MMA sports has seen epic success over the last few years and today, it’s a mainstream interest for millions of fans across the world. With its growing popularity, it was only a matter of time that it entered the fantasy sports arena.
In Fantasy MMA, you have the opportunity to build rosters of the top fighters to compete in fantasy contests and win points for your fighting skills. The best fantasy websites such as DraftKings, Playline, and MMA Playground have fantasy MMA brushing shoulders with other popular sports like football or basketball. Through some of these websites, you to can even participate in paid fantasy MMA competitions and get cash prize for your wins.
If you’re an avid mixed martial arts enthusiast, you probably need no reason to play fantasy MMA. But, even if you’re remotely interested in MMA, the entertainment value of this high-octane sports can be enough to reel you right in. Plus, the appeal of winning points and dollars is often hard to beat.
For those trying to get into fantasy MMA, the road isn’t too rough. The learning curve is relatively less than what it takes to learn playing other fantasy sports, making it perfect for beginners. But as with anything, success comes from strategy.
Here are some strategy tips that will help you create high-scoring squads and make winning moves.
Embed from Getty Images1. Watch out for fighters with high first-round wins
First round finishes earn the most points. While you will get points for other things like strikes and takedowns, they really don’t match up to first round wins. So, look for fighters that win the first rounds. And, that will easily set you ahead of others.
2. Pick up a couple of underdogs
Now, let’s face it: Fighters that have a track record of finishing the first rounds are often the favourites. Everyone wants them and so, they are expensive. It’s tough to get more than one top fighter to fill your roster. A good way to create a well-balanced line-up is to have one or two underdogs that are cheap but are likely to accumulate a good amount of points along the way. For this, look for fighters with high number of upsets or offensive moves.
3. Don’t avoid new fighters
If there’s one pro-level tip for beginners, it’s this: Be open to taking chances with a new fighter.
The thing is, sometimes a new fighter that shows up for your roster might actually be very good. Just because they are cheap doesn’t mean they are bottom-of-the-barrel or poor performers. Often, there are experienced fighters coming from a different league who just haven’t racked up enough fantasy points yet. Spend some time knowing the style and background of such fighters and you can capitalise on this wonderful opportunity to scoop up great talent for cheap.
4. Draft offensive-minded fighters
Fighters with a strong offensive side are often the ones to put up the most exciting displays. But most importantly, they are also good at winning points and landing assaults that dethrone heavy favourites.
5. Try all contest formats
Many people feel confused when choosing a competition format. If you’re new to fantasy MMA, it’s best to get a feel for all contest formats. A couple of 50/50s and single entry tournaments are good places to start and will quickly help you understand the basic tactics that determine wins and losses in those two formats.
Once you’ve had some experience and have identified the basic moves that work for you, join a few ‘heads to heads’ to test yourself. The trick is to choose the ones with minimal entry fees to join.
These are some tips that will give you a good start in fantasy MMA and over the time, you’ll figure out more ways to win points and cash as you progress and improve. While fantasy MMA offers the satisfaction of being involved in the sport without actually stepping into a ring, you could (if you want) get a taste of the real sport and enjoy it as a hobby. If you’re interested, check out MMA clothing and equipment at Punch Equipment.
