On Saturday, August 26, 2018, boxing legend Floyd Mayweather will take on UFC star Conor McGregor in a clash of mixed martial arts (MMA) superstitions at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
While the bout has attracted worldwide interest, it has also become the object of intense debate among sportsbooks and bettors everywhere. Many have criticized the line as having been set too low, while others maintain that Mayweather is an easy favorite because of his past record of victories over some of the best boxers of all time.
The line on Mayweather vs McGregor has swung widely, reaching as high as -105 and as low as -125. As the days passed before the fight, the oddsmakers at BOnline made the move, resetting the line to McGregor -115. Still, as of this writing, the line at BOnline projects a Mayweather victory on Saturday.
Here, we’ll explore how to bet on the fight and what the key betting trends are so you can make the right call.
Key Trends
The most up-to-date key betting trends can be found at BOnline, where you’ll find detailed analysis of all the key matchup stats and relevant betting markets available for the fight. The online betting exchange also provides you with the latest news and analysis from around the world of sport, so you can stay on top of all the major headlines relating to the fight. And, as a bonus, they’ll even let you place bets on the fight while checking on the latest news and statistics.
Here are a few of the key trends to keep an eye on as you bet on the fight:
Over/Under
This year will mark the 50th anniversary of the superfight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. It will be one of the biggest events to hit sports since the rivalry between the Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s. The debate among football and basketball fans remains constant as to which sport is superior. Naturally, one of the biggest talking points will be the boxing prowess of the two boxers. It is well-known that both men are tremendous sluggers, with Ali even claiming he could punch his way out of a paper bag. The main question is how effective their punching will be in comparison to each other. In other words, will it be a slugfest, or will it be a boxing match?
The consensus among sportsbooks is that this fight will be close, and the general view is that the battle will be decided by the under/over stats. Specifically, the over/under (o/u) for this fight will be determined by whether or not Frazier can outbox and outfight Mayweather. If you think that Frazier will be the one dishing out the pain on the night of the fight, then lay the under on the total punches thrown by the champ. Meanwhile, if you think that Mayweather will be the one dictating the pace of the fight, then back the over on the total number of punches connected by the challenger.
Mayweather vs McGregor really wouldn’t be a one-of-a-kind event without some wild stats. For example, while both men are known for their boxing prowess, how will their MMA games measure up? Will Mayweather be able to utilize his superior boxing knowledge and reach into his bag of tricks, or will McGregor prove the naysayers wrong and outbox Mayweather on the night of the fight?
McGregor is widely perceived as the underdog in this fight, but he doesn’t need to be. Sure, the odds might be in his favor, but that doesn’t mean that the champ won’t be a bit surprised by some of the stuff that McGregor brings to the table. For instance, while Mayweather won’t have any trouble getting inside the body of an opponent, McGregor has a history of coming from behind to knock out his previous opponents. If you’re looking to back the underdogs in this fight, lay the under on the total number of KOs (Kills) by both fighters. And if you’re feeling extra generous, throw in a side bet on the number of times each fighter gets knocked down. Remember, the champ has been hit a total of 37 times in his professional career, which is the most of any boxer in history. But that hasn’t stopped him from getting up and continuing the fight, so don’t be discouraged if he takes a couple of hard punches to the head before sending his opponent to the canvas.
Money
This is the biggest fight in UFC history, as well as one of the biggest in boxing history. For any sport, the financial aspect is always a top priority, and this is no different. In fact, the UFC has gone above and beyond, paying out millions in winnings to both fighters and to the two championship belts they’ve rewarded the winner with. But will all that money really make a difference? Are any of the Vegas books willing to take the risk of laying the odds on McGregor winning this fight?
This is the question of the hour, and it’s been asked by many sportsbooks around the world. For the most up-to-date analysis, check out BOnline, where you’ll find all the latest news and odds from various sportsbooks. Should you decide to place a bet on the fight, make sure to bet on the underdog. Mayweather is currently 16-1 in his MMA career, with his only loss coming to Conor McGregor by way of a controversial 12-round split decision. However, that doesn’t mean he’ll win without some risk. For starters, McGregor has outboxed and outfought every opponent in his MMA career, so it’s safe to assume that he’ll bring his A-game on the night of the fight. Plus, there’s the issue of his drug violations that could end up costing him his boxing license. Bottom line: Mayweather is a chancy bet, especially as the books set their lines in his favor. But with McGregor’s dangerous style, you might be willing to take that risk. After all, it’s not everyday that you get to back a winner of a UFC ring. If you do, it’s certainly a treasure to be able to do so.
Odds
It wouldn’t be a proper review of how to bet on Mayweather vs McGregor if we didn’t cover the odds, now would it? It’s always important to look at the odds when placing a bet on a sporting event, as this will give you a general idea of how the bookies are viewing the matchup. As previously stated, the odds can range from extremely high to extremely low. Typically, the higher the odds, the better the value proposition, as this means the bookmaker is assuming that the fight is more likely to end in a victory for the opposing team. In some instances, if you’re feeling especially brave, you might want to back a non-favorite – after all, you never know how a bookmaker might react to your defiance and grant you a miracle or two. On the other hand, if the odds seem too good to be true, it usually means the favorite is a fraud and/or is being overrated by the sportsbooks. Always check the odds before placing a bet, as this will help you get an accurate feel for how big of a favorite (or underdog) you should actually be backing. Just be careful not to bet against the advice of the professional odds makers, as in many cases, they might have a good reason for picking the favorite in a specific instance.