can respect that, and thank you for your concern, but my world and your world are totally different. for example, I put 5000 on the celtics to win the finals!

by kevin on Jun 6, 2008 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions

agree wit you that it was fixed, i got so spooked that night. but Kimbo odds were too steep to take up by itself IMO. Lawler fight ended on bs stoppage.. who expected that 1 ? Thinking of going hard on LA at home for NBA finals. That 1 is irresistible.

by kama kaze on Jun 6, 2008 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I put 5000 on celtics to win series

by kevin on Jun 6, 2008 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Kama Kaze, I thought that the Kimbo fight was going to be “fixed”, so I logically bet on Kimbo. You said that you would never bet on something that you think is fixed. If I think something is fixed, I am betting A LOT on who I think it is fixed in favor of.

by ViolentMike on Jun 6, 2008 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions

DAMMMMM Kev. You bet 5 G’s on the Celtics! I wish you deposited THAT money when I referred you… LOL

On last nights game, I made 3 bets, and lost 1 of them. I bet that the Celtics would cover the spread. I bet that the Lakers would score more points in the 4th quarter. And I bet that Paul Pierce would score over 20 points. I bet double the amount as the other bets on Pierce.

Paul left the 2nd quarter with 3 fouls and 3 points. I thought the money was down the toilet. Then my man catches fire from downtown!

by ViolentMike on Jun 6, 2008 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions

wasn’t kimbo @ minus 750? what is that about quarter back from a dollar? actually thought the other posterboy robbie had no chance of losing and he was actually on his way to decision. so had a kimbo robbie parlay to squeeze out better odds. lol. It was just a chump change bet but still, fight was fixed and ended on BS stoppage. Smith didnt’ even take his 5 minutes. lol. screwed.

by kama kaze on Jun 6, 2008 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions

hey mike, I only put 350 in so you’d get a decent bonus! I go through a couple sites. that bet is through a book

by kevin on Jun 6, 2008 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Kimbo opened at -450, I got him at -500, then I think it was -550 by the time the fight rolled around. It may be different on different books.

by PW on Jun 6, 2008 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I was just kiddin Kev.

I really appreciate what you had done!

Thanks again Buddy!!!

by ViolentMike on Jun 6, 2008 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

they give 10% insurance on losses every 6 months

by kevin on Jun 6, 2008 11:18 AM EDT reply actions

Ohhhhhhh. I wonder if there is a minumum amount that needs to be wagered over that period. Cuz I am not a high roller like you dropping 5 G’s a game. I am still in the neighborhood of $10 – $50 per bet in most cases.

by ViolentMike on Jun 6, 2008 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh yeah Mania. Where’s Damon been at??? I asked a question and got no answer from him…

by ViolentMike on Jun 6, 2008 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Scroll down.

by MMAmania on Jun 6, 2008 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions

cmon mike, don’t ever place a bet under 50, all that means is you’re making long shot wagers. I’d rather be taken a lot at a time then 10-20 bucks a pop, it adds up. Did you try my system I was telling you about? if you want I’ll give you an example of a lock every day. when you see me hit 90%, you’ll start betting with me

by kevin on Jun 6, 2008 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

SOunds good Kev. The reason I keep it low is cuz I got this thing called “an addictive personality”…

I deposited $100 and bet on the Giants in the Super Bowl. I’ve just been playing with that money since. Honestly, its just a form of entertainment to me. I don’t use it to pay the bills.

Are you betting on the Belmont?

by ViolentMike on Jun 6, 2008 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I got that type of personality too mike.
I bet 5-1 exacta
135trifecta and a super.

by kevin on Jun 6, 2008 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions

great article – talking about the way the betting line shifts is something not many talk about..now someone fill us in on more advanced stuff like parlays :)

dont make me google it

by mmajitsu - jerrolds on Jun 6, 2008 11:20 AM EDT reply actions

are you being serious? a parlay is a bet consisting of 2 or more teams. it pays odds, and all teams must win in order to win. I think a 3 team parlay pays around 6-1.
with the money line, they calculate the pay outs differently on parlays

by kevin on Jun 6, 2008 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions

OK, do you have any idea how wheel bets on horse racing go? Lone Star Park is about 10 minutes from my house. My GF loves to go, but she just plays $2 show bets, which bore me. I prefer exacta boxes, just so I get some sort of tangible return from a win.

by PW on Jun 6, 2008 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions

me too, trifecta or super boxes. 5-1 exacta tomorrow. 135 tri

by kevin on Jun 6, 2008 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions

If Big Brown wins by more than 31 lengths, I win $2,500 off a $5 bet. Its a loooong shot, but better odds than the lotto. Rick Dutrow is probably roiding him up right now.

I think 1) Big Brown 2)Dennis of Cork 3) Casino Drive

by ViolentMike on Jun 6, 2008 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Big Brown is almost not even worth betting on at this point unless you have him as part of an exotic. I just saw on ESPN that Casino Drive has some sort of minor injury. Not enough to scratch him, but enough to keep me from betting on him.

by PW on Jun 6, 2008 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

cmon mike, you’re throwing money away, 5-10 bucks at a time. email me, I’ll give you a lock tonight!!

by kevin on Jun 6, 2008 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

if yall knew that I picked jardine & baroni last fights, you’d know how accurate I’m at picking mma fights. $1 dolla for my picks anyone? now thats a deal.

by kama kaze on Jun 6, 2008 11:24 AM EDT reply actions

Sure, so I can go the other way. :) Seriously though, I put small wagers on Day (300) and Alves (160) and went big on Davis (-110).

by PW on Jun 6, 2008 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

HAHA!! good 1. I’d pick Alves and Davis too so hope that boosts your confidence! lol

by kama kaze on Jun 6, 2008 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I get BIG money on Davis. More so than I’ve ever done on one single fight. Previously my high was on Edgar to beat Maynard………

I also bet on Day last month and got him at +350. I got Hughes for the main event, in a couple of parlays.

I see Martin Kampmann as an absolute LOCK to be Rivera.

by ViolentMike on Jun 6, 2008 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions

good example of giving money away mike

by kevin on Jun 6, 2008 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m not liking that Alves bet as much now that he came in 4 pounds over. Well, if Davis beats Swick I’ll come out ahead on the day regardless of what Alves and Day do. And Mike, I’m with you on the bets ranging from $10-50, mostly in the $20-25 range. It makes things fun without running a major financial risk.

by PW on Jun 6, 2008 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Violent Mike, I’m gonna ask the odds guys about the intermittent over unders on rounds….thats a good question because I LOVE betting rounds, especially on fights where the lines are out of control or if a fight is going to be one sided….betting on a massive favorite is never fun…but trying to guess when he’s gonna KO some poor slob is always a good time.
Kevin – call your account manager…they’ll have your insurance details…as you prolly know it varies from player to player…and I hope that 10k loss wasn’t on that eliteXC bullsh&%, cuz i lost a bit too, and i can safely say that id rather gargle old mans balls than bet on horse pucky like that again.
-D

by DamonD on Jun 6, 2008 12:30 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks Damon!

by ViolentMike on Jun 6, 2008 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I did pretty well on the Elite card with bets on Kimbo and PanchoVillasenor, and I didn’t have to gargle anything.

by PW on Jun 6, 2008 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I had a parlay on Kimbo and Faber to win.

Also Villansenior as well.

by ViolentMike on Jun 6, 2008 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

So on a minus line ie -300, if I betted $100 would i get my $300 back plus an extra $100?

by Flynn on Jun 6, 2008 1:21 PM EDT reply actions

exactly

by ViolentMike on Jun 6, 2008 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

At -300 you would put up $300 to win $100. If you won you would get the $300 back plus $100.

by PW on Jun 6, 2008 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions

no opposite

by kevin on Jun 6, 2008 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions

In any wager, if you win, you always get your original bet back…plus the gravy.

by DamonD on Jun 6, 2008 3:11 PM EDT reply actions

Kevin you sound exactly like me. I haven’t bet on mma yet but basketball, football, and baseball and we have the same view of money lol. We should chat sometime.

by Brent on Jun 6, 2008 4:11 PM EDT reply actions

Great write up! I’m a newbie to the betting aspect of MMA. Gonna sound like a dumb question but….whats a parlay? Have read several posts that mention it.

by RiverHorror on Jun 7, 2008 4:44 PM EDT reply actions